Latest news with #EdwardRogers
The Province
10-08-2025
- Business
- The Province
SIMMONS SAYS: With the Blue Jays finally having a great season, does Mark Shapiro deserve another contract?
Blue Jays president Mark Shapiro (left) poses with Rogers Communications chairman Edward Rogers and GM Ross Atkins (right) at the press conference to announce the contract extension for Vlad Guerrero Jr., in April. Photo by Jack Boland / Toronto Sun When Edward Rogers made a rare public appearance — on the day he signed Vladimir Guerrero to the richest contract in Blue Jays history — he anticipated that one question would certainly come his way. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Exclusive articles by top sports columnists Patrick Johnston, Ben Kuzma, J.J. Abrams and others. Plus, Canucks Report, Sports and Headline News newsletters and events. Unlimited online access to The Province and 15 news sites with one account. The Province ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on. Daily puzzles and comics, including the New York Times Crossword. Support local journalism. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Exclusive articles by top sports columnists Patrick Johnston, Ben Kuzma, J.J. Abrams and others. Plus, Canucks Report, Sports and Headline News newsletters and events. Unlimited online access to The Province and 15 news sites with one account. The Province ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on. Daily puzzles and comics, including the New York Times Crossword. Support local journalism. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors It never did. In all the hoopla and hype over the Guerrero $500-million signing nobody, myself included, asked the obvious question to the normally unavailable Rogers. What are your plans for team president Mark Shapiro in the future? Shapiro's contract is up. At the time of the Guerrero celebration, the Jays were 9-7, coming off a last place 74-win season, not exactly looking like the best team in baseball. Shapiro had done nice work overspending some of Rogers' money to renovate what used to be SkyDome. His work with the ball club itself could be deemed somewhere between incomplete and inadequate. That was in April. The Jays are now in first place in the American League East and looking like they will remain in that spot. Shapiro and his hand-picked general manager Ross Atkins could be or should be taking bows for this unlikely amazing Blue Jays season but what's closer to the truth is they in tandem have fallen from a tree head first and landed on their feet. Essential reading for hockey fans who eat, sleep, Canucks, repeat. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. Please try again This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Now what does Rogers do with Shapiro? Does he re-up him as club president because of this season or let him go because of the past nine seasons before this one. Brendan Shanahan was let go as president of the Maple Leafs after 11 seasons. Masai Ujiri was let go as president of the Raptors after 12 seasons. Both had more success on the field or ice or court in their middle years than Shapiro has had. And both were far more popular and believable to their fan bases. So the question remains for Edward Rogers, whose company owns the Jays, Maple Leafs and Raptors. Does Shapiro's timing of pulling a great season out of his hat land him a new deal? The next time Mr. Rogers is available — the question has to be asked. Unless he answers it himself before then with a contract extension to the regularly condescending Shapiro. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Nothing explains this unique but truly fun Blue Jays season better than this: Jose Berrios is having an unusually bad year. His earned run average for July and August is 5.83. The Jays are 16-8 in games in which Berrios has started this season … What a race for the Cy Young Award in the American League between Detroit's Tarik Skubal and Boston's Garrett Crochet. Skubal's earned run average per month: 1.52 in April; 2.20 in May; 1.89 in June; 1.82 in July. Crochet's numbers: 1.85 in April; 2.03 in May; 2,90 in June; 1.73 in July. How do you pick one and not the other? … Newly acquired Shane Bieber made three playoff starts for the Cleveland Guardians. His earned run average for the three starts — 5.00 … I like the name Canadian Open for every major golf and tennis tournament in this country. The tennis tournament has had numerous names over the years, such