Leonsis Powers Forward

by CSP Guest Contributor Andrew S. Rockoff

Ted Leonsis is not a politician and doesn’t have anything to do with public policies, our health care situation or even education, but he is on his way to becoming one of the most powerful men in Washington DC.  Is it good or bad for any single sports market to be owned by one man, especially in a city like DC?

On Friday, March 26, it was reported by Washington Post Staff Writer Thomas Heath, that Leonsis and representatives of Abe Pollin’s estate had reached an agreement on a price for Leonsis to purchase the Washington Wizards and Verizon Center.  This move would make him a majority owner of three major sports teams in Washington including the Capitals of the NHL, the Mystics of the WNBA and now the Wizards of the NBA.

So many times we hear about business tycoons that get so caught up in the money and power that they jeopardize their position simply due to greed.  Maybe, just maybe Leonsis is of a different breed, and wants this just because he’s a good businessman and a great human being.  On November 24, 2009 Abe Pollin passed away during negotiations with Leonsis.  Leonsis had this to say about his business with Pollin, “Now is not the time, however, to discuss that subject; our focus now should be on mourning a great man who has done so much for our city.”

Leonsis is also extremely active with a number of charities, none more significant than his involvement with Best Buddies International.  The charity helps people with intellectual and developmental disabilities have contact with people outside of their families and friends.  This particular charity also helps them take on more of a leadership role in their daily lives, eventually being able to secure a job.  Leonsis is still very active with this charity and still stays in touch with his buddy to this day.

From a business standpoint, from 1994-97 Leonsis was an executive with AOL and helped increase their membership by more than eight million people.  In that same time period he also aided AOL’s revenue by increasing it by more than $900 million.  In 1999 Leonsis purchased the Washington Capitals from Abe Pollin and took them from being one of the biggest jokes in professional hockey, to one of the premier franchises of the NHL.

Leonsis has proven not only from a business perspective but also his life outside business that he is in fact ready to take on this position of power and excel in all arenas whether it is sports related or not.