Rogers acquiring the LEAFS?!?!?! (Evil Empire is striking again!)

[bman13]

http://www.thestar.com/sports/hockey/article/899562--rogers-in-talks-to-buy-leafs-in-blockbuster-deal


Not surprised by this actually. If this happens, RIP TSN...

[TokyoKiller]

Well actually, if Rogers buys them. They would make sure it is a profitable and successful brand without possibility for failure.

I hope they end up buying the Leafs, a change in ownership is due.

[crazyfast82]

Does that mean the end to Hockey Night in Canada????

[sp3GT]

^Not sure, but if it goes through they will own Raptors TV and Leafs TV

[The Johal]

Something smells fishy...

I don't know you guys, is it just me or does this not seem right...this comes like a day after Richard Peddie - CEO of MLSE steps down.. I dont like this i feel like theres gonna a big change and im not soo sure if its gonna be the better..

I know we have some leaf fans here ..maybe hiding after last nights game but lets hear what you guys think about this?

[The Johal]

RIP TSN...

NOO MORE PIERRE MCGUIRE AND HIS MONSTERS:thumbsup

if this is true, maybe this isnt soo bad LOl

[thekid]

Something smells fishy...

I don't know you guys, is it just me or does this not seem right...this comes like a day after Richard Peddie - CEO of MLSE steps down.. I dont like this i feel like theres gonna a big change and im not soo sure if its gonna be the better..

I know we have some leaf fans here ..maybe hiding after last nights game but lets hear what you guys think about this?

When I heard this today, my first instinct was there is no way the Ontario Teachers Pension Plan would ever sell their stake in MLSE... why would they, it's a money machine, and that's what pension plans generally like. That's part of the reason there has been no drive to make the team better, because it would cost more money, which means less money for the pension plan. So from that perspective I just don't see it.

If my instinct is wrong, and it probably is, I can't see this being any worse for the leafs, I know Rogers also likes money, but I also think they like success to be attributed with their name.

[PearlM3]

No one can say Rogers is not a winning organization. The are taking over toronto. I think it might be a good thing.

[rktsci]

I am of the opinion that as long as the teachers have a controlling stake in the sports teams, they will not produce contenders. They are not in it to win...they just want a return on their investment.

[ShortBus]

when it comes to sports peddie is an idiot, as was demonstrated by ferguson era.

i hate rogers because we all know prices will go up for watching the leafs/raptors/blue jays/tfc be it on tv or in person but atleast there is a slightly (very slight) better chance for winning.

[KenYork]

Something smells fishy...

I don't know you guys, is it just me or does this not seem right...this comes like a day after Richard Peddie - CEO of MLSE steps down.. I dont like this i feel like theres gonna a big change and im not soo sure if its gonna be the better..

I know we have some leaf fans here ..maybe hiding after last nights game but lets hear what you guys think about this?

:pop

Lots more things are going to change. Look back into the history of TSN, Sportsnet and Rogers and the people that controlled them. More heads will roll.

[bman13]

Something smells fishy...

I don't know you guys, is it just me or does this not seem right...this comes like a day after Richard Peddie - CEO of MLSE steps down.. I dont like this i feel like theres gonna a big change and im not soo sure if its gonna be the better..

I know we have some leaf fans here ..maybe hiding after last nights game but lets hear what you guys think about this?

I was talking with a buddy about this last night...I think Peddie stepped down when he got final word the that the deal is unofficially done.

[Slade]

I got bored and did this quickly :)

http://i54.tinypic.com/qpqjjl.jpg

If they move everything to Sportsnet1, it will be a bad sad day :(

[Zoom Zoom Boy]

I am of the opinion that as long as the teachers have a controlling stake in the sports teams, they will not produce contenders. They are not in it to win...they just want a return on their investment.

In the playoff's, NHL teams are not paying any player salaries. That ends after the regular season.
All of the money taken in gate receipts, merchandise and food/drinks during the playoff's is pure profit after production/game costs. It is estimated that MLSE would net approximately $2-3 Million in profit per playoff home game alone.

Nothing breeds more profit than a winning team that goes deep in the playoff's. The argument around the teacher's pension fund not wanting or caring about the Leafs being successful, based on capitalizing on their return, simply doesn't wash on any logical or business level. It is an emotional fan based response because the Teacher's pension is essentially a 'faceless' entity as an ownership group. I get why fans think this way, but would you prefer Harold Ballard because he had a face.

