Leonard Bloom
Leonard Bloom was a dentist / orthodontist and sports and entertainment executive in California.
On June 28, 1972 the American Basketball Association (that later merged with the NBA) awarded a franchise to San Diego for an entry fee of $1 million. Leonard Bloom, President and CEO of United States Capital Corporation,[1] was the team's sole owner. Bloom named the team the San Diego Conquistadors.[2]
Under Bloom's ownership the Conquistadors were unable to secure a major arena in San Diego for their first two years, but were able to secure a lease in the San Diego Sports Arena, thereafter. The Team made the ABA playoffs in both of its years at San Diego State University and the San Diego Convention Center 1973 and 1974.
On February 27, 1975, the ABA purchased the San Diego Conquistadors franchise for an undisclosed, multimillion-dollar figure.
Leonard Bloom is the sole owner of Marquee Entertainment Corporation. [3] Bloom also owned Bass Tickets, in which certain rights and locations were later purchased by Ticketmaster. For many years, Leonard Bloom's Marquee Entertainment Corporation has contracted and in many cases managed the top entertainers in the country for performances in Bloom-owned venues and for national and international tours.[4]
In addition to owning the San Diego Basketball franchise, Leonard Bloom also owned the Los Angeles Sharks Hockey Team in the WHA (World Hockey Association) that later merged with the NHL. The Sharks played all of their home hockey games at the Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena. Bloom renovated the Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena to accommodate his hockey team.
Leonard Bloom was one of the original founders of World Team Tennis (WTT) with Billie Jean King and Dennis Murphy. Bloom was the founder of the San Diego Swingers WTT franchise.
Leonard Bloom is also a real estate developer that owned, designed, constructed and operated large sports and entertainment facilities. Bloom was requested by the Chinese government and Olympic committee to be a consultant for the design, construction and operation of their Olympic venues for the 2008 Beijing Summer Olympics.[5]