Legacy left behind by Rogers
Ted Rogers, the Toronto media mogul who was instrumental in bringing the Buffalo Bills to Toronto for eight games over five years, died early Tuesday — just five days before the Bills’ first regular-season game in the Rogers Centre.
Rogers, 75, who had been suffering from congestive heart failure and had been in declining health the past few years, died in his Toronto home, surrounded by family members.
“It is with great sadness that the board of directors of Rogers Communications Inc. announces the death of our colleague, leader and friend, Edward Samuel ‘Ted’ Rogers, the founder of the company, a visionary communications industry pioneer and an icon in Canadian business,” the company said in a statement released shortly after his death.
Last February, Rogers and other Toronto leaders held a news conference there with Bills owner Ralph C. Wilson Jr. to announce the eight-game venture for the Bills in Toronto.
“This is going to be a great partnership,” Rogers said at the Feb. 6 news conference. “We’re going to charge high rates. We’re going to have all the seats sold — standing room only out to Queen Street, and the best is yet to come.”
In expressing his condolences Tuesday, Wilson noted how sad he was that Rogers passed away before witnessing the Bills’ first regular-season game in Toronto.
“Ted was a true visionary and a giant in the communications field,” Wilson said in a statement issued by the Bills. #8220;Obviously, he played an integral part in the Bills Toronto Series and it makes me very sad that he won’t be here to share in the historic game with us this weekend in the building that bears his name.
“He will be missed by many, many people for a very long time,” Wilson added. “Our heartfelt sympathies go out to his family and friends.”
Rogers built Rogers Communications into a Canadian and North American leader in wireless telecommunications, cable television, broadcasting and publishing. The company also owns the Toronto Blue Jays baseball team.
He also sponsored the ATP and WTA tennis stops in Toronto and Montreal.
“This man was one of Canada’s all-time top business leaders,” said Blue Jays outgoing President Paul Godfrey. “He is going to be sadly missed. We all became better leaders and better CEOs because of Ted Rogers.”
He ranked second on Canadian Business magazine’s list of the 100 richest in Canada last year, trailing only the Thomson family.
“Ted Rogers was one of a kind who built this company from one FM radio station into Canada’s largest wireless, cable and media company,” said Alan Horn, chairman of Rogers Communications and acting CEO. “A leader also in giving to the community through his and Loretta’s many philanthropic initiatives. He will be sadly missed.”
In 1991, Rogers was chosen as an officer of the Order of Canada, one of the country’s top honors.
In his recently published autobiography, “Relentless,” Rogers estimated that he had lost $300 million Canadian on the Blue Jays since 2000 but that the cost was well worth it.
“Don’t get me wrong, $300 million is a lot of money. But I take a broader view,” he wrote.
“We would have paid the same money just for the equivalent branding opportunity.”
News Staff Reporter Gene Warner, the Associated Press and Canadian Press contributed to this report.
Log into MyBuffalo to post a comment
MyBuffalo is the new social network from Buffalo.com. Your MyBuffalo account lets you comment on and rate stories at buffalonews.com. You can also head over to mybuffalo.com to share your blog posts, stories, photos, and videos with the community. Join now or learn more.
Reader comments