Sources: Irving Azoff Was Driving Force Behind David O'Connor Stepping Down From MSG

DAVID "DOC" O’CONNOR, who on Monday stepped down as MSG Co. President & CEO, was "ousted from the entertainment company after losing a face-off" with Azoff MSG Entertainment Chair IRVING AZOFF, according to sources cited by Josh Kosman of the N.Y. POST. Sources said that Azoff’s "fingerprints were all over O’Connor’s walking papers." Azoff is "close to" MSG Exec Chair JAMES DOLAN and has been his partner in Azoff MSG Entertainment since '13. Sources said that Azoff was "frustrated with O’Connor’s handling of MSG’s efforts at getting a 17,500 seat arena built in Las Vegas." Sources said that Azoff in '14 also "clashed" with then-MSG President & CEO HANK RATNER, "leading to Ratner’s resignation that year." Sources said that MSG’s complaint with Ratner was he was "too slow to buy and build new venues" (N.Y. POST, 11/15).