Gallagher: Crawford suggests hockey Leafs should buy the ball Leafs

Jack Dominico, self-described Mayor of Christie Pitts, has passed and his will states his Toronto Maple Leafs club will be sold within the next decade.

January 19, 2022

Maple Leafs up for sale, fan event scrapped

By Danny Gallagher

Canadian Baseball Network

The Toronto Maple Leafs Baseball Club will continue to operate in 2022 and for years beyond but it’s up for sale following the passing of owner Jack Dominico, who died last week following a series of heart attacks.

According to Dominico’s last testament and will, he dictated to executor Ty Crawford he wanted the 53-year-old Intercounty league franchise sold “within 10 years.’’

“This would be an excellent purchase for Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment because they already have the hockey Leafs,’’ Crawford said. “If they were smart, they would take this team over. Think about it, when you go across Canada, the biggest name talked about is the Maple Leafs.

“I have a price in mind and I’m going to work hard to get it. If I don’t get it, I will try to get the best price possible.’’

It’s believed Crawford will be seeking at least $1 million because he said in an interview minor-league teams in the U.S. are being sold “for millions of dollars.’’

When a reporter suggested the Leafs were maybe worth in the “hundreds of thousands of dollars,’’ Crawford laughed, meaning he was looking at more than that for the team.

Whether he would get the price he’s looking for is unlikely, considering the Leafs play at Christie Pits in one of the worst parks in the Intercounty.

“It’s a public park and you can’t charge admission,’’ Crawford admitted.

What Dominico and his helpers did was pass the hat on the slopes of Christie Pits as a way of collecting revenue. Dominico’s big revenue maker was selling ads he placed in his annual Leafs program/magazine and in league publications. For many years, he also sold ads for the Ontario Hockey League program.

Current Maple Leafs manager Damon Topolie (North Bay, Ont.) …

In the end, Dominico was a “multi-millionaire,’’ according to Crawford.

“It’s pretty astounding that Jack ran the team without a traditional revenue stream,’’ said Intercounty president John Kastner. “There wasn’t any paid admission and there was little in concessions. His business model will never be replicated. He was forever a salesman.’’

Crawford revealed that one of the franchise’s marquee events is being scrapped because it wasn’t a money-maker, just a “break-even’’ scenario. He was talking about the long-running Fan Forum and Reception held each May at an east-end hotel in Toronto.

Also known as the “Hall of Fame dinner,’’ the forum and reception gig saw fans ask questions of former big-league players and obtain autographs.

Crawford conceded that Dominico’s business plan of selling ads may also be terminated because “you would have to find someone who knows the ad business.’’

So for now, Crawford will use estate funds to keep the Leafs operating.

And that’s a good thing.

Danny Gallagher’s new Expos book called Bases Loaded is available on Amazon.