as National Bank Open to Players' International to Rothmans Cup to du Maurier Open to Rogers Cup to AT&T Cup to Canadian Masters. And I'm probably missing some. No matter what they call what Victoria Mboko just won — to me it's the Canadian Open … Not sure if the schedule maker did this on purpose but it's fascinating to see the Blue Jays play the Dodgers at the same time Boston is playing San Diego and the Yankees are playing Houston … Upcoming birthdays this month: Cliff Fletcher is turning 90, Pat Gillick is turning 88 and Sherry Bassin is turning 86 … The starting batting order for the Dominican Republic in next year's World Baseball Classic will include Ketel Marte, Fernando Tatis Jr., Juan Soto, Guerrero Jr,. Jose Ramirez, Rafael Devers, and Julio Rodriguez … Saturday was Oldtimers' Game at Yankee Stadium. And probably half the Oldtimers could play the field for the current mess that is the Yanks. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Perhaps I wasn't clear enough when I indicated here that Samuel Montembeault has a better chance of making Team Canada, the Olympic version, for this February's Games because he happens to be French Canadian. My view of this comes from covering nine Winter Olympics and every Olympic hockey tournament in those years. I've watched and worked around the Quebec media, which operates quite differently than the rest of the country's writers and reporters when it comes to sports. They primarily focus on Quebec athletes and Quebec issues while covering the Games. More than once, a columnist from Montreal had written and posted his own Olympic standings in the Press Centre comparing Quebec athletes to the rest of Canada. There was back then, and still is now, tremendous pressure on Hockey Canada to have a French Canadian player(s) on the Olympic team. Montembeault, who may well be deserving of a goaltending spot no matter his heritage happens to be, is the easy choice for GM Doug Armstrong and friends so they don't have to answer the French Canadian question that many of their counterparts have dealt with over the years. I didn't invent the pressure here — I've seen it up close. Those who say the pressure doesn't exist are either naive or misinformed … The other thing is, it doesn't really matter who the third goalie is for Team Canada or any other team. If you're getting to a third goalie in a short tournament, you're probably out of the running anyhow … A list of NHL players to watch closely in the first three months of the coming season is growing. They're playing for more than their teams, but for a personal opportunity. Among them Nick Suzuki, Tom Wilson, Macklin Celebrini, Connor Bedard, Zach Hyman, Aaron Ekblad, Carter Verhaeghe, Evan Bouchard, Travis Konecny, Mark Scheifele — those in contention for the few spots truly available on the Canadian Olympic team … Konecny's one of the few 4-Nations players who will have to overly impress Canadian brass to be picked for the Games … My bet is Suzuki. Wilson and Scheifele will make Team Canada as will Bouchard, the sometime Edmonton defenceman … The rest and those not listed here but heading to camp later this month, are in difficulty of making the team … The Leafs have some interest in bringing back Max Pacioretty but not until they find homes for some of the salaries they need to dump from their roster. Like those belonging to David Kampf and Calle Jarnkrok, who total up at $4.5 million. Currently, Leafs have too many bottom six forwards. If they move a few of them, that will open up a possible spot for Pacioretty … Problem with losing Kampf and with Mitch Marner gone is two of the best penalty killers are out of the Toronto lineup. Nicolas Roy is said to be an excellent penalty killer … Still no word on Connor McDavid re-signing in Edmonton, which gets rabid Leaf fans crazy with anticipation. My best guess on this is that McDavid will sign another deal in Edmonton, which will last for four years. That would represent 14 years of his career. If after that he is still without a Stanley Cup ring, then I could see him looking elsewhere. Just not yet. