Leaving A Legacy

Rogers' Death To Impact Many Sports Properties

The impact of media mogul and Blue Jays Owner Ted Rogers' death stretches far beyond his media properties, as the identity of his successor may affect the future of the Blue Jays, as well as assets like the Rogers Centre, Rogers Sportsnet, the Rogers Cup and the Bills Toronto Series. Baseball got "healthy in Toronto" again under Rogers, despite some "terrible mistakes." He understood the value of the franchise both to Toronto and to the growth of his media empire, and as a result, he was "willing to absorb operational losses." Rogers also spearheaded efforts to bring the NFL to Toronto, but that dream could fade away without his leadership. Rogers Communications Vice Chair Phil Lind: "He didn't know much about sports, but he knew a hell of a lot about the business of sports." Meanwhile, in a curiously-timed move only hours after Rogers' death, the Blue Jays have cut jobs for about 10% of non-baseball operations front-office staff.