LAS VEGAS – The National Hockey League has given its blessing to Rogers Communications' and Bell Canada’s acquisition of the Toronto Maple Leafs, as part of the companies' majority ownership purchase of Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment (MLSE).
The League issued a brief statement from its annual Board of Governors meeting saying that its approval of the sale of the Leafs, the anchor of the $1.32 billion deal, was unanimous. It also approved a subsequent restructuring of the ownership of MLSE.
However, a report in the Globe and Mail says the league also told the team's about-to-be-owners that it would not allow both companies to use specialty channels Sportsnet and TSN to bid together for the NHL's national hockey package currently under contract with the CBC (Hockey Night in Canada). That contract expires with the 2014 hockey season.
The MLSE transaction is expected to close by the end of July, if not sooner.
