Top 10 Scandals in the History of the Toronto Maple Leafs

2. One of Toronto’s Biggest Debtors

This is the Toronto Maple Leafs most recent scandal. It goes back to this summer when the team’s parent company, Maple Leafs Sports and Entertainment (MLSE) got in trouble for being one of largest property tax debtors in the city of Toronto.

The CBC reported that in April, it became public that MLSE owed the city approximately  $1.18 million in unpaid taxes on BMO field. That sum had been accrued dating back to the 2019 tax year.

MLSE disputed the charges because they say that they don’t own BMO Field, nor do they lease it. It’s an interesting argument for the company that sees both the Toronto Argonauts and Toronto FC play its home games in the stadium.

MLSE’s position does have merit even if it appears as though they are trying to skirt paying a bill. MLSE told CBC that their agreement with BMO Field is a “management agreement” and they pay a “user fee” to hold events inside.

When Taylor Swift comes to Toronto and plays the Rogers Centre, the city wouldn’t charge her property taxes. She and her team pays to use the venue.

The company explained, “As is publicly known, MLSE leases two properties on the Exhibition Place grounds, OVO Athletic Centre and Coca-Cola Coliseum, where all rents and taxes for which it is responsible have been duly and punctually paid,” the MSLE statement reads.

A resolution is expected very soon.

1. Harold Ballard Goes to Jail

We’ve already seen the former owner of the Toronto Maple Leafs engage in some unsavory behaviour in this list. In 1972, Ballard paid a big price for his unscrupulous actions.

Ballard stood trial and was ultimately convicted of theft and fraud. The presiding judge said that Ballard’s actions “showed a clear pattern of fraud”. It was discovered that he was siphoning money from Maple Leaf Gardens towards his own private holdings.

A CBC report uncovered  that “records show that between 1964 and 1970, a total of $123,000 had been deposited in the private bank account of the dummy company, The Marlborough Athletic Club.” The total sum misappropriated was believed to be $205,000.

Investigations found that Ballard, who owned 80% of the organization, used the company’s earnings for his own, personal use. Funds were diverted from Maple Leafs Gardens, which was a publicly traded company, and used for things such as renovating his Etobicoke home, renovating his Midland cottage, renting limousines, and buying motorcycles for his sons.

Not only was Ballard stealing joy and success from the Maple Leafs for years, but money too. There was a private bank account shared with co-owner Stafford Smythe that was filled with money meant for the Gardens. Smythe died before he could stand trial on charges of fraud.

Ballard pleaded not guilty to all 49 charges and was convicted on all but two of them. The judge sentenced him to nine years in the minimum security Millhaven Institution, a federal penitentiary. Ballard spent just one year in prison, being paroled in 1973.

With a long history, any club has its own scandals. Clearly, the Maple Leafs are no different.