Rogers has released its first-quarter financial results and provided some interesting details on the company\u2019s financial state, alongside its widely reported sports portfolio.<\/p>\n
According to\u00a0Sportico<\/a>,\u00a0the telecommunications giant provided an update on the 2025 purchase of Bell\u2019s stake in Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment (MLSE)<\/a>, which currently owns and operates the NHL\u2019s Toronto Maple Leafs, the NBA\u2019s Toronto Raptors, among others. This purchase increased Rogers\u2019 stake to 75 per cent. Separately, Rogers also owns the MLB\u2019s Toronto Blue Jays.<\/p>\n Rogers Communications CEO Tony Staffieri said on the Q1 2026 earnings call that the company expects to complete the purchase of the remaining 25% minority interest in MLSE, which is owned by Larry Tannenbaum, in the second half of this year<\/p>\n Now, for the largest piece of information revealed during the earnings call; Rogers is also planning on bringing in minority investors for these sports assets that Staffieri noted would have a value greater than C$25 billion.<\/p>\n If you wonder where they got this large valuation, Rogers CFO Glenn Brandt highlighted the recent US$3.9 billion (about C$5.3 billion) purchase of the San Diego Padres by Jos\u00e9 E. Feliciano and his wife Kwanza Jones<\/a>, which should bump up the valuation of other teams. Brandt said that the company expects to complete the recapitalization of its sports and media group by late 2026 or early 2027 as it pursues minority investors.<\/p>\n According to\u00a0Sportico,\u00a0current valuations have the Raptors at US$4.66 billion (approx C$6.35 billion), with the Maple Leafs at US$4.25 billion (approx C$5.79 billion), and the Blue Jays at US$2.9 billion (approx. C$3.95 billion).<\/p>\n The news comes as the telecom giant cut capital spending by 30 per cent<\/a> and as Rogers offers buyouts to half its employees<\/a>. The company has also been under pressure from shareholders to pay down its long-term debt \u2014 the sale of a minority stake in Rogers\u2019 sports venture is expected to help.<\/p>\n Header image credit: Rogers<\/p>\n Source: Sportico<\/a><\/p>\n