Latest news with #Viola
Yahoo
20 hours ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Panthers Win Second Stanley Cup Under Owner Vincent Viola
The Florida Panthers have skated to another Stanley Cup, defeating the Edmonton Oilers for the second straight year, this time in a 4-2 series triumph. Florida dominated from the get-go in its Game 6 decider, with first period goals from Matthew Tkachuk and Sam Reinhart putting the Panthers on course for a 5-1 win. Reinhart finished with four goals. Advertisement More from While the players deserve the credit for winning on the ice, team owners stake a claim to the glory as well. As the business head of the Panthers, guiding the organization to its two Stanley Cup titles and three straight appearances in the championship series, Vincent 'Vinnie' Viola has his named etched on the Cup alongside his players. Who is Vinnie Viola and how did he make his money? In many ways, Viola is a typical South Floridian—he's originally from New York. The son of a blue-collar worker—his father was a truck driver—Vinnie grew up in Brooklyn and then attended West Point, graduating in 1976. After fulfilling his required military service, he started as a trader on Wall Street in 1982. Viola also earned his law degree from New York University in 1983. Advertisement By the end of the 1980s he had founded three businesses: a futures trading group, a Texas bank and a derivatives market maker in Europe. While also serving in the Army reserves, eventually rising to the rank of Major, Viola's career on Wall Street progressed until he was chosen as chairman of the NYMEX—the New York Mercantile Exchange, a commodities and futures exchange—in 2001. In 2008, he founded Virtu Financial, a high-speed trading firm that primarily makes markets in various securities, providing liquidity for institutional traders. Virtu went public in 2015 and is the main source of his wealth. A billionaire, Viola was briefly considered to be nominated as secretary of the Army during Donald Trump's first administration. He withdrew himself from consideration for the post due to a potential conflict of interest that could have resulted in him, as a government official, benefitting from government contracts. He was seeking at the time to acquire a stake in Swiftair, which charters jets to the government. What is Viola's net worth? According to Forbes, Viola has a net worth of $6.1 billion, placing him among the 600 wealthiest people on the planet. When did Viola first get into sports ownership? Viola originally got involved in sports ownership with the purchase of a minority stake of the New Jersey Nets. He had been a season-ticket holder since about 1989 and bought into the team when real estate developer Bruce Ratner gained control of the franchise in 2004. During his time with the Nets, he had the job of making the major financial decisions for the team, according to a biography of Viola in the club's website. Viola sold his stake to Russian billionaire Mikhail Prokhorov in 2010. Advertisement A couple of years after selling his Nets equity, Viola reportedly reentered sports through ownership of a number of thoroughbred horses. He still owns a troop of race horses through his St. Elias Stable. His horses have won more than $7 million, according to America's Best Racing, a horse racing publication. When did Viola buy the Panthers? Viola bought control of the Panthers in 2013, paying $250 million for all of the franchise's equity from hedge funder Cliff Viner and his limited partners. Joining him at purchase time as aminority owner was Doug Cifu, a Virtu cofounder who is now vice chairman of the club. At the time, Viola had his work cut out for him. The franchise had largely been moribund in its two-decade history since expansion. The season prior to the purchase, the Panthers were the worst NHL team on the ice, and had made the playoffs only once in 12 years before he acquired the team. Under his ownership, the club has made the playoffs seven out of 13 years, including six straight. He also renovated the team's Fort Lauderdale arena and added a two-sheet practice facility and community skating rink, which opened a little over a year ago. Advertisement The team has thrived under Viola. While the Panthers rank 26th in the latest Sportico NHL franchise valuations, their $1.25 billion valuation is more than double the $520 million the team was worth in 2021. Coming off its first Stanley Cup, the club had a 91% season ticket renewal rate for the current season. Best of Sign up for Sportico's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
Yahoo
17-06-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Report Milan plan for Kean rebuffed by Fiorentina
There are mixed reports in Italy over how Milan could get in on the action for Moise Kean, as Fiorentina do not seem ready to accept player exchanges. The striker has a €52m release clause in his contract, so all the Viola can do is wait and hope nobody comes in to activate it that can also agree personal terms. Advertisement It is entirely up to the 25-year-old, who made a huge impact in Florence this season with 19 Serie A goals in 32 games, stretching to 25 goals in 44 competitive appearances. Fiorentina won't talk around Kean clause FLORENCE, ITALY – MARCH 30: Moise Kean of ACF Fiorentina celebrates after scoring a goal during the Serie A match between Fiorentina and Atalanta at Stadio Artemio Franchi on March 30, 2025 in Florence, Italy. (Photo by) While Manchester United and the Saudi Pro League sides have been linked, now Sport Mediaset claim that Milan are eager to go for the Italy international too. He already worked with new coach Max Allegri at Juventus and would be eager for a reunion. However, they suggest Milan will not pay the full €52m clause and would instead try to negotiate a transfer with Fiorentina, including Filippo Terracciano as part exchange. insist that is not something the Viola would accept, as they remain eager to keep hold of Kean and would only let him go if forced into a corner.
