July 28, 2011
There seems to be a battle brewing over Maple Leaf Gardens' name. A CTV.ca report, below, details the fight over the historic building's name as MLSE has filed a court injunction against the owners to prevent them from using the iconic name associated with the property. Reason? Money of course. Yes, money! The "$", the iconic symbol that has become associated with MLSE over approximately the same period of time that the Leafs have been absent from Maple Leaf Gardens. MLSE is worried that by continuing to call it Maple Leaf Gardens the 2,500 seat facility will "compete with Air Canada Centre" for money-making concerts, events, etc. Lost in all this craziness is the fact that there is no mention that MLSE may be concerned with Ryerson's hockey team possibly being better than our beloved Toronto Maple Leafs. Furthermore, the Ryerson team could potentially post the best winning percentage at Maple Leaf Gardens when compared to the Leafs, Raptors, Toros, and Marlboroughs.MLSE's stance on this is beyond ridiculous, however when you look at how it handles its sports operations with the Leafs, Raptors, FC, and Marlies, it is quite clear that their business is money. In the end, I do believe MLSE will allow Ryerson and Loblaw to continue to call the historic building by it's proper name. What MLSE wants out of this is probably just money. At the end of the day Loblaw will shell out some coin to obtain the name from MLSE and MLSE will be regarded as the heroes for allowing the name to continue. A better story would be for Loblaw to purchase the Leafs from MLSE, and bring a real winner to the fans of Toronto. The championship-starved city will celebrate multiple Stanley Cup victories at President's Choice Arena - formally known as the Air Canada Centre. Oh, but that's just a dream right now. Until then, the MLSE cash-grab nightmares continue. CTV story attached: ctvtoronto.ca A battle is brewing over the name of an iconic downtown hockey rink and whether its new owner can keep using the name. Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment filed a court injunction against Ryerson University and building co-owner Loblaw Properties in a bid to prevent the university from naming its new sports complex Maple Leaf Gardens. Ryerson is currently converting the Maple Leaf Gardens, at the corner of College and Church Streets, into a home for its own team. The arena is being retrofitted to house an NHL-sized hockey arena, an athletic centre and a basketball court, as well as a Loblaw grocery store on the ground level. Loblaw Properties purchased the building in 2004 and partnered with Ryerson five years later. The NHL's Toronto Maple Leafs played there from 1931 until 1999, at which time they moved to the Air Canada Centre, a massive arena owned by MLSE. According to the Globe and Mail, MLSE is asking an Ontario court to stop Ryerson from using the iconic name in connection with the facility when it opens later this year. In court filings, MLSE said it is worried the 2,500 seat venue will compete with the Air Canada Centre for money-making concerts and other events, and that retaining the name Maple Leafs Gardens is trademark infringement. However, acting Ryerson president Julia Hanigsberg told CTV.ca that the university has been more focused on getting the building ready for students and not so much on its name. "To us, it's the Ryerson University Athletic and Recreation Centre," she said. Hanigsberg said she believes a speedy resolution can be reached with MLSE and that she believes the corporation is willing to sit down with the university. She said she also understands that the name carries a storied history. "There's a huge emotional attachment for Torontonians and people across the country [to the name]," she said. "Ultimately, people will call it what they will call it." MLSE has not yet returned calls from CTV.ca seeking comment.
Asif Khan, ABR
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Re/Max All-Stars Realty Inc., Brokerage
905-888-6222
Posted via email from Markham Real Estate Today with Asif Khan
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