Tim Leiweke leaving MLSE soon?

[Kin]

Yeah, president of MLSE pretty much has nothing to do with the on-ice product and everything to do with managing the name brand of the Leafs/Raptors/TFC and expanding Maple Leaf Square and its associated hotels/bars.

Although I think that raises sort of an interesting question going forward. The current 75% owners of the business are broadcast companies and I think it's fair to assume that their primary financial interest is in the Leafs/Raptors/TFC as content generators for that massive arm of the empire. Is Bell or Rogers really interested in hotel management or running a sports bar? I'm sure those things are profitable(although restaurant ownership being sort of a famously difficult investment) but it seems so outside of their wheelhouse that I wonder if maybe that wasn't the cause of friction with Leiweke. Maybe Leiweke thought he was being hired by people who really wanted someone to care about property development and the like and all they care about are the on-ice results and the value of the programming which, as you say, isn't really his area.

 

[cw]

If I remember correctly one of the reasons he left LA was because of his continuing inability to draw a NFL franchise to the city. I wonder if what is looking more and more like a failed attempt to bring the Bills to Toronto is likewise inspiring him to move on.

That may have gone both ways - maybe part of his pitch for why they should hire him was that he felt he could help them get a NFL team. He did get the city of LA to approve a stadium for it - not an easy feat.

Maybe that's why he's leaving - as there are rumblings LA is going to get a NFL team soon - which would go along with rumours about his wife returning to California.

Could be but there have been rumours to that effect for years now and they always seem to run into some sort of wall.

#2 TV Market, just a question of when

there's been lots of media on this lately

Here's some random choices:
NFL in LA? It could happen sooner than you think 2014-07-24

Possible Raiders move to Los Angeles is gathering steam

Magic Johnson: Los Angeles will have NFL team in next two years

Leiweke was involved with the Buffalo effort along with Tanenbaum, etc. He's been nibbling around this for some time. Since he knows a bunch of the players, someone he knows says "Hey Tim, we're getting a NFL team for LA, wanna help us get the building built, CEO it and be a minority owner? You know all the local politicians and players. It was your dream to finally be an owner. Or do you want to sit in TO listening to Tanenbaum whine about not getting Buffalo and referee Bell-Rogers bickering over broadcasting rights? The guys who showed you the door at Anschutz when the NFL deal wobbled would have to sit there and watch."

 

[Kin]

#2 TV Market, just a question of when

Yeah, but that only really matters if the presence of a local team would add to the ratings and when you look at the ratings the NFL gets in Los Angeles even without a team(here, say) it's tough to see that there's much for them do in that regard. The networks, who you'd think would be pushing hard for those LA eyeballs don't even seem all that eager for it.

http://www.sportsbusinessdaily.com/Journal/Issues/2011/09/05/In-Depth/Television.aspx

But will a return to Los Angeles mean more eyeballs? Even the most optimistic predictions show little TV ratings growth for the league nationally. Pilson predicted that an NFL team in Los Angeles would have a minimal effect on the league?s national ratings, adding perhaps a ?few tenths of a ratings point,? he said.

That's why when it's been discussed before you've had some pretty outlandish suggestions about what would have to happen to make a stadium a good deal for the city and it involved some pretty far fetched ideas like getting two teams to move there or getting the Superbowl every three years.

I think the reason you hear about it as often as you do, and I found a bunch of articles talking about a team coming to LA "soon" from 2012 and 2011 and 2009 and so on, is because of the way NFL teams use the vacant market as leverage when negotiating with their current cities. I think there's a reason the NFL is playing a ton of games in London and leaving LA alone. I think they know they're just about tapped out domestically.

Leiweke was involved with the Buffalo effort along with Tanenbaum, etc. He's been nibbling around this for some time. Since he knows a bunch of the players, someone he knows says "Hey Tim, we're getting a NFL team for LA, wanna help us get the building built, CEO it and be a minority owner? You know all the local politicians and players. It was your dream to finally be an owner. Or do you want to sit in TO listening to Tanenbaum whine about not getting Buffalo and referee Bell-Rogers bickering over broadcasting rights? The guys who showed you the door at Anschutz when the NFL deal wobbled would have to sit there and watch."

Yeah, could be. Like I said above, I don't know what the future of MLSE really looks like right now.

