Loblaw in battle it over Maple Leaf Gardens name

There’a a fight brewing over the right to use the Maple Leaf Gardens name between Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment (MLSE), Loblaw Properties Ltd. and Ryerson University.

At the heart of the matter is Ryerson’s plan to hold concerts at the 3,000 seat arena above the main floor Loblaw’s grocery store, which MLSE sees as being in direct competition with the Air Canada Centre, the Maple Leafs’ current home.

In a civil action filed by MLSE, owner of four professional franchises and an NHL arena, against co-owners Loblaw and Ryerson, it is demanding Ryerson stop using the name Maple Leaf Gardens.

When MLSE sold Maple Leaf Gardens to Loblaw in 2004 for $12 million, Loblaw and Ryerson reached a deal in 2009 that would see the second floor becoming the school’s athletic centre and arena.

MLSE told the Toronto Star, that it’s fine for Loblaw to use the Maple Leaf Gardens name for its store, but not Ryerson’s centre.

Ryerson also hired enetertainment facilty management group Global Spectrum to run the new facility, which riled MLSE further since the group is seen as a competitor for smaller shows and leagues, the bulk of which makes up MLSE’s business.

Loblaw is set to open the grocery store at the Gardens in fall 2011.