Kwanza Jones, one of the new owners of the San Diego Padres, made a memorable debut at her introductory press conference, expressing unwavering confidence in the team's future success. "We gonna win. We gonna win. We're going to win. We're going to win it all," Jones declared during the event at Petco Park.
Jones and her husband, Jose E. Feliciano, officially took over the franchise earlier this month, completing a $3.9 billion sale from the Seidler family. Feliciano, a businessman, and Jones, a former singer, are now at the helm of a team that has never won a World Series. While Feliciano expressed a more reserved hope for victory, he described the day as a "dream come true" and expressed gratitude for the honor of owning the team.
The new ownership inherits a team currently positioned for a playoff run. The Padres hold a 71-61 record and occupy the third and final National League Wild Card spot. This marks a period of consistent contention for the franchise, which has made the playoffs five times in the last six seasons and is aiming for its third consecutive postseason appearance.
The franchise's historical pursuit of a World Series title dates back to its debut in 1969, with their last appearance in the championship series in 1999. The success of the current season and the team's future competitiveness will ultimately determine the impact of the new ownership's ambitious declarations.