 

[cw]

#2 TV Market, just a question of when

Yeah, but that only really matters if the presence of a local team would add to the ratings and when you look at the ratings the NFL gets in Los Angeles even without a team(here, say) it's tough to see that there's much for them do in that regard. The networks, who you'd think would be pushing hard for those LA eyeballs don't even seem all that eager for it.

http://www.sportsbusinessdaily.com/Journal/Issues/2011/09/05/In-Depth/Television.aspx

But will a return to Los Angeles mean more eyeballs? Even the most optimistic predictions show little TV ratings growth for the league nationally. Pilson predicted that an NFL team in Los Angeles would have a minimal effect on the league?s national ratings, adding perhaps a ?few tenths of a ratings point,? he said.

That's why when it's been discussed before you've had some pretty outlandish suggestions about what would have to happen to make a stadium a good deal for the city and it involved some pretty far fetched ideas like getting two teams to move there or getting the Superbowl every three years.

I think the reason you hear about it as often as you do, and I found a bunch of articles talking about a team coming to LA "soon" from 2012 and 2011 and 2009 and so on, is because of the way NFL teams use the vacant market as leverage when negotiating with their current cities. I think there's a reason the NFL is playing a ton of games in London and leaving LA alone. I think they know they're just about tapped out domestically.

Leiweke was involved with the Buffalo effort along with Tanenbaum, etc. He's been nibbling around this for some time. Since he knows a bunch of the players, someone he knows says "Hey Tim, we're getting a NFL team for LA, wanna help us get the building built, CEO it and be a minority owner? You know all the local politicians and players. It was your dream to finally be an owner. Or do you want to sit in TO listening to Tanenbaum whine about not getting Buffalo and referee Bell-Rogers bickering over broadcasting rights? The guys who showed you the door at Anschutz when the NFL deal wobbled would have to sit there and watch."

Yeah, could be. Like I said above, I don't know what the future of MLSE really looks like right now.

It isn't just the TV ratings - I do think they'd rise. Merchandising and other revenues and franchise valuations go up.

For example: Let's say the RAMS move back to LA
Revenues per year would jump at least $100 mil for that club
Franchise valuation would go up $1 billion
etc and probably drag a few others with it.

OR
The existing owners could pocket $1 billion or two in expansion fees for LA alone. And boost league revenues per year $350 mil

That's not chump change even for the NFL.

To me, it much more than TV ratings.

 

[Kin]

It isn't just the TV ratings - I do think they'd rise. Merchandising and other revenues and franchise valuations go up.

For example: Let's say the RAMS move back to LA
Revenues per year would jump at least $100 mil for that club
Franchise valuation would go up $1 billion
etc and probably drag a few others with it.

OR
The existing owners could pocket $1 billion or two in expansion fees for LA alone. And boost league revenues per year $350 mil

That's not chump change even for the NFL.

To me, it much more than TV ratings.

Yeah, except I think there are two significant things working against LA. One, as I mentioned, I think the league realizes a lot of value from the way they use the specter of moving a team to LA and two the fact is that when LA had the Rams and Raiders they didn't do very well and frequently saw their games blacked out.

I think the proof is in the pudding to some degree when we're going on nearly 20 years since the NFL was in LA and in that period the NFL has expanded twice and specifically chose Houston over LA most recently. Likewise, A lot of NFL teams have seen their stadium leases come up in that time too and the best we get are "rumours" that they're interested in moving before they get a sweetheart lease deal to stay.

 

[Rebel_1812]

Leiweke's response:

‏@mirtle 

Tim Leiweke denies he's going anywhere: "Any report stating that I am leaving MLSE is untrue. I am proud of all that we have accomplished here over the past year, but we have much more to do.  We are completely focused on the seasons at hand and I am not thinking of anything else but that."

And from Cathal Kelly:

@cathalkelly

Just talked to Tim Leiweke re: rumours he's leaving MLSE: "It's not true. 100 per cent not true. I'm fully committed to the season at hand."

what a slimeball.  Says the rumors are untrue then a day later says he is leaving.  Guess the rumors were true and no need to discredit them.

 

[cw]

It isn't just the TV ratings - I do think they'd rise. Merchandising and other revenues and franchise valuations go up.