As for Rogers buying the Leafs, it makes sense from a business and control perspective. If they are willing to vastly over pay on the valuation and believe me, they will need to do that in order for the Teachers Union to walk away from MLSE, then I can see it happening. Still a long shot at best though based on the amount of money that will be involved and also in a climate where Rogers has declining revenues from their traditional forms of business.

Will be interesting to see how all of this plays out.

As a Leaf fan specifically, I actually think this will not be a great thing. I see the budget strings being pulled much tighter by Rogers than they are currently and with much more intrusion into operations than exists currently. It is how Rogers does business... Say what you want about the current regime, but they have shown a willingness to spend as needed and not interfere with the current Basketball and Hockey operations. Very different now than the dysfunctional triumvate model that was in place when Ferguson Jr. was the GM.

[bman13]

In the playoff's, NHL teams are not paying any player salaries. That ends after the regular season.
All of the money taken in gate receipts, merchandise and food/drinks during the playoff's is pure profit after production/game costs. It is estimated that MLSE would net approximately $2-3 Million in profit per playoff home game alone.

Nothing breeds more profit than a winning team that goes deep in the playoff's. The argument around the teacher's pension fund not wanting or caring about the Leafs being successful, based on capitalizing on their return, simply doesn't wash on any logical or business level. It is an emotional fan based response because the Teacher's pension is essentially a 'faceless' entity as an ownership group. I get why fans think this way, but would you prefer Harold Ballard because he had a face.

As for Rogers buying the Leafs, it makes sense from a business and control perspective. If they are willing to vastly over pay on the valuation and believe me, they will need to do that in order for the Teachers Union to walk away from MLSE, then I can see it happening. Still a long shot at best though based on the amount of money that will be involved and also in a climate where Rogers has declining revenues from their traditional forms of business.

Will be interesting to see how all of this plays out.

As a Leaf fan specifically, I actually think this will not be a great thing. I see the budget strings being pulled much tighter by Rogers than they are currently and with much more intrusion into operations than exists currently. It is how Rogers does business... Say what you want about the current regime, but they have shown a willingness to spend as needed and not interfere with the current Basketball and Hockey operations. Very different now than the dysfunctional triumvate model that was in place when Ferguson Jr. was the GM.

This has been true since Nadir Mohamed took over. The culture of Rogers from speaking to many people has drastically changed since Ted died.

[b.rabbit]

NOO MORE PIERRE MCGUIRE AND HIS MONSTERS:thumbsup

if this is true, maybe this isnt soo bad LOl

I'd take Pierre McGuire over Nick Kypreos and Bill Watters.


Not surprised by this actually. If this happens, RIP TSN...

If this happens and TSN dies, I'll be sad. I love TSN. I hate Sportsnet.

[bman13]

I'd take Pierre McGuire over Nick Kypreos and Bill Watters.



If this happens and TSN dies, I'll be sad. I love TSN. I hate Sportsnet.

theScore > both so it doesnt really matter.

[Lummix]

Word on the street has it that Ma Bell has tossed their name into the hat as well, they just haven't opened their yaps about it yet.

This could be a good thing. Rogers has always stated, at least according to Alex Anthopolous that the money is there when he needs it, and it always will be. This could be a bonus for both the leafs and the raptors. The ability to spend more money on proper scouting and better front office staff could be what is needed to give the organizations a kick in the ass.

However, by monopolizing the pro sports in toronto we could see ticket prices sky rocket for the raps, jays and TFC based off he profit of the leafs alone. AS well, we could see Leafs/Raptors TV increase in price.

AS for the death of TSN, it won't happen...TSN will be saved by the fact that they have every other Canadian team under contract, and that those games all draw a huge following.

[bman13]

http://blogs.thescore.com/nhl/2010/12/02/7-alternatives-to-mlse-that-rogers-could-buy-for-1-billion/

Another reason why theScore rules.

As for TSN...I'm sure they want Bell to bid cause think of the advertising dollars LOST potentially...it is HUGE. Also, stupid TSN2 (I say stupid cause they put out of town non-canadian team hockey game on TSN and a RAPTORS game on TSN2).

As for Bell...Rogers is said to be willing to overpay a bit, as for Bell...doubtful.