Boston Globe
09-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Boston Globe
PIFF brings the silver screen back to the Cape
'What's so special about it to me is that, even though decades have passed, it feels just as relevant today,' Viola said. 'That, to me, makes it a perfect example of a film that we want to kick off the festival with and really set the tone for the week.' Get Starting Point A guide through the most important stories of the morning, delivered Monday through Friday. Enter Email Sign Up The tone isn't only upheld by the festival's films, though. She said it's also an energy exuded throughout Provincetown. Advertisement 'It's really a place where tolerance is promoted and accepted,' Viola said. 'Everyone can be who they are in Provincetown and feel safe and feel comfortable.' She said it's a 'wonderful' location to host a film festival because many of the films PIFF showcases tackle difficult subjects that deserve a receptive audience. 'Provincetown is the perfect place to have these films be cherished and supported,' Viola said. This year's festival includes films like ' Advertisement For those interested in films with a hometown feel, Viola highlighted ' Still of Spiritus Pizza, a family-run pizza and coffee bar in Provincetown, from "Spiritus: No Business Like Dough Business." Provincetown Film Society Viola said PIFF tries to give people a wide variety of options because they know many of these films aren't always available outside of the film festival circuit. She encouraged those in attendance to step out of their comfort zones and watch films they wouldn't usually go to their local theater to see. Throughout the festival there are also opportunities to attend parties and panels, including a special event with ' Festivalgoers can also hear from actors including 'The White Lotus' and 'The Last of Us' star Advertisement Murray Bartlett and River Gallo in "Ponyboi." Provincetown Film Society Eva Victor, the other Next Wave Award honoree, will make their directorial debut at the festival with ' At the end of the festival, Viola said the organizers of PIFF hope people not only have an incredible experience in Provincetown, but leave full of ideas. 'We hope they take that back to their communities and share what they've seen and what they've heard and what they've talked about with their friends and family and colleagues and discuss beyond just what happens for those five days,' she said. 'We hope it really carries on throughout the year.' Provincetown International Film Festival, June 11-15. Single screening tickets start at $20. For more information, including films, locations, and screening times, visit .
Daily Mail
04-06-2025
- General
- Daily Mail
I called my daughter 'Viola' but no one gets the unique way we pronounce it right. Other mums struggle and I know my little girl will face confusion... but I don't care
I recently brought my two young daughters to our local library. While the children played with their toys and books, I got chatting to a friend we'd bumped into. She turned to talk directly to my eldest and called out 'Viola'. Yet Viola, who is five, simply didn't respond. It's not that she is badly behaved, or away with the fairies… but rather that, once again, another adult failed to pronounce her name correctly.
Yahoo
03-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Panthers Minority Owner Will Not Attend Stanley Cup Final
Doug Cifu, a minority owner of the NHL's Florida Panthers whose name is engraved on the Stanley Cup, remains in the league's penalty box. Cifu was suspended by the NHL over his social media activity after Game 4 of the Panthers' second-round playoff series against the Toronto Maple Leafs on May 11. When asked via email by Sportico Thursday if he'll be able to attend the Stanley Cup Finals games against the Edmonton Oilers, NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly wrote, 'He is not currently permitted to attend games as a function of his suspension. So I guess the answer is no.' Advertisement More from Cifu responded to a Leafs fan on the social media platform X who, noticing Israeli flags in the owner's bio, wrote that Israel was 'using starvation as a weapon to win a war' in Gaza. In a subsequent back-and-forth, Cifu used explicit language and called the fan a '51st state anti semite loser'—the last part of the message an apparent reference to President Donald Trump suggesting Canada join the U.S. The NHL suspended Cifu indefinitely from having any involvement with the club or the league. In addition to his minority share, Cifu serves as the Panthers' vice chairman and is its alternate governor for league matters. 'Two days ago, I posted regrettable and inflammatory comments on social media,' Cifu told Florida Hockey Now in a statement after his suspension was first announced. 'My behavior does not reflect the standards of the Florida Panthers organization and the Viola family. I sincerely apologize to all those affected by my comments. I am committed to working with the NHL to amend my actions.' Advertisement The Panthers did not respond to a request for comment for this story. Cifu is the CEO of Virtu Financial, a high-frequency trading company that he co-founded with Vincent Viola in 2008. He purchased a minority share in the Panthers when Viola bought the franchise in 2013. The Panthers defeated the Carolina Hurricanes in the Eastern Conference Final, advancing to the Stanley Cup Final for the third straight year where they'll face the Edmonton Oilers in a rematch of last year's final. With the Oilers having home-ice advantage, Games 3, 4 and 6 (if necessary) would be played in Sunrise, Fl. The Stanley Cup Final begins on June 4 in Edmonton. Advertisement Best of Sign up for Sportico's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
