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Toronto Maple Leaf: The Best (and Worst) of Harold Ballard

By Brian Westland

TORONTO, ON - OCTOBER 15: Owner Harold Ballard of the Toronto Maple Leafs Watches the play from the bunker against the Detroit Red Wings during NHL game action on October 15, 1980 at Maple Leaf Gardens in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Graig Abel/Getty Images)
TORONTO, ON - OCTOBER 15: Owner Harold Ballard of the Toronto Maple Leafs Watches the play from the bunker against the Detroit Red Wings during NHL game action on October 15, 1980 at Maple Leaf Gardens in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Graig Abel/Getty Images) /
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7th September 1964: Beatlemania hits Toronto as The Beatles’ North American tour takes them into Canada. (Photo by Fox Photos/Getty Images)
7th September 1964: Beatlemania hits Toronto as The Beatles’ North American tour takes them into Canada. (Photo by Fox Photos/Getty Images) /

Number Five: Ballard Bests the Beatles

Under Ballard’s watch, Maple Leaf Gardens became much more than just a home for the Toronto Maple Leafs. It became a major venue for all manner of entertainment including large scale pop music concerts.

Ballard was no fan of rock and roll, but he loved the money it brought in, so he opened the gardens’ doors to the top pop music acts of the day.

The Beatles played the gardens on each of their three North American tours in the 1960s. The Beatles managed to pass through Toronto in 1964 without incident, but when they returned for two shows at Maple Leaf Gardens the next summer, Ballard used the opportunity to make some quick cash.

Ballard cashed in by adding a second show to what was to be a one show stop in Toronto. Apparently, he did so without informing Beatles manager Brian Epstein.

Epstein was furious and confronted Ballard about the sleight, and the two men apparently almost came to blows. Ballard had Epstein escorted off to the hot stove lounge to cool down before meeting with him again.

When the two met again, Ballard dared Epstein to cancel the second show, and Epstein capitulated. The band agreed to play,  and Ballard got his second show.

Not only did Ballard succeed in getting the fab four to add a second show, he profited further that hot August night by delaying the show for an hour, turning off the water fountains in the gardens, and instructing gardens staff to crank up the heat.

The throngs of captive teeny-bopper patrons were left with no other choice but to guzzle soft drinks from the gardens’ refreshment stands at three times the normal price.

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