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Thirty-three years ago I stayed up late to watch Daniel Nestor beat Stefan Edberg in the Davis Cup. He was 238th in the world, Edberg was No. 1. That was my formal introduction to Canadian tennis (post Carling Bassett) at the highest level, but later came gold medal doubles win at the Sydney Olympics, and Milos Raonic and Denis Shapovalov, and the emergence of Genie Bouchard as a contender, which preceded the U.S. Open win of Bianca Andreescu and a final appearance by Leylah Annie Fernandez and most recently the Olympic medals for the team of Felix Auger-Aliassime and Gaby Dabrowski in Paris. And now Victoria Mboko. Younger, bigger, more athletic, seemingly more poised than the Canadian women who have come before here. She captured a country with her performance in Montreal at the Canadian Open. Now, if she can find a way to double fault a little less often and improve her forehand, she should be real and contending for years to come. We thought that when Andreescu won the Open but she's all but disappeared (except on television commercials) since the 2019 win over Serena Williams. She was a physical presence and then injuries took over and rendered her rather irrelevant. The bet here is that this is not a one-and-done for Mboko. How wide open is women's tennis? The U.S. Open has had 10 different winners in the past 11 years. Two of those are Naomi Osaka, who embarrassed herself with her lack of class when presentations were being made at the Canadian Open. The protocol for a tournament runner up is rather basic: You thank the tournament organizers, you thank the volunteers, you thank the sponsors, you thank the linesmen and the ball boys, and you praise the winner of the title. Osaka never mentioned Mboko once, never mentioned she was Canadian winning the tournament at home. Never mentioning Mboko's name made which Osaka look petty and small. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. If you spent any time covering the Argos over the years, you would certainly know Nick Volpe. He was everywhere. He was in the press box during games, on the sidelines during practices, at college fields scouting on other days. He was a football lifer, a player and a man worth knowing. Yesterday, he was posthumously honoured by the Argos. And so was Chris Schultz, who should be in the Canadian Hall of Fame for his play at tackle and is in the Hall for his broadcasting career. Two men who bled Double Blue and lived for football. If you had met either or them or spent any time around them, those were conversations to remember. I wish both were still around, just for one more laugh, one more handshake, more football story that tells you how much more they knew about the game than you did … One of these things is not like the other: The Ticats honoured NBA MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and former Cat offensive lineman Miles Gorrell on Thursday night. Shouldn't they have done SGA by himself and Gorrell on another night? … Glad they won on Friday night but has any franchise fallen farther in Canada than the Edmonton Elks? At one time, this was the model franchise of Canadian football. Both in tickets sold and wins. Now very close to last in both … Strange business. For years, the Road Hockey to Conquer Cancer fundraising tournament has been one of the great charitable-sporting events in Toronto. It is scheduled, as usual this year, for late September. But in early September, a new charitable tournament is scheduled, basically same style, same format. It's called Street Hockey For The Cure. Some former NHL players are involved in both events but the NHL Alumni Association is only involved with the original tournament. Why two tournaments — basically going head to head for the same cause makes little sense from this viewpoint … This is what happens on the national news every time a Canadian tennis player emerges out of nowhere. Some assignment editor sends an unsuspecting reporter out to a local club to interview 10-year-olds who say they are inspired by the play of (fill in the blank). It's lazy reporting at its finest and also meaningless … The total prize money for the upcoming U.S. Open is a record $85 million U.S. The singles winners get $5 million which is more than 10 times what Mboko ws paid for her win in Montreal … Happy birthday to Deion Sanders (58), Brett Hull (61), Rod Laver (87), Rod Brind'Amour (55), John Chapman (80), Bob Cousy (97), Riddick Bowe (58), Alexa Bliss (34), Pat Mahomes Sn. (55), Kliff Kingsbury (46), Ja Morant (26), Ted Simmons (76), Louis Lipps (63), Doug Williams (70), Nick Suzuki (26) and Ime Udoka (48) … And hey, whatever became of Dioner Navarro? Read More University Op-Ed News Sports Vancouver Whitecaps
Toronto Sun
10-08-2025
- Business
- Toronto Sun
SIMMONS SAYS: With the Blue Jays finally having a great season, does Mark Shapiro deserve another contract?