[Impressive]

I'd take Pierre McGuire over Nick Kypreos and Bill Watters.


If this happens and TSN dies, I'll be sad. I love TSN. I hate Sportsnet.

I can't believe you said that. No offense or anything but you must not know anything about Hockey to say such a thing like that. Do you not hear him? He takes the most obvious thing that everyones already noticed, states it, then claims and stands by it all game like nobody else knows.

"If the Leafs don't win their faceoffs on the PP, they won't get any chances or goals" - WELL NO SHIT BUDDY! then, every time they lose a draw, he has to re-enforce that they lost it and that's why they aren't generating offence. I wish I could get paid to do what he does...That or I wish for a mute option where you can just mute Pierre and keep the rest of the commentary going LOL.

[cwp_sedan]

Pierre McGuire knows what he is talking about. In fact all 3 of them do so I could care less who stays and who goes. The ones that need to go are the announcers.

The only one worth keeping is Joe Bowen!!

[Zoom Zoom Boy]

...This could be a good thing. Rogers has always stated, at least according to Alex Anthopolous that the money is there when he needs it, and it always will be. This could be a bonus for both the leafs and the raptors. The ability to spend more money on proper scouting and better front office staff could be what is needed to give the organizations a kick in the ass.


Simply not true. The former Jays GM said much the same thing until late in his tenure, when he then started to complain about not having enough salary expediture approval to compete against the big salary teams. After all, what exactly are they going to say since Rogers are effectively their employer and no fan wants to hear that their team won't spend the money needed to win. Baseball is essentially a no-cap sport. If it were true, the Jays would be spending in the upper range of the team salary expeditures and certainly comparable to Boston and New York since they are in their division and are their direct competition to making the post season. The fact of the matter is that they spend nowhere close to them. Perhaps if Rogers feels they have a legitimate chance of winning a pennant they will one day open up the purse strings, but the reality currently is that they certainly aren't willing to do it. The proof is in the numbers.

As for the Leafs specifically, your information is outdated. Brian Burke has revamped the front office extensively in the last 2 years and that includes the scouting department. He has surrounded himself with very experienced and knowledgeable hockey people in all areas of his management team as that has always been his personal style of management. It used to be true that the Leafs were deficient in these areas for a team with so much money, but it is no longer the case at all. Dave Nonis, Dave Poulin, Claude Loiselle and many more are first rate hockey executives. The Leafs have no problem spending money internally on either players or on the organization as a whole. See the new practice facility for one, as an example. The big issue was the lack of a strong hockey management leader/president with a clear vision to drive the necessary improvements forward. That and some interference by Peddie that doesn't exist under Burke's stewardship.

I can't speak to the Raptors as I haven't a clue about the team and care even less.

[bman13]

My information with regards to the Jays is very accurate after outcry that the Jays NEED to spend in order to compete in the division. However, if you want me to use a hockey example...the old GM of the Jays, think of him as JFJ. In his tenure, he made bad signings and was spending 90+ million (working on assignment and cant get you the figures). The only good he was able to do was help our farm system as that is what he was brought into do and sort of try to make the Jays an Oakland A's part 2. However, in our city and division, there is a lot of pressure and attention and bad signings were madethat shouldnt have been made (again, think of JFJ).

Now, think of the current GM as Brian Burke. If you ask any Jays fan who is considered 'hardcore' to the point where they follow even our farm teams and how our prospects and young players match up with rest of league...we are the envy of much of baseball. With the no cap and him wanting to prove himself for the long term, Alex (our current GM) has stated he is not going into winter meetings feeling restricted and in fact are shopping for some position players. We have the top pitching prospect and the top catching prospect and the culture of the Jays has changed since J.P. left. He says he will make signings of significant nature when/where he feels necessary and has full backing of Rogers. Jays over the last few years have been looking toward long term contention which is why you havent seen 150 million payrolls yearly.

The reason I know that Rogers has changed their mindset is simply the difference between baseball and hockey in this town. Hockey as proven, you can put a lottery team infront of fans year after year and they'll still come. It's NOT true for baseball. Fan attendance has gone up but slightly. Fans will show up if there is a competitive team.

As for what Rogers WOULD do for the Leafs...as countless media reports over the years have reported, the Leafs are profitable no matter what. However, they obviously bring in a lot more money when they are in the playoffs.

