Leipold is the founder of Ameritel, a business-to-business telemarketing firm in Neenah, Wis. He also was the past owner of the Rainfair Company, which made protective footwear. He has also been a director of Gaylord Entertainment Company, owner of the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville, Tennessee.
Hockey team ownership
Leipold first was considered a potential owner or investor in the NBAMilwaukee Bucks and Sacramento Kings teams. He attributed this interest to the fact that he knew the sport of basketball well. He became interested in ownership of a professional ice hockey franchise because there were more opportunities than in basketball.
Leipold bought an expansion franchise from the NHL in 1997 for $80 million. He sold the Nashville Predators due to rising operating costs and low fan attendance. Leipold claims more than $70 million in losses during his tenure as owner of the Predators. Initially, Leipold had an agreement to sell the team to Jim Balsillie for $220 million, but he withdrew from the agreement after Balsillie started season ticket advertising for a move of the team to Hamilton, Ontario. The Predators were sold instead to an investor group that included William J. "Boots" Del Biaggio. The final sale price of the Predators was reported as $193 million. Leipold has gone on record objecting to Jim Balsillie becoming an NHL owner, stating that he doesn't trust Balsillie.
How much does Wild owner Craig Leipold figure Kaprizov’s next contract could cost?. “A lot,” Leipold told the Pioneer Press... “David Jiricek is a big man — you notice him when he’s on the ice,” Wild owner Craig Leipold said.
While the Russian forward has this season and next remaining on his current five-year, $45 million contract he signed in September 2021, Wild owner Craig Leipold says he is committed to keeping Kaprizov in Minnesota.
Minnesota Wild owner Craig Leipold made it crystal clear that the team is thinking about Kirill Kaprizov's next contract ... "Well, it's a priority," Leipold told NHL.com.
When Minnesota Wild owner Craig Leipold wanted to sell part of the NHL team, prices had risen so high that traditional investors were scarce. Private equity offered a solution, but it took some convincing ... .
Sam Darnold has guided the Vikings to an improbable 6-2 start. But the way it looks now, the Vikings’ quarterback next season will be rookie J.J. McCarthy, not Darnold ... 31 ... The Wild can’t re-sign him until July 1, but owner Craig Leipold insists he will.
Craig Leipold, owner of the Minnesota Wild, said recently he’s hoping to expand the project to include a new Roy Wilkins Auditorium, an expanded convention center, a new RiverCentre parking ramp and a convention center hotel spanning 650 rooms.
Wild owner Craig Leipold said in September that Amazon, which produces content for the league’s seven Canadian teams, gave the Wild a presentation last month ... Leipold, speaking during a preseason game ...
It’s a little bit different this season ... “We have to show a lot of people that we’re back, and that’s what our plan is,” owner Craig Leipold said this month ... After John Hynes replaced Dean Evason on Nov ... That team is largely unchanged ... .
Minnesota Wild owner Craig Leipold said the team will contribute $200 million to $250 million — that was once almost the entire scope of the project, but plans have grown significantly, and the team and city will be looking for state help, too ... .
Minnesota Wild owner Craig Leipold made it clear what his team’s top priority will be next summer. Speaking to The Athletic's Michael Russo on Tuesday, Leipold told the beat reporter that one is will be atop his to-do list come July 1.
So far, the project has gotten nowhere, and Wild owner Craig Leipold — whose NHL team is Xcel Energy Center’s primary tenant from October to April — said this week its scope has gotten bigger.
Their combined cap hits will drop to just $1.67 million next season and Wild owner Craig Leipold is ready to start spending. “Next July 1 is going to be like Christmas,” Leipold told Michael Russo of The Athletic.
Aiken Standard
08 Oct 2024
Aiken Standard
08 Oct 2024