Get the latest from Steve Simmons straight to your inbox Blue Jays president Mark Shapiro (left) poses with Rogers Communications chairman Edward Rogers and GM Ross Atkins (right) at the press conference to announce the contract extension for Vlad Guerrero Jr., in April. Photo by Jack Boland / Toronto Sun When Edward Rogers made a rare public appearance — on the day he signed Vladimir Guerrero to the richest contract in Blue Jays history — he anticipated that one question would certainly come his way. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors Don't have an account? Create Account It never did. In all the hoopla and hype over the Guerrero $500-million signing nobody, myself included, asked the obvious question to the normally unavailable Rogers. What are your plans for team president Mark Shapiro in the future? Shapiro's contract is up. At the time of the Guerrero celebration, the Jays were 9-7, coming off a last place 74-win season, not exactly looking like the best team in baseball. Shapiro had done nice work overspending some of Rogers' money to renovate what used to be SkyDome. His work with the ball club itself could be deemed somewhere between incomplete and inadequate. That was in April. The Jays are now in first place in the American League East and looking like they will remain in that spot. Shapiro and his hand-picked general manager Ross Atkins could be or should be taking bows for this unlikely amazing Blue Jays season but what's closer to the truth is they in tandem have fallen from a tree head first and landed on their feet. Your noon-hour look at what's happening in Toronto and beyond. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. Please try again This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Now what does Rogers do with Shapiro? Does he re-up him as club president because of this season or let him go because of the past nine seasons before this one. Brendan Shanahan was let go as president of the Maple Leafs after 11 seasons. Masai Ujiri was let go as president of the Raptors after 12 seasons. Both had more success on the field or ice or court in their middle years than Shapiro has had. And both were far more popular and believable to their fan bases. So the question remains for Edward Rogers, whose company owns the Jays, Maple Leafs and Raptors. Does Shapiro's timing of pulling a great season out of his hat land him a new deal? The next time Mr. Rogers is available — the question has to be asked. Unless he answers it himself before then with a contract extension to the regularly condescending Shapiro. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Nothing explains this unique but truly fun Blue Jays season better than this: Jose Berrios is having an unusually bad year. His earned run average for July and August is 5.83. The Jays are 16-8 in games in which Berrios has started this season … What a race for the Cy Young Award in the American League between Detroit's Tarik Skubal and Boston's Garrett Crochet. Skubal's earned run average per month: 1.52 in April; 2.20 in May; 1.89 in June; 1.82 in July. Crochet's numbers: 1.85 in April; 2.03 in May; 2,90 in June; 1.73 in July. How do you pick one and not the other? … Newly acquired Shane Bieber made three playoff starts for the Cleveland Guardians. His earned run average for the three starts — 5.00 … I like the name Canadian Open for every major golf and tennis tournament in this country. The tennis tournament has had numerous names over the years, such as National Bank Open to Players' International to Rothmans Cup to du Maurier Open to Rogers Cup to AT&T Cup to Canadian Masters. And I'm probably missing some. No matter what they call what Victoria Mboko just won — to me it's the Canadian Open … Not sure if the schedule maker did this on purpose but it's fascinating to see the Blue Jays play the Dodgers at the same time Boston is playing San Diego and the Yankees are playing Houston … Upcoming birthdays this month: Cliff Fletcher is turning 90, Pat Gillick is turning 88 and Sherry Bassin is turning 86 … The starting batting order for the Dominican Republic in next year's World Baseball Classic will include Ketel Marte, Fernando Tatis Jr., Juan Soto, Guerrero Jr,. Jose Ramirez, Rafael Devers, and Julio Rodriguez … Saturday was Oldtimers' Game at Yankee Stadium. And probably half the Oldtimers could play the field for the current mess that is the Yanks. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Perhaps I wasn't clear enough when I indicated here that Samuel Montembeault has a better chance of making Team Canada, the Olympic version, for this February's Games because he happens to be French Canadian. My view of this comes from covering nine Winter Olympics and every Olympic hockey tournament in those years. I've watched and worked around the Quebec media, which operates quite differently than the rest of the country's writers and reporters when it comes to sports. They primarily focus on Quebec athletes and Quebec issues while covering the Games. More than once, a columnist from Montreal had written and posted his own Olympic standings in the Press Centre comparing Quebec athletes to the rest of Canada. There was back then, and still is now, tremendous pressure on Hockey Canada to have