Rogers has announced that it has completed its acquisition of the remaining shares of Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment (MLSE) from Kilmer Sports for C$4.35 billion.
With the purchase now complete, Rogers officially owns 100 per cent of MLSE and all the sports teams under its umbrella, after closing the deal in July.
“We’re proud to bring these beloved teams together with the rest of Rogers to deliver more for fans, audiences, and customers,” said Tony Staffieri, President and CEO, Rogers. “We know how much these teams mean to fans, and we are fully committed to investing to build championship-calibre teams, to enhancing the fan experience, and to delivering compelling experiences for our customers.”
The teams that operate under MLSE include the Toronto Maple Leafs (NHL) and the Toronto Marlies (AHL), Toronto Raptors (NBA) and the Raptors 905 (NBA G League), Toronto FC (MLS), and the Toronto Argonauts (CFL). MLSE also owns and operates Scotiabank Arena and partners with Live Nation.
MLSE’s sports portfolio joins Rogers’ sports portfolio, which includes the Toronto Blue Jays, the Rogers Centre, and Sportsnet, along with over 30 TV networks and 40 radio stations.
Rogers notes that it will create a new business unit, known as Rogers Sports, that will bring all of the company’s sports, media, and entertainment businesses together.
Interestingly, the company also added that business remains as usual, with Keith Pelley remaining as the President and CEO of MLSE, while Mark Shapiro will remain President and CEO of the Toronto Blue Jays. The only change is that Pelley will take on additional accountability for Rogers Media effective immediately.
This comes as the company is getting some flak following the initial purchase. The company raised prices of its Sportsnet+ streaming service weeks after the purchase was reported, shuttered several radio stations, and gutted its customer service team.
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