Steve Stavro was a Canadian businessman and philanthropist who was also a passionate hockey fan. He was the owner of the Toronto Maple Leafs, one of the most iconic teams in the National Hockey League (NHL), for over a decade. Stavro's tenure as the owner of the Maple Leafs was marked by both successes and controversies.
Stavro was born in Egypt in 1926 and immigrated to Canada in 1951. He started his career as a grocer and eventually built a successful chain of supermarkets called Knob Hill Farms. He also owned a number of other businesses, including a construction company and a horse racing track.
Stavro's love for hockey was well-known, and he was a regular presence at Maple Leafs games even before he became the team's owner. In 1991, he purchased the team from Harold Ballard, who had owned the Maple Leafs since 1961. Stavro paid $93 million for the team, which was then the highest price ever paid for a professional sports franchise.
Under Stavro's ownership, the Maple Leafs experienced both highs and lows. In the early years of his tenure, the team struggled on the ice, failing to make the playoffs for several seasons. However, Stavro was committed to turning the team around, and he invested heavily in new players and coaches.
In the mid-1990s, the Maple Leafs began to see success on the ice. They made the playoffs for several consecutive seasons and even reached the conference finals in 1999 and 2002. Stavro was widely credited with helping to build a winning team, and he was beloved by many Maple Leafs fans.
However, Stavro's ownership of the Maple Leafs was not without controversy. He was criticized for his management style, which some saw as overly hands-on and meddlesome. He also faced accusations of conflicts of interest, as he owned a number of other businesses that had dealings with the Maple Leafs.
In 1999, Stavro sold a majority stake in the Maple Leafs to the Ontario Teachers' Pension Plan, although he remained involved with the team as a minority owner. He continued to attend games and was a vocal supporter of the team until his death in 2006.
Despite the controversies that surrounded his ownership of the Maple Leafs, Steve Stavro is remembered as a passionate hockey fan who was committed to building a winning team. His legacy lives on in the many fans who continue to support the Maple Leafs today.
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