Was the Tampa Bay Lightning Once Owned by the Yakuza?

While some teams openly shared information about their ownership structures and operational processes, others maintained an air of secrecy. The Tampa Bay Lightning seemed to fall into the latter category.

Recent revelations indicate that during its initial seven years of operation, the team was purportedly owned by the Japanese mafia known as the Yakuza.

Originally, the Lightning was under the ownership of Kokusai Green LTD, a Japanese company that provided financial backing to the team. During this period, Phil and Tony Esposito turned to the company, as their funds were insufficient to sustain the team.

According to Gil Stein, the former NHL president, the Esposito brothers had an encounter with Takashi Okubo, the owner of the company. Unbeknownst to them, Okubo was a front for the Japanese mafia. At that time, the Lightning were struggling as an organization, failing to secure playoff berths in six out of their seven seasons and accumulating multiple seasons with over 40 losses.

Eventually, in 1999, the Lightning managed to transition to new ownership under William Davidson. This ownership change allowed the team to embark on a journey of rejuvenation, ultimately shaping them back to respectibility.