For example: Let's say the RAMS move back to LA
Revenues per year would jump at least $100 mil for that club
Franchise valuation would go up $1 billion
etc and probably drag a few others with it.

OR
The existing owners could pocket $1 billion or two in expansion fees for LA alone. And boost league revenues per year $350 mil

That's not chump change even for the NFL.

To me, it much more than TV ratings.

Yeah, except I think there are two significant things working against LA. One, as I mentioned, I think the league realizes a lot of value from the way they use the specter of moving a team to LA and two the fact is that when LA had the Rams and Raiders they didn't do very well and frequently saw their games blacked out.

I followed the Rams back then - was a bit of a fan. Merlin Olsen & the Youngbloods, Deacon Jones, Fred Dwyer, Rosey Grier - a bunch of Hall of Famers on their defensive line - backed by a great D. I'll never forget Linebacker Hacksaw Reynolds you might not of heard of - he was nuts - not a bad linebacker - pissed when his college team lost their bowl game, he sawed his car in half lengthwise. They had "character". Sadly for them, they were bridesmaids a lot with an inconsistent offence but a good team most years and a lot of fans.

They were in the Colosseum which seated over 100,000 - in the top 2-4 or so in attendance nearly every year.

Owner Rosenbloom (sp?) died and his wife took over and made a mess of it. They moved to a much smaller ballpark which wasn't as well designed for watching football and away from their fan base.

The NFL blackout rule got based upon a percentage of their old 100,000 seat stadium and the blackouts followed as they nearly had to sell out (~20,000 more per game than league average) to avoid the blackout.

Then the Raiders moved into the Colosseum and gobbled up a bunch of their fans who were ticked by their move to Anaheim.

Prior to that nonsense, it was one of the best franchises in the NFL - top 4 or so in money/attendance. Throughout it's entire history in LA except near the move to St Louis, they were no worse than NFL average or so when they were not good and many, many years near the top in attendance.

The move out of the Colosseum into a smaller baseball park was pretty close to insane. The franchise was badly mismanaged.

The market is wonderful for football, great weather - one of the very best in North America. Get them a decent stadium in a decent location, put a competitive team in there and they'll be flirting with top 4 in the NFL in no time. It's a no brainer.

The key thing if they've got a franchise for it, is getting the stadium. Leiweke had one set to go and just needed the franchise. I think it's inevitable they'll make it happen fairly soon.

 

[Sudafederov]

All signs are pointing to that stadium being Farmer's Field when they expand the LA Convention Center.

http://www.farmersfield.com/image-gallery

Dodger games can get pretty sketchy at times in terms of rowdy fans. Short of having an on-site SWAT team, I have no idea how they would handle the nutjobs at a Los Angeles based NFL game.

I'd have to agree with a recent columnist. I don't see how Raider culture could make its way back here. Even, if they rebranded the team I don't think it would work.

 

[rdowdall]

Rumour on Team 1200 tonight was Mark Cohon going in for Leiweke.

 

[hockeyfan1]

Rumour on Team 1200 tonight was Mark Cohon going in for Leiweke.

TSN SportsCentre guest Elliotte Friedman said Cohon's timing could not be better and that Cohon expressed excitement anout the chance to join MLSE should he be given it.

Actually, Mark Cohon made for a good and well-liked CFL commissioner and could do likewise for MLSE's interests.  He's well-connected, knows the city, the teams, etc.

 

[hockeyfan1]

Lieweke leaving was forecast by others..

the very day last year that Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment Ltd., announced that Leiweke was its new president and chief executive officer, one well-regarded U.S. investment banker told me he?d be gone within two years ? sooner, he said, if anybody Leiweke was aligned with in Toronto either failed to get an NFL franchise or one of his pals from the States put together a group to bid on a franchise.

?No disrespect to Toronto,? the banker told me, ?but Tim?s a New York or L.A. type of guy."

MLSE wanted a statement of declaration from Leiweke ahead of Wednesday night?s board meeting; that this was the board forcing Leiweke?s hand in a marriage that many in the U.S. saw as being doomed from the start.

...Toronto FC...it?s going to be difficult to find another North American sports executive who can match Leiweke?s affinity for the sport of soccer. The feeling among TFC?s fan base is that in Leiweke they finally had a suit who had their back. Translation: there will be no more Jermaine Defoes or Michael Bradleys. So enjoy them now.

