It’s the most wonderful time of the year- I’m not necessarily referring to Christmas per se.
No, it’s the annual ritual of lining up business people to purchase Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment and, in essence, the Toronto Maple Leafs, the jewel in the company crown
Plus, it’s the annual, ” let’s put a second NHL team in Toronto “, or at least, in Southern Ontario, scenario.
Do you remember the frenzy, oh about a year ago, when Rogers Communications, or was it Bell-Globe Media, were on the verge of purchasing the company and the Leafs from the Ontario Teachers Pension ?
A year later, it’s Providence Equity Partner, a US-based financial firm, who reportedly are investigating the potential of buying the team.
As for the ” second ” NHL team in Toronto/Southern Ontario, now it’s Markham with consideration of a 19,500 seat arena that’s making inquiries of the NHL brass.
The years go by, and amazingly both the stories, and my perspective, remain the same.
The sale of Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment may happen, but I don’t understand why the Teachers would want to reduce or dispatch their holding of a cash cow Canadian business.
And as for the 2nd NHL team in Toronto or Southern Ontario, let’s get a real one in Toronto first.
I’m Fred Wallace