Ted Leonsis

Monumental Sports Network officially goes live, completes rebrand from NBC Sports Washington

NBC Sports Washington is now officially Monumental Sports Network, completing a full re-brand that began last year.

The Leonsis-led channel posted several videos on social media and sent out a long press release, explaining the changes and enhancements for the new sports seasons. In short: new graphics, new music, a new studio, new (and the return of some popular) programming, and new production techniques are coming,

For Capitals fans, there will be no changes to the talent lineup for broadcasts. Joe Beninati and Craig Laughlin will continue to do play-by-play while pregame shows will feature Alexa Landestoy and Alan May.

Monumental Sports Network posted several teaser videos on social media to celebrate officially going live, showing off some of its epic new music and graphics.

(more…)

By Ian Oland 1 day ago

1 Comment

Tommy Sheppard out as Wizards general manager after team misses playoffs for second straight season

The Washington Wizards parted ways with general manager and team president Tommy Sheppard on Wednesday evening. The Wizards finished with a 35-47 record for the second straight season and missed the playoffs for the fourth time in the last five years.

Sheppard was initially appointed interim general manager in April 2019 after Ernie Grunfeld was relieved of the position. He took the job full-time three months later and signed a multi-year contract extension in November 2021 that also included the title of team president.

(more…)

By Chris Cerullo 5 months ago

0 Comment

Ted Leonsis reportedly offered over $2 billion for Nationals, expressed interest to buy MASN

Ted Leonsis owns the Washington Capitals, Washington Wizards, and Washington Mystics. And he made his best effort to land the Washington Nationals late last year, too.

According to reporting by the Washington Post, Leonsis offered over $2 billion to buy the Nationals from the Lerner family toward the end of 2022. The Post says it’s unclear whether the Lerners turned down the offer or simply did not respond. However, they report that the two sides are still in touch.

The Nationals paused the sale process shortly before Opening Day; it will remain on hold through the entire 2023 MLB season. Sports Business Journal reports that the auction is expected to pick up again over the offseason.

Forbes says the Nationals are worth $2 billion. The Lerners hoped to get the same price the New York Mets fetched: $2.4 billion.

(more…)

By Ian Oland 5 months ago

1 Comment

The Washington Capitals, Alex Ovechkin, and the Promise Strategy

In December, ESPN’s Greg Wyshynski spoke to Washington Capitals principal owner, Ted Leonsis, about the future of the team. Leonsis was clear: the Caps are not rebuilding.

“We’re not going to rebuild the team [while Alex Ovechkin is here],” Leonsis told Wyshynski. “To me a rebuild is when you look the players, the coaches, the fans in the eye and say ‘we’re gonna be really, really bad.’ And if we were really, really bad, I don’t think Ovechkin would break the record.”

I think that quote perfectly encapsulates Washington’s strategy, which we’ve seen enacted in recent weeks. And we’ll see it much more starkly this summer. I call this strategy the Promise Strategy.

(more…)

By Peter Hassett 7 months ago

2 Comments

Ted Leonsis proposes a new line for the Capitals: Alex Ovechkin – Nicklas Backstrom – Sergei Ovechkin

The day after Sergei Ovechkin won the Breakaway Challenge at the 2023 NHL All-Star Skills Competition, Capitals owner Ted Leonsis is getting ideas. And by ideas, we mean, ways to make the Caps a gr8 team for decades to come.

On Twitter, a proud Leonsis said of Sergei’s accomplishment, “What a great night at the #NHLAllStar Skills Competition,” he wrote. “I think Ovi Jr is ready! Alex on the left, Sergei on the right, Nick in the middle!”

(more…)

By Ian Oland 8 months ago

1 Comment

Ted Leonsis lands on Forbes cover for creating one of the most valuable sports empires in the world

Washington Capitals owner Ted Leonsis landed on the cover of Forbes Daily highlighting his huge year in 2022.

Forbes published top 25 list of the most valuable sports empires in the world.

Leonsis made the list ranked number 20 through the Washington, DC sports powerhouse that is Monumental Sports & Entertainment. Ted is the founder, principal partner, and CEO of MSE which Forbes values at an estimated $4.51 billion.

(more…)

By Chris Cerullo 8 months ago

1 Comment

Billionaire Jeff Skoll becomes minority investor in Ted Leonsis’s Monumental Sports & Entertainment

Ted Leonsis’s Monumental Sports & Entertainment is growing. Tuesday, the company announced its latest investor.

Billionaire Jeff Skoll has partnered with MSE.

(more…)

By Ian Oland 10 months ago

1 Comment

The Washington Capitals are the ninth most valuable franchise in the NHL

Sportico, a resource for sports business news, came out with its valuations of every NHL franchise on Thursday. The Washington Capitals have become one of the most valuable franchises in the NHL under owner Ted Leonsis’s leadership.

The Capitals are valued as the ninth-most valuable franchise at $1.22 billion after coming in at eighth last year ($1.17 billion).

(more…)

By Chris Cerullo 11 months ago

2 Comments

Report: Ted Leonsis’ group emerges as front-runner to buy the Washington Nationals

The Athletic is reporting that Ted Leonsis has emerged as the “front-runner” to buy the Washington Nationals and has been so for “the last month or so.”

This news comes after Leonsis joined forces with billionaire David Rubenstein, co-founder of the Carlyle Group, to aggressively try and acquire the team.

(more…)

By Ian Oland 11 months ago

5 Comments

MSE completes acquisition of NBC Sports Washington, network re-brand set for 2023-24 seasons

Monumental Sports & Entertainment (MSE) announced on Tuesday the closing of its acquisition of NBCUniversal’s stake in NBC Sports Washington from Comcast Corporation. The closure means MSE has fully acquired NBC Sports Washington — the TV rights holder of Washington Capitals and Washington Wizards games. MSE is majority owned by Ted Leonsis.

MSE previously held just 33 percent of the media company after first buying-in six years ago. The specific financial terms of the acquisition have not been disclosed.

As reported back in late August, the purchase now gives MSE the option of building a potential powerful streaming platform and more power to shape the primary coverage of its own sports teams.

(more…)

By Chris Cerullo 1 year ago

10 Comments

12 3 4 5 Next ›Last »

Page 1 of 17