...he used his connections in the entertainment industry to make a franchise that many in the NBA forgot existed, sexy.

Suddenly, the Raptors were talking about increasing a national footprint. Suddenly, the NBA All-Star Game was coming to Toronto. Suddenly, the Raptors were doing things like telling off an entire borough (GM Masai Ujiri?s ?accidental? declaration of verbal warfare against Brooklyn) and getting fined by the league after global ambassador Drake was judged to be using his rapper chops to tamper with players.

...forced the Maple Leafs to finally address the weight of their history because he was uniquely positioned to do so as an American with no connections to the hockey team or the city.

Talking about removing black and white photographs of the Maple Leafs from the hallways outside the dressing room moved the needle on the discussion, and instead of the tiresome and at times tacky pre-game ceremonies...the Leafs will now have a proper monument in Maple Leaf Square.

...put president Brendan Shanahan in position and gave him the backing to build an entire analytics department.

leiwekes-marriage-to-mlse-doomed-from-the-start

 

[Madferret]

If only MLSE checked with North Haverbrook first

 

[GhostofPotvin29]

If only MLSE checked with North Haverbrook first

Hey does Melnyk have a site where we can donate $$?

 

[Bullfrog]

If only MLSE checked with North Haverbrook first

Hey does Melnyk have a site where we can donate $$?

http://www.bertsbarbados.com/

 

[Peter D.]

Rumour on Team 1200 tonight was Mark Cohon going in for Leiweke.

I wonder if Leiweke's departure came out a few months ago that Bob Nicholson would be lined up for the job.

 

[Highlander]

I wish the guy would stay and see a championship in each of the three teams within 3 years.  Big money and the stiffs at Rogers and Bell cannnot handle anyone with personality in the least. Our society is turning into one grey ball of sludge.

 

[bustaheims]

I wonder if Leiweke's departure came out a few months ago that Bob Nicholson would be lined up for the job.

Maybe, but, I have my doubts. It's not a hockey-related position that's opening up. In fact, in terms of what the MLSE President will have to oversee, the hockey division is probably the easiest part of the job. It basically runs itself. Other than hiring guys to oversee the improvement of the product on the ice - which Leiweke did with Shanahan - there's not a whole lot that really needs to be changed there. I imagine the MLSE board is more concerned with bringing in someone that can make the rest of their assets more profitable.

 

[Madferret]

If only MLSE checked with North Haverbrook first

Hey does Melnyk have a site where we can donate $$?

Have you ever heard of those rich people who hire therapists for their depressed dog or cat or parrot?

 

[Highlander]

I agree with everything that Tim has done to date, absolutely brilliant.  So the stiffs get rid of our guy, the guy whom wants to spend the money and make the changes and then they bring in another "Stiff" that is a member of the cash only club.
And of course to justify his position he will have to make his own moves to imprint the clubs which are now on the right course.
I can tell you if the new guy comes in and F___ks up.  I will truly turn in my fandom once and for all.  And the rest of Leafnation should too. Let the Stiffs figure out how to make their precious money after that. Needless to say I am not happy, Tim should have stayed on until one of the teams hit pay dirt.

 

[hockeyfan1]

I agree with everything that Tim has done to date, absolutely brilliant.  So the stiffs get rid of our guy, the guy whom wants to spend the money and make the changes and then they bring in another "Stiff" that is a member of the cash only club.
And of course to justify his position he will have to make his own moves to imprint the clubs which are now on the right course.
I can tell you if the new guy comes in and F___ks up.  I will truly turn in my fandom once and for all.  And the rest of Leafnation should too. Let the Stiffs figure out how to make their precious money after that. Needless to say I am not happy, Tim should have stayed on until one of the teams hit pay dirt.

I, too, would have likely Liewwke to stay.  What he brought to the Toronto sports scene is something that hadn't been there nor done in the way he 'reformed' the Raptors and the TFC in particular.

Also with the Leafs, in hiring Shanahan, bringing in analytics people,  the legends monument, etc.  If not for Leiweke, it's doubtful any or all of these changes would have transpired with all of the sports teams.  Lieweke being who he was with his 'larger than life' approach, his personality, character, and strive for excellence is why changes happened.

Hopefully whomever replaces Lieweke will keep up the momentum.