Edward Rogers at a press conference on April 14, 2025.Fred Lum/The Globe and Mail
Edward Rogers, the executive chair of Rogers Communications Inc. RCI-B-T, has purchased a minority stake in Canada’s only professional padel franchise, the Toronto Polar Bears, marking Mr. Rogers’s latest sports franchise investment.
Padel, a co-ed racket sport played in an enclosed court, blends elements of tennis and squash. It is thought to have been founded during the 1960s in Mexico.
In 2023, Toronto entrepreneur Zale Turner acquired the rights for a Toronto franchise from the Pro Padel League and – after bringing on minority partners – launched the Toronto Polar Bears, Canada’s only professional team. Toronto competes in the league against eight American teams and one Mexican team.
Mr. Turner declined to provide details about the terms or valuation of Mr. Rogers’s minority investment, but said it was “financially significant” for the team, and that he has stopped taking additional investments for now, despite outstanding interest.
He said that Mr. Rogers’s interest in padel will help further propel the popularity of the sport in Canada. Mr. Rogers – who invested privately in the team, not through Rogers Communications, plays padel himself, and is the founder and president of the Canadian Padel Tennis Association.
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When Mr. Turner, who is also the Polar Bears’ chief executive officer and majority owner, founded the team with minority partner Josh Garr, there was only one padel court in Toronto – in his friend’s home. Now, there are more than 30 courts at locations around the Greater Toronto Area, and more when including those in private homes, he says.
Historically niche, padel gained popularity during the COVID-19 pandemic, as it can be played outdoors without physical contact. As of 2023, there were 25 million active players of the sport in more than 90 countries, according to the International Padel Federation.
Mr. Rogers has solidified a dominant role in Canada’s sports landscape. In addition to the telecom company’s ownership of sports venues across the country, he is also chair of the Toronto Blue Jays and Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment, or MLSE, which Rogers Communications holds a majority stake in. MLSE owns the Toronto Maple Leafs, the Toronto Raptors, Toronto FC and the Toronto Argonauts.
In a statement Tuesday, Mr. Rogers said he is thrilled to invest in the Polar Bears. “Padel is an exciting and fast-growing sport, and I’m proud to be part of the only Canadian franchise in the Pro Padel League, featuring both men’s doubles and women’s doubles,” he said.
Mr. Turner said that the initial deal did not include broadcast partnerships, but that the team would be making future announcements related to upcoming events and broadcasting opportunities.
Last season, he said, the Polar Bears were viewed by 300 million households in 100 countries, on television as well as on YouTube. The team is also sponsored by investment bank Canaccord Genuity.
“Edward loves padel as much as I do. I think he’s really going to get behind it, and be an unbelievable partner,” Mr. Turner said.