Rogers purchases full ownership of MLSE

For better or worse, Toronto’s major professional sports team are now all under the same umbrella.

On Thursday, Rogers Communications Inc. announced that they it has completely acquired Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment (MLSE).

Rogers completed its takeover by purchasing the remaining 25% of MLSE from Kilmer Sports Inc. for $4.35 billion.

The deal means that the Toronto Maple Leafs, along with the other major sports teams under MLSE (the NBA’s Toronto Raptors, CFL’s Toronto Argonauts, and MLS’ Toronto FC), will now have the same ownership as the MLB’s Toronto Blue Jays.

Edward Rogers, the Executive Chairs of Rogers, expressed his sense of responisibility at now owning all of Toronto’s major sports teams in a statement.

“MLSE has some of the most iconic sports teams, they are part of the fabric of our communities and our country,” he said Edward Rogers. “Sports fans invest more than their money into their teams, they invest their time, passion and dreams. Their investment is personal and so is our responsibility.”

Tony Staffieri, Rogers’ President and CEO, shared those sentiments about the duty that comes with owning the teams that Toronto sports fans care so much about.

“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,” he said.

Rogers first took a stake in MLSE when it purchased, in partnership with Bell Canada Enterprises Inc., 75% of the company from the Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan in 2012. Rogers controlled half of the joint holding company it shared with Bell, effectively giving it 37.5% net ownership of MLSE.

In 2024, Rogers purchased Bell’s stake in MLSE, giving it the full 75% ownership of the company that it had initially shared with Bell.

Now, having purchased the remaining 25% of MLSE, it will create a new entity, Rogers Sports, that will control all of its sports assets.