Denver sports executive Tim Leiweke, who was facing a trial on bid-rigging charges, has received a full and unconditional pardon from President Donald Trump.
Trump signed an order on Dec. 2 directing the pardon attorney to grant Leiweke clemency, which means there will be no trial to determine his innocence or guilt. Leiweke faced up to 10 years in prison and a $1 million fine on allegations he violated the Sherman Antitrust Act.
“I do not have the words to adequately convey my profound gratitude to President Trump. This has been a long and difficult journey for my wife, my daughter and me. The president has given us a new lease on life with which we will be grateful and good stewards,” Leiweke said in a statement.
Leiweke stepped down as CEO of Denver-based Oak View Group in July after a grand jury indicted him for conspiracy to rig the bidding process at the Moody Center at the University of Texas at Austin, which cost $375 million to build. He continues to serve as vice chairman at Oak View, which builds and manages sports venues around the world.
The indictment, which was filed in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Texas, alleged that Leiweke, from early 2018 through June 2024, conspired with a competitor, Legends Hospitality, to rig the bidding for the development, management and use of the arena, which opened in April 2022.
Oak View and Legends Hospitality, based in New York, agreed to pay $15 million and $1.5 million in penalties, respectively, in connection with the conduct alleged in the indictment against Leiweke, according to the DOJ. The two companies neither admitted nor denied guilt.
“Timothy Leiweke allegedly led a scheme designed to steer the contract for entertainment services at a public university’s arena to his company. Public contracts are subject to laws requiring an open and competitive bid process to ensure a level playing field,” FBI New York Field Office Assistant Director in Charge Christopher G. Raia said in a news release in July.
Oak View named Chris Granger as interim CEO after Leiweke stepped down and made the title permanent last week. Granger, earlier in his career, was president of the Detroit Tigers, Detroit Red Wings and the Sacramento Kings.
“We are happy for Tim that he can now put this matter behind him,” a spokesperson for the Oak View Group told media outlets.
While president of the Denver Nuggets in the early 1990s, Leiweke got the ball rolling on what would become the Pepsi Center, now Ball Arena. He is also credited with helping to bring the Quebec Nordiques, the future Colorado Avalanche, to Denver. Leiweke left the Nuggets in 1995 to work with Anschutz Entertainment Group, becoming president and CEO the following year, a role he held until March 2013.
He oversaw the construction of the Staples Center in Los Angeles, which serves as home to the Lakers, Kings and Sparks, and a related entertainment district called L.A. Live. He was also behind the O2 Arena in London, the Microsoft Theater in L.A. and the Dignity Health Sports Park, a soccer stadium in Carson, Calif.
He co-founded Oakview Group in November 2015 and moved it to Denver in 2024. The company employs more than 50,000 people and manages and provides services to around 400 arenas globally, according to the company’s website.
