Rogers Mulls IPO and Private Capital for Canadian Sports Empire

Rogers Communications Inc. is drawing broad interest from private investors for a stake in its sports and entertainment business, its chief executive officer said, as the Canadian company debates whether to take its sports assets public in the future.

Rogers has increased its ownership of Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment Ltd. — parent of the Toronto Raptors basketball club and Toronto Maple Leafs hockey team — to 75%. The company plans to trigger a legal agreement to buy the other 25% from billionaire Larry Tanenbaum’s Kilmer Group.

Once that’s complete, as soon as next year, Rogers would be free ...