"We will be relentless in our pursuit of excellence and victories." That's Tim Leiweke talking — a man who turned the LA Galaxy and Toronto FC into champions and built arenas for the Lakers and the Maple Leafs. Venezia FC just landed him as co-chairman, and the money behind it is serious: 100 million euros.
The club sealed promotion back to Serie A last week with a 2-2 draw at Spezia — returning to the Italian top flight just one season after their 2025 relegation. The timing of this investment isn't accidental. Drake, who took a stake in the club in 2024, used his connections to bring in Leiweke and Leiweke's daughter Francesca Bodie, who steps in as club president.
What Leiweke actually brings
This isn't celebrity money looking for a vanity project. Leiweke has spent decades operating at the highest level of North American sport — NBA, NHL, MLS. He knows what infrastructure, culture, and sustained investment look like in practice.
His track record with the Galaxy and Toronto FC specifically is relevant here. Both clubs went from underperformers to genuine title contenders under his stewardship. Venezia, a club with a century of history playing in one of the most recognizable cities in the world, gives him a canvas with real commercial and sporting potential.
Whether the 100 million euros translates into squad depth good enough to survive Serie A — not just visit it — is the real question. Newly promoted sides without serious transfer backing tend to yo-yo. With this kind of capital injection, that cycle could finally stop for Venezia.
The Serie A picture just shifted slightly
Venezia's promotion odds for staying up next season will be shaped heavily by how quickly this money reaches the squad. A well-funded newly promoted side is a different proposition for mid-table Serie A clubs than one scrambling on a shoestring.
- 100 million euros ($117.72 million) secured in minority investment
- Tim Leiweke appointed co-chairman of the operating committee
- Francesca Bodie named club president
- Promotion confirmed after a 2-2 draw at Spezia
Leiweke put it plainly: he wants Venezia as "a permanent fixture in Serie A." That's the benchmark he's set publicly. Now he has to build a squad that can actually meet it.