a French Canadian player(s) on the Olympic team. Montembeault, who may well be deserving of a goaltending spot no matter his heritage happens to be, is the easy choice for GM Doug Armstrong and friends so they don't have to answer the French Canadian question that many of their counterparts have dealt with over the years. I didn't invent the pressure here — I've seen it up close. Those who say the pressure doesn't exist are either naive or misinformed … The other thing is, it doesn't really matter who the third goalie is for Team Canada or any other team. If you're getting to a third goalie in a short tournament, you're probably out of the running anyhow … A list of NHL players to watch closely in the first three months of the coming season is growing. They're playing for more than their teams, but for a personal opportunity. Among them Nick Suzuki, Tom Wilson, Macklin Celebrini, Connor Bedard, Zach Hyman, Aaron Ekblad, Carter Verhaeghe, Evan Bouchard, Travis Konecny, Mark Scheifele — those in contention for the few spots truly available on the Canadian Olympic team … Konecny's one of the few 4-Nations players who will have to overly impress Canadian brass to be picked for the Games … My bet is Suzuki. Wilson and Scheifele will make Team Canada as will Bouchard, the sometime Edmonton defenceman … The rest and those not listed here but heading to camp later this month, are in difficulty of making the team … The Leafs have some interest in bringing back Max Pacioretty but not until they find homes for some of the salaries they need to dump from their roster. Like those belonging to David Kampf and Calle Jarnkrok, who total up at $4.5 million. Currently, Leafs have too many bottom six forwards. If they move a few of them, that will open up a possible spot for Pacioretty … Problem with losing Kampf and with Mitch Marner gone is two of the best penalty killers are out of the Toronto lineup. Nicolas Roy is said to be an excellent penalty killer … Still no word on Connor McDavid re-signing in Edmonton, which gets rabid Leaf fans crazy with anticipation. My best guess on this is that McDavid will sign another deal in Edmonton, which will last for four years. That would represent 14 years of his career. If after that he is still without a Stanley Cup ring, then I could see him looking elsewhere. Just not yet. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Thirty-three years ago I stayed up late to watch Daniel Nestor beat Stefan Edberg in the Davis Cup. He was 238th in the world, Edberg was No. 1. That was my formal introduction to Canadian tennis (post Carling Bassett) at the highest level, but later came gold medal doubles win at the Sydney Olympics, and Milos Raonic and Denis Shapovalov, and the emergence of Genie Bouchard as a contender, which preceded the U.S. Open win of Bianca Andreescu and a final appearance by Leylah Annie Fernandez and most recently the Olympic medals for the team of Felix Auger-Aliassime and Gaby Dabrowski in Paris. And now Victoria Mboko. Younger, bigger, more athletic, seemingly more poised than the Canadian women who have come before here. She captured a country with her performance in Montreal at the Canadian Open. Now, if she can find a way to double fault a little less often and improve her forehand, she should be real and contending for years to come. We thought that when Andreescu won the Open but she's all but disappeared (except on television commercials) since the 2019 win over Serena Williams. She was a physical presence and then injuries took over and rendered her rather irrelevant. The bet here is that this is not a one-and-done for Mboko. How wide open is women's tennis? The U.S. Open has had 10 different winners in the past 11 years. Two of those are Naomi Osaka, who embarrassed herself with her lack of class when presentations were being made at the Canadian Open. The protocol for a tournament runner up is rather basic: You thank the tournament organizers, you thank the volunteers, you thank the sponsors, you thank the linesmen and the ball boys, and you praise the winner of the title. Osaka never mentioned Mboko once, never mentioned she was Canadian winning the tournament at home. Never mentioning Mboko's name made which Osaka look petty and small. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. If you spent any time covering the Argos over the years, you would certainly know Nick Volpe. He was everywhere. He was in the press box during games, on the sidelines during practices, at college fields scouting on other days. He was a football lifer, a player and a man worth knowing. Yesterday, he was posthumously honoured by the Argos. And so was Chris Schultz, who should be in the Canadian Hall of Fame for his play at tackle and is in the Hall for his broadcasting career. Two men who bled Double Blue and lived for football. If you had met either or them or spent any time around them, those were conversations to remember. I wish both were still around, just for one more laugh, one more handshake, more football story that tells you how much more they knew about the game than you did … One of these things is not like the other: The Ticats honoured NBA MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and former Cat offensive lineman Miles Gorrell