Rogers in talks to buy Leafs empire: reports
Posted December 1, 2010 9:54 am.
This article is more than 5 years old.
TORONTO, Ont. – There are reports communications giant Rogers has been in talks to buy Maple Leafs Sports and Entertainment Ltd.
It’s a deal that would transform Rogers into one of the most powerful sports enterprises in North America.
Rogers already owns the Blue Jays, Sportsnet, the FAN 590 and 680News, among others, and now, the company is apparently trying to acquire the Leafs, Raptors and Toronto FC.
It’s something FAN 590 hockey reporter Howard Berger alluded to during the “Blue and White Tonight” show on Tuesday.
“I don’t think the Teachers’ will be in majority control of this company a year from now. There are many, many whispers about the company that you and I work for, buying into the Maple Leafs,” Berger said.
In a statement, Rogers Communications said, “we don’t comment on rumour or speculation.”
“We have a successful, long-standing sponsorship arrangement with MLSE. Sports is an important part of Rogers and we’re always in discussions with companies to enhance the sports content we offer our customers,” Jan Innes, the company’s vice president of public affairs, said. “There’s no change to our current relationship with MLSE.”
In Wednesday’s front-page story, the Toronto Star reported this is a deal worth about $1.3-billion and would involve buying a majority stake in Maple Leafs Sports and Entertainment from the Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan.
Richard Powers, a sports marketing professor with University of Toronto’s Rotman School of Management, told the Toronto Star would give “Rogers a stranglehold on basically the entire professional sports market in southern Ontario.”
This certainly has sports fans talking. “I think it could good for the sports teams of Toronto. I think Rogers has a vision that they want to win,” one fan said.
