Restaurateur Tilman Fertitta Wants to Buy the Houston Rockets

In addition to running his massive restaurant empire, Landry’s owner Tilman Fertitta has expressed a serious interest in buying the Houston Rockets — again.

Over the past couple of months, Fertitta has mentioned buying the team in multiple interviews, reports ESPN. “It's one of Houston's four major teams. It would be exciting. This is my home,” Fertitta told KRIV-TV. “I've looked at other teams, but it's hard to be involved with another team when Houston is your home."

As ESPN notes, this isn’t Fertitta’s first interest in the team. Back in 1993, Fertitta offered $81 million to buy the team, but owner Leslie Alexander ended up winning the bid for $85 million. As was announced late yesterday afternoon, Alexander is seeking offers on the team, and is looking to sell “sooner rather than later.”

At present, no figures have been kicked around as to the amount of cash that Fertitta would have to pony up to own the team, but a recent valuation of the Rockets by Forbes estimates that the team is worth about $1.65 billion.

• Houston billionaire Tilman Fertitta interested in buying the Rockets [ESPN]
• Houston Rockets are for sale, team president announces [SBNation]