Rogers Communications announced Thursday it’s completed its acquisition of Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment (MLSE), appointing MLSE President & CEO Keith Pelley to a familiar role overseeing Rogers Media.
The company revealed its intent in July to buy the remaining 25% ownership stake in MLSE from Kilmer Sports Inc. for C$4.35 billion. Rogers previously bought out Bell’s 37.5% ownership stake for C$4.7 billion in 2024.
Encompassing the Toronto Maple Leafs, Toronto Raptors, Toronto FC, Toronto Argonauts, and affiliate NHL and NBA franchises, in addition to Scotiabank Arena and five other Toronto area sport facilities, those assets will now join Rogers’ other wholly-owned sports and entertainment assets, including the Toronto Blue Jays, Rogers Centre, Sportsnet, over 30 television networks and more than 40 radio stations.
Rogers plans to create new business unit, Rogers Sports, bringing its sports, media and entertainment businesses under one operating model.
In the interim, Pelley will remain President & CEO of MLSE, while taking on additional accountability for Rogers Media, effectively immediately. Mark Shapiro will remain President & CEO of the Toronto Blue Jays.
“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.”
“Individually, these are extraordinary teams, brands and businesses. With communications, sports and entertainment together, it makes Rogers a truly world-class company that cannot be replicated,” added Staffieri.
Pelley succeeds Colette Watson as President of Rogers Sports & Media, who announced her retirement this past spring. Prior to joining MLSE in early 2024, he previously served as president of Rogers Media from 2010-15, before leaving to lead the DP World Tour (the PGA Men’s golf tour in Europe).
His background includes serving as President of Canada’s Olympic Broadcast Media Consortium for the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympics, President of TSN, and President & CEO of the Toronto Argonauts.
“MLSE has some of the most iconic sports teams, they are part of the fabric of our communities and our country,” said Edward Rogers, Executive Chair, 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.”
