Tim Leiweke has a lot on his mind these days.
Since joining Maple Leafs Sports & Entertainment in April, Leiweke has become an overnight tour-de-force in Canada, guaranteeing victories for the Ontario city’s teams and wielding his power to assist other provinces. As a member of the National Hockey League’s executive committee, he’s an important voice in the expansion of the league and has begun a not-so-subtle campaign to steer hockey to Quebec City, which lost its Nordiques franchise to Denver in 1995.
Leiweke has also been a vocal advocate for bringing a National Football League franchise to Toronto and has played the part of passionate pitchman for everything from working with StubHub to a shift in analytics in sports & entertainment. He’s also got his day job as CEO of MLSE and told Maple Leafs fans he’s plotted out the course for their victory parade once the famed Canadian squad wins its first Stanley Cup since 1967. On top of that, he’s gutted the Toronto Raptors and promised to rename and rebrand the basketball squad, as well as return the Toronto FC soccer club to the post-season after a seven-year drought. And maybe, if the stars truly align, Leiweke will lead MLSE through the purchase of the Toronto Argonauts of the Canadian Football League and truly consolidate MLSE’s grip on sports in the region.
It’s a lot to live up to, but Leiweke has a proven track record at AEG, a company he grew into a global entertainment and venue management powerhouse with a network of facilities all over the world, and championship trophies for the three L.A. teams under its ownership. Leiweke’s departure and eventual reemergence atop one of the most powerful organizations in Canada has turned him into an overnight national icon where expectations are higher than ever. So how does he keep focused? By sticking to his core principles.
Change or Die
“The only difference between a rut and grave is the size of the hole. Graves are deep holes where they bury you forever. Ruts are also holes but, if you’re smart, you can get out of them,” explained Leiweke.
Leiweke comes to the MLSE during a time when change is badly needed, and the new CEO said he’s constantly working to instill a cultural shift throughout the organization — one that embraces winning and excellence and stops accepting mediocrity.
“It’s been easier here than most expected because there are a lot of excellent people in this organization who are starving for leadership and change,” he said. “Everything in the past was on hold, but now we have a direction, we have a purpose, we have a mission statement and, as it relates to facilities, we understand that the world and our business is changing.”
Motivate Everyone Around You
“Change sometimes comes by going out into the industry and beginning to understand, appreciate and respect the fact that you might not be the best,” Leiweke said.
Nowhere does that apply better than BMO Field, the home to the struggling Toronto F.C., which Leiweke described as “revolutionary when first built, but no longer in the top half of the league.” Franchises like Sporting Kansas City, the Portland (Ore.) Timbers and the New York Red Bulls had eclipsed BMO Field with technologically incredible stadiums.
“If we are not prepared to go out there and look at these other facilities, then we are probably unaware of the change that’s taking place within the industry,” he said. “So that means that change comes from accepting that others in the industry might be doing things better than we do, and we should go out and learn from them, as well as have a desire to get better. That means a work ethic to put in the time and effort needed, as well as an understanding that in order to get better, you have to be ok with being a good thief and stealing other people’s ideas. There nothing wrong with that approach.”
BMO Field will look to the new generation of soccer-specific stadiums for new ideas Leiweke said, “in order to become one of the best facilities in Major League Soccer. Now it’s a matter of finding the right economic relationship with the city to make that happen.”
Leiweke said the Air Canada Centre is planning some major technology upgrades with Cisco and has begun to consider changing its scoreboard, along with new premium offerings and suite upgrades.
“There are things we know we can do better at the arena, especially with the NBA All-Star game coming to the building in 2016 and our hopes of getting an NHL All-Star game in the future as well,” Leiweke said. “When you host and showcase the world’s biggest and best events, you want to make sure your capacity, vision and potential are at the highest level in the industry and that’s what we’re committed to doing.
Share An Infectious Passion With Your Staff
Since relocating to Toronto, Leiweke has displayed exuberance for the Canadian capital once only reserved for Los Angeles, his former hometown. Leiweke’s excitement for Toronto isn’t simply a matter of switching sides — it’s the belief that he can help his staff reach their full potential through leading by example and being an enthusiastic ambassador for the city.
“It’s the fastest growing city in North America, the growth here is incredible and the economy is very strong,” he said. “Our buildings and ticket gates are always in the top five. The market is growing quickly with an economy and demand for entertainment that continues to grow,” Leiweke said.
It’s a change in lifestyle, but Leiweke said he’s begun to take notice of the high quality of life Toronto residents enjoy, adding “when you begin to live here, you really start to get it.”
Leiweke said he still misses the moderate climates of sunny Southern California — he’s getting ready for his first long winter in the Canadian city.
“Toronto is more of a European city and an East Coast city. It’s a different demographic than L.A.,” he said. “It’s a city with a vibrant urban core and it’s really doubled in size in the past 20 years. The potential for this town is tremendous.”
When Changing Sides, Be Gracious
Leiweke has remained relatively mum about his split with AEG Chairman Phil Anschutz in March of this year. His split with the company he helped build into a global powerhouse came just as Anschutz was attempting to sell AEG, as well as put the finishing touches on a plan to bring the National Football League back to Los Angeles.
Those plans are temporarily on hold and Leiweke now finds himself as the largest Canadian client of the company he once considered his biggest rival — Live Nation.
“We have a great joint venture with Live Nation for the entire province of Ontario and I do not envision changing that relationship in any way,” said Leiweke, who while at AEG created the AEG Live division, one of Live Nation’s biggest competitors.
Leiweke said the competition between the two companies — like the competition between the AXS Tickets firm he created at AEG and its main competitor Ticketmaster, which he now uses — was a bit overhyped. AEG Live and Live Nation work together on hundreds of shows every year.
“I think our current relationship with Live Nation will grow significantly. We are in the content business because of our partnership with Live Nation and, in Canada, there is no one that does as good of a job as Live Nation,” he said.
“They’ve helped develop Toronto into a very vibrant music market — Air Canada Centre is about to celebrate its 17th Bon Jovi show. I have no doubt they are absolutely the right partner to have.”
Interviewed for this story: Tim Leiweke, (416) 815-5500