Particle.news
Download on the App Store
8 ARTICLES
·
2d ago

Rogers Secures 75% Stake in MLSE with $4.7B Acquisition

The telecom giant is preparing to monetize part of its sports portfolio through minority sales or an IPO ahead of its option to acquire the remaining stake in 2026

Image
Image
Scotiabank Arena before a Toronto Maple Leafs game in May. Rogers has closed a deal to become the majority owner of the parent company of sports teams including the Maple Leafs, Toronto Raptors and Toronto Argonauts.
Image

Overview

  • Rogers closed its $4.7 billion purchase of BCE’s 37.5 per cent MLSE stake, raising its holding to 75 per cent after receiving all regulatory and league approvals.
  • The acquisition makes Rogers the majority owner of MLSE, which oversees the Toronto Maple Leafs, Raptors, Argonauts and Toronto FC.
  • With full ownership of the Blue Jays and Sportsnet, Rogers now controls teams in four of North America’s five major leagues alongside Canada’s largest sports media brand.
  • CEO Tony Staffieri says the company plans to unlock shareholder value by selling minority stakes or infusing private equity and may explore an IPO for its sports assets.
  • Rogers expects to exercise its 2026 option to purchase the remaining 25 per cent of MLSE held by Larry Tanenbaum’s Kilmer Sports.