As for Rogers as sports owners, I cant say it is a good idea for them to own all of them. In addition, this current C.E.O. of Rogers is probably the worst thing to happen to Rogers as a corporation as a culture and company. He is very much FOR the shareholders and comes from a finance background. So wouldn't it be MUCH more different then currently, maybe slightly if any from an ownership standpoint. The main difference I see is the GM not having to have a board approve trade/signings.

Could Rogers end up snapping up the whole landscape of Toronto sports? Simple answer is yes. When you have the CRTC who is pretty much former executives from the Big 3, the CRTC has proven to be not in the interest of protecting the consumer (refer to latest ruling on Bell's ability for per usage billing) and countless other decisions.

At the end of the day, it doesnt matter what we think or see, what ends up happening if/when Rogers closes this deal...it can end up being good and bad at the same time. Cause when your the only game in town, your dictating how things are.

[Unoriginalusername]

The leafs just need to accept they are rebuilding and not give away what looks like will be two first round draft picks to get one decent player who doesn't have any offensive support around him.

The Edmonton oilers have just scored first against us tonight

[Zoom Zoom Boy]

My information with regards to the Jays is very accurate after outcry that the Jays NEED to spend in order to compete in the division. However, if you want me to use a hockey example...the old GM of the Jays, think of him as JFJ. In his tenure, he made bad signings and was spending 90+ million (working on assignment and cant get you the figures). The only good he was able to do was help our farm system as that is what he was brought into do and sort of try to make the Jays an Oakland A's part 2. However, in our city and division, there is a lot of pressure and attention and bad signings were madethat shouldnt have been made (again, think of JFJ).

Now, think of the current GM as Brian Burke. If you ask any Jays fan who is considered 'hardcore' to the point where they follow even our farm teams and how our prospects and young players match up with rest of league...we are the envy of much of baseball. With the no cap and him wanting to prove himself for the long term, Alex (our current GM) has stated he is not going into winter meetings feeling restricted and in fact are shopping for some position players. We have the top pitching prospect and the top catching prospect and the culture of the Jays has changed since J.P. left. He says he will make signings of significant nature when/where he feels necessary and has full backing of Rogers. Jays over the last few years have been looking toward long term contention which is why you havent seen 150 million payrolls yearly.

The reason I know that Rogers has changed their mindset is simply the difference between baseball and hockey in this town. Hockey as proven, you can put a lottery team infront of fans year after year and they'll still come. It's NOT true for baseball. Fan attendance has gone up but slightly. Fans will show up if there is a competitive team.

As for what Rogers WOULD do for the Leafs...as countless media reports over the years have reported, the Leafs are profitable no matter what. However, they obviously bring in a lot more money when they are in the playoffs.

As for Rogers as sports owners, I cant say it is a good idea for them to own all of them. In addition, this current C.E.O. of Rogers is probably the worst thing to happen to Rogers as a corporation as a culture and company. He is very much FOR the shareholders and comes from a finance background. So wouldn't it be MUCH more different then currently, maybe slightly if any from an ownership standpoint. The main difference I see is the GM not having to have a board approve trade/signings.

Could Rogers end up snapping up the whole landscape of Toronto sports? Simple answer is yes. When you have the CRTC who is pretty much former executives from the Big 3, the CRTC has proven to be not in the interest of protecting the consumer (refer to latest ruling on Bell's ability for per usage billing) and countless other decisions.

At the end of the day, it doesnt matter what we think or see, what ends up happening if/when Rogers closes this deal...it can end up being good and bad at the same time. Cause when your the only game in town, your dictating how things are.

Just curious, but whose comments are you replying to? Cause if it is me, if you check, I wasn't responding to anything you had mentioned. Just confused, that is all.

[KenYork]

:pop

[zzz3]

I got bored and did this quickly :)

http://i54.tinypic.com/qpqjjl.jpg

LOL

If they move everything to Sportsnet1, it will be a bad sad day :(


Another reason why theScore rules.


awesome article, thats why the score> tsn/sportsnet

[bman13]

Just curious, but whose comments are you replying to? Cause if it is me, if you check, I wasn't responding to anything you had mentioned. Just confused, that is all.

wow...day has been too long. It was meant to say "That information..."

Reading it now after being in the library all day makes me :bang. My bad :huge smile.