on Thursday night. Shouldn't they have done SGA by himself and Gorrell on another night? … Glad they won on Friday night but has any franchise fallen farther in Canada than the Edmonton Elks? At one time, this was the model franchise of Canadian football. Both in tickets sold and wins. Now very close to last in both … Strange business. For years, the Road Hockey to Conquer Cancer fundraising tournament has been one of the great charitable-sporting events in Toronto. It is scheduled, as usual this year, for late September. But in early September, a new charitable tournament is scheduled, basically same style, same format. It's called Street Hockey For The Cure. Some former NHL players are involved in both events but the NHL Alumni Association is only involved with the original tournament. Why two tournaments — basically going head to head for the same cause makes little sense from this viewpoint … This is what happens on the national news every time a Canadian tennis player emerges out of nowhere. Some assignment editor sends an unsuspecting reporter out to a local club to interview 10-year-olds who say they are inspired by the play of (fill in the blank). It's lazy reporting at its finest and also meaningless … The total prize money for the upcoming U.S. Open is a record $85 million U.S. The singles winners get $5 million which is more than 10 times what Mboko ws paid for her win in Montreal … Happy birthday to Deion Sanders (58), Brett Hull (61), Rod Laver (87), Rod Brind'Amour (55), John Chapman (80), Bob Cousy (97), Riddick Bowe (58), Alexa Bliss (34), Pat Mahomes Sn. (55), Kliff Kingsbury (46), Ja Morant (26), Ted Simmons (76), Louis Lipps (63), Doug Williams (70), Nick Suzuki (26) and Ime Udoka (48) … And hey, whatever became of Dioner Navarro? Read More Columnists Sunshine Girls Toronto & GTA Sunshine Girls World
Yahoo
03-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Rogers Officially Becomes Majority Owner Of Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment
The parent company of the Toronto Maple Leafs and Marlies has a new majority owner. Rogers Communications closed the deal on July 1 to buy BCE's 37.5 percent stake in Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment. It became the majority owner of the company that also owns the NBA's Toronto Raptors, CFL's Toronto Argonauts and MLS' Toronto FC. Advertisement Rogers announced in June it received all league approvals to buy the stake of BCE, the holding company of Bell Canada, and approval from Canada's Competition Bureau. At the time, it awaited approval from the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission to acquire "an additional indirect interest in Toronto Raptors Network Ltd." Now, Rogers received all necessary approvals to acquire the stake for $4.7 billion Cdn. 'MLSE is one of the most prestigious sports and entertainment organizations in the world and we're proud to be the majority owner of these iconic sports teams,' Tony Staffieri, president and CEO of Rogers, said in a news release on July 2. 'Live sports are a core part of our business and core to the fans who live and breathe every moment.' Edward Rogers, the executive chair of Rogers Communications, told The Hockey News publisher-owner W. Graeme Roustan in January that becoming the majority owner speaks to Rogers' commitment to the Maple Leafs. Advertisement "Our track record is a track record of good ownership in everything we do," Rogers said in the interview for the 2025 Money & Power Issue. "We up our investments. You look at MLSE, we've won a few championships, and the vast majority of profits that MLSE makes go back into the business, back into player salaries." Image Rogers Communications is also the sole owner of MLB's Toronto Blue Jays. "With the Toronto Blue Jays, we're consistently within the top 10 in terms of payroll in the league," Rogers said. "We recently invested upwards of half a billion dollars in the Rogers Centre stadium to increase the fan experience. So, we're very much investors. Ultimately, we want winning teams, and we need to invest to do that, and we know that." Advertisement The executive chairman also said winning teams increase viewership and value, so they're aligned with fans on the desire for squads that capture championships. In April, the NHL and Rogers announced a new 12-year Canadian TV deal that begins after their current 12-year deal ends after the 2025-26 campaign. The Graeme Roustan Show: Edward Rogers And Tony Staffieri The Graeme Roustan Show: Edward Rogers And Tony Staffieri Edward Rogers, the executive chairman of Rogers Communications, and Tony Staffieri, the president-CEO of Rogers Communications, discuss their backgrounds in hockey, why the Rogers company wanted to invest in the Maple Leafs and when a Stanley Cup is coming to Toronto. Advertisement The Maple Leafs finished first in their division for the second time in five seasons and third time in 25 seasons, with 108 points. They advanced past the first round of the playoffs for the second time in 21 years but lost in the second round to the Florida Panthers, which went on to win their second straight Stanley Cup championship. The Marlies, meanwhile, made a first-round appearance in the AHL playoffs. Get the latest news and trending stories by following The Hockey News on Google News and by subscribing to The Hockey News newsletter here. And share your thoughts by commenting below the article on
