Rapper Drake Connects Trump-Pardoned Executive to Venezia FC Investment

Tim Leiweke and his daughter, Francesca Bodie, have invested $117 million (€99.526 million) in Venezia FC, becoming minority shareholders in the Italian club. This investment comes as Venezia secures its return to Serie A next season, just a year after being relegated to Serie B. Following the investment, Francesca Bodie was appointed the club's first female president, succeeding Duncan Niederauer, making her the only woman to hold such a position in Italy's top football division.

The connection between father and daughter and the Venice-based club was facilitated by Canadian rapper Drake, who is already part of Venezia's ownership structure. Leiweke and Bodie met Drake during Leiweke's tenure as president and CEO of Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment (MLSE) in Toronto, from 2013 to 2015. MLSE is a powerful joint venture that owns the Toronto Raptors (basketball), Toronto Maple Leafs (ice hockey), Toronto Argonauts (Canadian football), Toronto FC (soccer), as well as a host of other teams across various sports and lower divisions, and numerous sports facilities, including the Scotiabank Arena, home to the NBA's Raptors.

This investment marks Tim Leiweke's return to the sports business world, following a presidential pardon from Donald Trump at the end of 2025. Leiweke had faced a felony charge for restraint of trade, which led to his resignation as CEO of Oak View Group, a company he co-founded with Irving Azoff, in July 2025. Francesca also departed the company in October of the same year.

The pardon paved the way for his comeback, and Leiweke and Bodie's extensive experience in developing stadiums and arenas across the United States, Canada, and other countries was a decisive factor for Venezia. The club, which secured promotion to Serie A last week, has plans for a new 18,500-seat stadium and a 10,000-person arena, a project designed by Populous. A primary objective is to establish themselves in the Italian top flight and avoid the cycle of immediate promotions and relegations.

As part of the agreement, Tim Leiweke has been named co-chair of Venezia's operational committee, a subcommittee established in 2024 that has spearheaded recent fundraising efforts. His football experience is considerable, having been involved in signing David Beckham for the LA Galaxy during his time at AEG and later overseeing Toronto FC at MLSE.

Venezia's operational committee is co-chaired by American financier Rob Hamwee. The club's executive committee will comprise Bodie, Hamwee, and Leiweke, alongside Brad Katsuyama (CEO, IEX Group), Jonathan Wheaton (Director, Sandia Holdings LLC), and Ian McKinnon (Founding Partner, Sandia Holdings LLC).