INSIGHT
offload . Business success all goes back to success on the field .”
Back in 2014 , TFC had lost its way on the field and fans were deserting the stadium . Manning credits much of the rebirth of the club to the former CEO of MLSE Tim Leiweke , who enabled the club to engage some top players like the British striker Jermain Defoe and current captain Michael Bradley . “ The fans responded by coming out to support us , and the teams started to do better . I had the opportunity after Tim left to continue to move forward and so far , it has gone well .”
Partnership Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment ( MLSE ), the parent organisation not only of TFC but also of Toronto ’ s hockey and basketball clubs , the Maple Leafs and Raptors , is the operator of the BMO Stadium . The Maple Leafs are the senior partner , going back a century , now led by Brendan Shanahan . Meanwhile , the Raptors have experienced huge success in recent years under Masai Ujiri . Manning has deep respect for his fellow presidents , and there ’ s no feeling of rivalry , he says , more a kind of corporate
14 September 2017