08/16/2023
Many fans today don't know that the Tampa Bay Lightning ⚡️ used to be owned by the Yakuza, a Japanese crime organization.
For their first 7 years of existence, Tampa's primary owner was Kokusai Green It., a Japanese company that financially backed the Lightning in the NHL.
Phil & Tony Esposito reached out to them in desperation when they didn't have the funds to support the bid or the team.
It was revealed later on that the company, owned by Takashi Okubo, was a front for the Japanese mafia.
The 'Yakuza', a crime family from Japan, used the Lightning to launder money. They were known to do this with other sports as well.
In their original meeting with the Esposito brothers, Kokusai Green took them to a strip club, and hired private chefs for the evening. Okubo was described later in a lawsuit as a "complete gangster".
Former NHL president Gil Stein confirmed the rumours, along with many former Tampa executives. The NHL at the time just didn't care where the money for the bid came from.
Both the financial state of the team and the on-ice product were an absolute mess and they were able to get new owners in 1999.
More 🏒 News at > www.hookedonhockey.com