Ex-MLSE boss Tim Leiweke indicted in U.S. arena bid-rigging scheme
Leiweke is charged with a violation of Section 1 of the Sherman Act, facing a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison and a US$1 million fine. Oak View Group (OVG) and Legends Hospitality have agreed to pay $15 million and $1.5 million in penalties, respectively, related to the conduct outlined in the indictment.
Leiweke was head of MLSE from 2013 to 2015 before moving on to Oak View Group. The company operates dozens of venues across North America, including Seattle's Climate Pledge Arena, London, Ont.'s Canada Life Place and Hamilton's recently renovated TD Coliseum.
According to the DOJ, Leiweke told colleagues a rival company was 'bidding against us' and expressed a desire to 'get them to back down' — a goal he later achieved through a 2018 agreement under which the competitor didn't submit a bid and instead received subcontracts, leaving OVG as the lone qualified bidder.
The project became the Moody Center, home to University of Texas basketball, and opened to the public in April 2022. OVG continues to receive significant revenues from the venue.
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None of the allegations have been proven in court.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 9, 2025.
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Globe and Mail
26 minutes ago
- Globe and Mail
Former MLSE boss Tim Leiweke indicted in U.S. arena bid-rigging scheme
Former chief executive officer and president of Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment, Tim Leiweke, has been indicted by the U.S. Department of Justice for allegedly orchestrating a conspiracy to rig the bidding process for an arena at a public university in Austin, Texas. It was announced later Wednesday that Leiweke would step down as CEO of Oak View Group, a sports and real estate company he co-founded. He will transition to vice-chairman of OVG's board of directors and remain a shareholder of the company. 'It has been my great honour to help found and lead OVG as it has grown into the special, customer-oriented company it is today,' Leiweke said in a statement. The board has appointed Chris Granger, president of OVG360, to serve as interim CEO. 'I am honoured to serve in this role and am looking forward to working with our deep roster of leaders and talented team as we deliver on our mission to provide the best possible service and outcome for our customers and partners,' said Granger. Leiweke is charged with a violation of Section 1 of the Sherman Act, facing a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison and a US$1-million fine. According to the DOJ, Leiweke told colleagues a rival company was 'bidding against us' and expressed a desire to 'get them to back down' — a goal he later achieved through a 2018 agreement under which the competitor didn't submit a bid and instead received subcontracts, leaving OVG as the lone qualified bidder. None of the allegations have been proven in court. The project became the Moody Center, home to University of Texas basketball, and opened to the public in April 2022. OVG continues to receive significant revenues from the venue. OVG and Legends Hospitality have agreed to pay US$15-million and US$1.5-million in penalties, respectively, related to the conduct outlined in the indictment. In a statement that did not mention Leiweke, OVG said it 'co-operated fully with the Antitrust Division's inquiry' and was 'pleased to have resolved this matter with no charges filed against OVG and no admission of fault or wrongdoing.' Leiweke said he was pleased that OVG resolved its DOJ inquiry without any charges filed or admission of wrongdoing. 'The last thing I want to do is distract from the accomplishments of the team or draw focus away from executing for our partners, so the board and I decided that now is the right time to implement the succession plan that was already underway and transition out of the CEO role,' he said in his written statement. 'In my new role as vice chairman of the board and as an OVG shareholder, I remain as committed as ever to the long-term success of the company, and I know OVG, our valued partners, and our customers are in great hands with Chris and the rest of our stellar leaders.' Leiweke was head of MLSE from 2013 to 2015 before moving on to OVG. The company operates dozens of venues across North America, including Seattle's Climate Pledge Arena, London, Ont.'s Canada Life Place and Hamilton's recently renovated TD Coliseum.
Winnipeg Free Press
3 hours ago
- Winnipeg Free Press
Manitoba exports to U.S., China plummet
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Davidson pointed to a weaker Canadian dollar: some companies can't get materials they require within Canada and must pull from the United States. Those goods are likely more expensive, he surmised. A Canadian dollar equated to US$0.73 on Wednesday. The exchange rate began increasing last fall, ahead of the U.S. election. Companies also bulk bought in preparation for tariffs, noted Fletcher Baragar, a University of Manitoba economics professor. The rush could've shown in the January through May import numbers, recently released by the Manitoba Bureau of Statistics. Manitoba's exports to the U.S. dropped 14.7 per cent year-over-year; they fell 29.8 per cent when looking at China. The export values totalled $5.55 billion and $481 million, respectively. Davidson cited the 'Trump factor' for the U.S. decrease. The Trump administration has placed tariffs on aluminum, steel and items not meeting the Canada-United States-Mexico Agreement on trade. 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Boosting interprovincial trade will help lessen reliance on United States exports, Davidson said. So will increasing trade to other countries, both he and Baragar relayed. Manitoba's non-U.S. exports jumped 6.5 per cent year over year, when comparing January through May. The total reached $2.55 billion. Non-U.S. imports rose at a faster pace — up 10.3 per cent, to $3.65 billion. 'I suspect we'll probably see more of that in the future, but those numbers are proportionately very, very small,' Baragar said. 'There's enormous potential for growth, but Canada — certainly for the last 50 years — hasn't really been looking in those directions.' Nineteen European delegates visited Manitoba in April, expressing a desire for more trade. Africa and other Pacific Rim countries are also candidates for future growth, from Baragar's view. Chinese tariffs remain in place. Cam Dahl, general manager of Manitoba Pork, said he's 'not surprised' by the statistic of fewer exports. 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Energy, forestry and industrial equipment exports plunged that month, Statistics Canada data shared publicly by the Saskatchewan government show. Monday Mornings The latest local business news and a lookahead to the coming week. Generally, Manitoba exports decreased nine per cent — to $8.11 billion — when comparing 2025's first five months to 2024's. Imports jumped 8.5 per cent, to $14.62 billion. Manitoba trucking firms have been shuttering and laying off staff due to less demand, the Manitoba Trucking Association confirmed last week. The provincial government is increasing its export support program and passed the Fair Trade in Canada Act to promote trade within Canada and abroad, Business Minister Jamie Moses said in a statement. The New Democrats hired Richard Madan, a former reporter, to become Manitoba's trade representative to the U.S. Gabrielle PichéReporter Gabrielle Piché reports on business for the Free Press. She interned at the Free Press and worked for its sister outlet, Canstar Community News, before entering the business beat in 2021. Read more about Gabrielle. Every piece of reporting Gabrielle produces is reviewed by an editing team before it is posted online or published in print — part of the Free Press's tradition, since 1872, of producing reliable independent journalism. Read more about Free Press's history and mandate, and learn how our newsroom operates. Our newsroom depends on a growing audience of readers to power our journalism. If you are not a paid reader, please consider becoming a subscriber. Our newsroom depends on its audience of readers to power our journalism. Thank you for your support.
Ottawa Citizen
6 hours ago
- Ottawa Citizen
Sam Morton's eventful year continues after re-upping with Flames
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