Ex-MLSE boss Tim Leiweke indicted in U.S. arena bid-rigging scheme

The Canadian Press

· Posted: Jul 09, 2025 5:33 PM EDT | Last Updated: 3 hours ago

Former main enforcement serviceman and president of Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment Tim Leiweke has been indicted by the U.S. Department of Justice for allegedly orchestrating a conspiracy to rig the bidding process for an arena astatine a nationalist assemblage successful Austin, Texas.

Leiweke, the co-founder of sports and existent property institution Oak View Group (OVG), is charged with a usurpation of Section 1 of the Sherman Act, facing a maximum punishment of 10 years successful situation and a $1-million US fine.

According to the DOJ, Leiweke told colleagues a rival institution was "bidding against us" and expressed a tendency to "get them to backmost down" — a extremity helium aboriginal achieved done a 2018 statement nether which the rival didn't taxable a bid and alternatively received subcontracts, leaving OVG arsenic the lone qualified bidder.

None of the allegations person been proven successful court.

OVG and Legends Hospitality person agreed to wage $15 cardinal and $1.5 cardinal successful penalties, respectively, related to the behaviour outlined successful the indictment.

In a connection that did not notation Leiweke, OVG said it "co-operated afloat with the Antitrust Division's inquiry" and was "pleased to person resolved this substance with nary charges filed against OVG and nary admittance of responsibility oregon wrongdoing."

Leiweke was caput of MLSE from 2013 to 2015 earlier moving connected to OVG. The institution operates dozens of venues crossed North America, including Seattle's Climate Pledge Arena, London, Ont.'s Canada Life Place and Hamilton's precocious renovated TD Coliseum.