Yahoo
02-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Rogers Becomes Majority Owner of Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment
Closes transaction to acquire BCE's 37.5% ownership stake in MLSEStrengthens commitment to Canadian sports Will invest to bring championships to Canada TORONTO, July 02, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Rogers Communications Inc. (TSX: RCI.A and RCI.B) (NYSE: RCI) today announced it has closed its transaction to acquire BCE's 37.5% ownership stake in Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment (MLSE) for C$4.7 billion. Rogers is now the largest owner with a 75% interest in MLSE. 'MLSE is one of the most prestigious sports and entertainment organizations in the world and we're proud to be the majority owner of these iconic sports teams,' said Tony Staffieri, President and CEO, Rogers. 'Live sports are a core part of our business and core to the fans who live and breathe every moment.' Rogers has invested over $15 billion in Canadian sports over the past decade and will continue to invest to bring championships to Canada. 'We're passionate about winning and we're committed to bringing more championships to fans in Canada,' said Edward Rogers, Executive Chair, Rogers. The acquisition expands Rogers leadership in Canadian sports, adding to its portfolio that includes the Toronto Blue Jays, Rogers Centre and Sportsnet – the number one sports network in Canada. Rogers also has long-term strategic partnerships with the NHL including a new 12-year agreement for the national media rights through 2037-2038, and with the Vancouver Canucks, Edmonton Oilers and Calgary Flames.The transaction closed effective July 1 after receiving all necessary regulatory and league approvals. The purchase price was primarily funded from revolving bank credit facilities together with cash on hand. 'MLSE is a valuable and appreciating asset and this investment positions us to unlock more value for Rogers shareholders,' added Staffieri. 'We're building something that lasts – on the ice, on the court, on the field, and across the country.' About Rogers Communications is Canada's leading communications and entertainment company and its shares are publicly traded on the Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX: RCI.A and RCI.B) and on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE: RCI). For more information, please visit or For further information:Media Relationsmedia@ Investor in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Associated Press
02-07-2025
- Business
- Associated Press
Rogers Becomes Majority Owner of Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment
Closes transaction to acquire BCE's 37.5% ownership stake in MLSE Strengthens commitment to Canadian sports Will invest to bring championships to Canada TORONTO, July 02, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Rogers Communications Inc. (TSX: RCI.A and RCI.B) (NYSE: RCI) today announced it has closed its transaction to acquire BCE's 37.5% ownership stake in Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment (MLSE) for C$4.7 billion. Rogers is now the largest owner with a 75% interest in MLSE. 'MLSE is one of the most prestigious sports and entertainment organizations in the world and we're proud to be the majority owner of these iconic sports teams,' said Tony Staffieri, President and CEO, Rogers. 'Live sports are a core part of our business and core to the fans who live and breathe every moment.' Rogers has invested over $15 billion in Canadian sports over the past decade and will continue to invest to bring championships to Canada. 'We're passionate about winning and we're committed to bringing more championships to fans in Canada,' said Edward Rogers, Executive Chair, Rogers. The acquisition expands Rogers leadership in Canadian sports, adding to its portfolio that includes the Toronto Blue Jays, Rogers Centre and Sportsnet – the number one sports network in Canada. Rogers also has long-term strategic partnerships with the NHL including a new 12-year agreement for the national media rights through 2037-2038, and with the Vancouver Canucks, Edmonton Oilers and Calgary Flames. The transaction closed effective July 1 after receiving all necessary regulatory and league approvals. The purchase price was primarily funded from revolving bank credit facilities together with cash on hand. 'MLSE is a valuable and appreciating asset and this investment positions us to unlock more value for Rogers shareholders,' added Staffieri. 'We're building something that lasts – on the ice, on the court, on the field, and across the country.' About Rogers Communications Inc. Rogers is Canada's leading communications and entertainment company and its shares are publicly traded on the Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX: RCI.A and RCI.B) and on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE: RCI). For more information, please visit or For further information: Media Relations [email protected] 1-844-226-1338 Investor Relations [email protected] 1-844-801-4792
