Lewis Wolff
Encyclopedia
Lewis N. Wolff is an American
real estate developer
. Wolff is also known for owning sports franchises; he is currently the co-owner of the Oakland Athletics
of Major League Baseball
and the San Jose Earthquakes
of Major League Soccer
. He attended the University of Wisconsin where he was a member of the Pi Lambda Phi
fraternity and a fraternity brother of MLB Commissioner Bud Selig
. Wolff is credited with the redevelopment and revitalization of downtown San Jose, where for many years he was the largest developer of office, hotel, and parking.
in 1961.
In 1994, Wolff founded Maritz, Wolff & Co with Philip Maritz in St. Louis, Missouri
. The company owned interest in eighteen hotel and resort properties around the world, including the Fairmont San Jose Hotel
, the Fairmont San Francisco
, the Carlyle Hotel
, the Four Seasons Hotel Nevis, the Four Seasons Hotel Toronto, and the Park Hyatt Sydney. In 2011 Wolff and his partner, Philip Maritz, orchestrated the $800 million sale of five hotels, including The Carlyle and the Rosewood Management Company to New World, a Hong Kong based real estate and hotel company.
Wolff has a long history of sports franchise ownership. In the past, he has been a co-owner of the St. Louis Blues of the National Hockey League
and the Golden State Warriors
of the National Basketball Association
. On April 1, 2005, Wolff and an ownership group purchased the Oakland Athletics
baseball team; Wolff became the 8th owner of the franchise purchasing the interests of Stephen Schott
and Ken Hofmann
. In 2006, the A's ownership group purchased an option to revive the San Jose Earthquakes
franchise of Major League Soccer
. At the 2007 MLS All Star Game, it was announced that Wolff has exercised the option, and the Earthquakes began play during the 2008 MLS season. In January 2011, it was speculated that he had interest in buying the Los Angeles Dodgers, but later denied this.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
real estate developer
Real estate development
Real estate development, or Property Development, is a multifaceted business, encompassing activities that range from the renovation and re-lease of existing buildings to the purchase of raw land and the sale of improved land or parcels to others...
. Wolff is also known for owning sports franchises; he is currently the co-owner of the Oakland Athletics
Oakland Athletics
The Oakland Athletics are a Major League Baseball team based in Oakland, California. The Athletics are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. From to the present, the Athletics have played in the O.co Coliseum....
of Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
and the San Jose Earthquakes
San Jose Earthquakes
The San Jose Earthquakes professional soccer team is located in the San Jose, California, United States suburb of Santa Clara, and participates in Major League Soccer , the top level soccer league in the United States and Canada....
of Major League Soccer
Major League Soccer
Major League Soccer is a professional soccer league based in the United States and sanctioned by the United States Soccer Federation . The league is composed of 19 teams — 16 in the U.S. and 3 in Canada...
. He attended the University of Wisconsin where he was a member of the Pi Lambda Phi
Pi Lambda Phi
Pi Lambda Phi International Fraternity Inc. is a college social fraternity with 35 active chapters and four colonies in the United States and Canada....
fraternity and a fraternity brother of MLB Commissioner Bud Selig
Bud Selig
Allan Huber "Bud" Selig is the ninth and current Commissioner of Major League Baseball, having served in that capacity since 1992 as the acting commissioner, and as the official commissioner since 1998...
. Wolff is credited with the redevelopment and revitalization of downtown San Jose, where for many years he was the largest developer of office, hotel, and parking.
Biography
Wolff graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and earned his MBA from Washington University in St. LouisWashington University in St. Louis
Washington University in St. Louis is a private research university located in suburban St. Louis, Missouri. Founded in 1853, and named for George Washington, the university has students and faculty from all fifty U.S. states and more than 110 nations...
in 1961.
In 1994, Wolff founded Maritz, Wolff & Co with Philip Maritz in St. Louis, Missouri
St. Louis, Missouri
St. Louis is an independent city on the eastern border of Missouri, United States. With a population of 319,294, it was the 58th-largest U.S. city at the 2010 U.S. Census. The Greater St...
. The company owned interest in eighteen hotel and resort properties around the world, including the Fairmont San Jose Hotel
Fairmont San Jose Hotel
The Fairmont San Jose is a 805 room, luxury high-rise hotel at 170 South Market Street in San José, California, facing the water fountain in Plaza de César Chávez....
, the Fairmont San Francisco
The Fairmont San Francisco
The Fairmont San Francisco is a luxury hotel at 950 Mason Street, atop Nob Hill in San Francisco, California. The hotel was named after mining magnate and U.S. Senator James Graham Fair , by his daughters Theresa Fair Oelrichs and Virginia Fair Vanderbilt who built the hotel in his honor. The hotel...
, the Carlyle Hotel
Carlyle Hotel
The Carlyle Hotel, known formally as The Carlyle, is a combination luxury and residential hotel located at 35 East 76th Street on the northeast corner of Madison Avenue, in the Upper East Side area of New York City...
, the Four Seasons Hotel Nevis, the Four Seasons Hotel Toronto, and the Park Hyatt Sydney. In 2011 Wolff and his partner, Philip Maritz, orchestrated the $800 million sale of five hotels, including The Carlyle and the Rosewood Management Company to New World, a Hong Kong based real estate and hotel company.
Wolff has a long history of sports franchise ownership. In the past, he has been a co-owner of the St. Louis Blues of the National Hockey League
National Hockey League
The National Hockey League is an unincorporated not-for-profit association which operates a major professional ice hockey league of 30 franchised member clubs, of which 7 are currently located in Canada and 23 in the United States...
and the Golden State Warriors
Golden State Warriors
The Golden State Warriors are an American professional basketball team based in Oakland, California. They are part of the Pacific Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association...
of the National Basketball Association
National Basketball Association
The National Basketball Association is the pre-eminent men's professional basketball league in North America. It consists of thirty franchised member clubs, of which twenty-nine are located in the United States and one in Canada...
. On April 1, 2005, Wolff and an ownership group purchased the Oakland Athletics
Oakland Athletics
The Oakland Athletics are a Major League Baseball team based in Oakland, California. The Athletics are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. From to the present, the Athletics have played in the O.co Coliseum....
baseball team; Wolff became the 8th owner of the franchise purchasing the interests of Stephen Schott
Stephen Schott
Stephen Schott is a real estate developer and businessman from California, best known for his ten-year co-ownership of the Oakland Athletics.-Early life and career:...
and Ken Hofmann
Ken Hofmann
Kenneth Harry Hofmann is a builder, real estate developer and philanthropist who is best known for being the former owner of both the Seattle Seahawks and the Oakland Athletics....
. In 2006, the A's ownership group purchased an option to revive the San Jose Earthquakes
San Jose Earthquakes
The San Jose Earthquakes professional soccer team is located in the San Jose, California, United States suburb of Santa Clara, and participates in Major League Soccer , the top level soccer league in the United States and Canada....
franchise of Major League Soccer
Major League Soccer
Major League Soccer is a professional soccer league based in the United States and sanctioned by the United States Soccer Federation . The league is composed of 19 teams — 16 in the U.S. and 3 in Canada...
. At the 2007 MLS All Star Game, it was announced that Wolff has exercised the option, and the Earthquakes began play during the 2008 MLS season. In January 2011, it was speculated that he had interest in buying the Los Angeles Dodgers, but later denied this.