Craig Leipold
Craig Leipold[1] is the owner of the Minnesota Wild of the National Hockey League (NHL). He previously owned the Nashville Predators.
Business career
Leipold is the founder of Ameritel, a business-to-business telemarketing firm in Neenah, Wis. He also was the past owner of the Rainfair Company, which made protective footwear. He has also been a director of
Hockey team ownership
Leipold first was considered a potential owner or investor in the NBA Milwaukee Bucks and Sacramento Kings teams. He attributed this interest to the fact that he knew the sport of basketball well. He became interested in ownership of a professional ice hockey franchise because there were more opportunities than in basketball.[3]
Leipold bought an expansion franchise from the NHL in 1997 for $80 million.[2] He sold the Nashville Predators due to rising operating costs and low fan attendance.[2] Leipold claims more than $70 million in losses during his tenure as owner of the Predators. Initially, Leipold had an agreement to sell the team to Jim Balsillie for $220 million,[4] but he withdrew from the agreement after Balsillie started season ticket advertising for a move of the team to Hamilton, Ontario. The Predators were sold instead to an investor group that included William J. "Boots" Del Biaggio. The final sale price of the Predators was reported as $193 million.[2] Leipold has gone on record objecting to Balsillie becoming an NHL owner, stating that he does not trust Balsillie.[5]
Leipold's purchase of the Minnesota Wild from founding owner
Personal
Leipold is active in numerous civic and corporate organizations as well as several charities benefiting children. He has been named Nashville Sports Council "Sports Person of the Year," "1999 Father of the Year" by the Nashville Father's Day Council, and "Nashvillian of the Year" by the Easter Seals, following a highly successful 1998–1999 season for the Predators.
References
- ^ Adams, Alan (2011). "100 People of Power and Influence". The Hockey News. 64: 18.
- ^ a b c d e f Collins, Bob (January 10, 2008). "Who is Craig Leipold". National Public Radio. Retrieved 2010-04-27.
- ^ a b "Owning a team 'a departure from conventional wisdom'". Street & Smith's Sports Business Journal. November 24, 2008. Retrieved 2010-04-27.
- ^ "Canadian Billionaire To Buy Predators". News Channel 5. Archived from the original on February 5, 2012. Retrieved 2010-04-27.
- ^ "Craig Leipold unloads on Balsillie and Rodier, alleges attempts to undermine the Nashville Predators". Retrieved 2010-04-17.
- ^ "Author: Craig Leipold". Thomas Nelson. Archived from the original on 2011-07-16. Retrieved 2010-04-27.
- ^ Minnesota Wild Media Guide 2009–10 (PDF). Minnesota Wild. 2009. p. 10.[permanent dead link]