Snoop Dogg throws his hat into Senators ownership bid

In an ideal world, the Ottawa Senators would be lacing up their skates to compete in the second round of the NHL playoffs.

Failing that, though, the fact that major entertainment icons Ryan Reynolds and Snoop Dogg are both fully engaged in bids to purchase the franchise for more than $1 billion is an astounding development for a city so often dismissed as sleepy and boring.

So much for the city that fun forgot.

Can’t you feel the love, Ottawa?

A couple of the biggest names in the movie and music industries are tripping over each other to be associated with Brady Tkachuk, Tim Stutzle and Jake Sanderson, along with wanting to be engaged with the city’s fans.

Over here, it’s Reynolds, the face behind the Deadpool costume and People Magazine’s Sexiest Man Alive in 2010. Over there, it’s Snoop Dogg, the trailblazing rapper, often seen as the father of West Coast hip-hop culture.

With the deadline for the second and final round of bidding to purchase the Senators from Anna and Olivia Melnyk — daughters of late owner Eugene Melnyk — due on May 15, so much intrigue is in the air.

After Postmedia reported Friday that Reynolds was fully on board as part of the Toronto-based Remington Group in a $1 billion bid, Snoop Dogg confirmed his interest Monday as part of a consortium headed by Los Angeles producer Neko Sparks.

“Amazing what @neko_sparks is trying to do in Ottawa & and I’m looking forward to being part of that ownership team,” Snoop Dogg posted on his Instagram account Monday. “I WANNA BRING HOCKEY TO OUR COMMUNITY.”

While it’s not known precisely how much the Sparks group would bid for the franchise, Sparks and Snoop Dogg are both interested in doing more to engage minority groups in the culture of hockey.

Snoop Dogg has been front and centre as a legendary rapper for the better part of three decades and he performed as part of the halftime show at the 2022 Super Bowl.

Reynolds, of course, has already showcased his ability to tell the story of a community through its sporting culture.

His compelling Welcome to Wrexham series about the Wales soccer team he owns with fellow actor Rob McElhenney has been a hit. It’s as much about the passion of the fans as it is about the skill of the soccer players.

Beyond the Remington Group and the Sparks consortium, it’s also believed there are as many as five other competing bids for the franchise.

They include Michael Andlauer, a part owner of the Montreal Canadiens, the Harlo Capital Group and Toronto billionaire Steve Apostolopoulos.

Unquestionably, it’s the prominent names of Reynolds and Snoop Dogg that have generated the biggest interest here and around the world.

The public disclosure of such prominent players is also an indication that a final sale could be imminent. The sooner it’s complete, the better, in terms of managing the franchise.

General manager Pierre Dorion and coach D.J. Smith are in limbo, awaiting to see whether the new bosses will choose to stick with the status quo or bring in their own people.

Tied into the purchase of the Senators is, of course, the potential for a new downtown arena.

While LeBreton Flats has long been seen as the prime destination for a new state-of-the-art facility, there are no guarantees that will become the Senators’ future home.

LeBreton Flats is on National Capital Commission land and the Senators’ new owners would need to negotiate with the NCC for a lease deal on the site.

Ottawa Mayor Mark Sutcliffe has also spoken publicly about the fact there are other options, including Bayview Yards.

Those discussions will come after new ownership is in place, whether it’s the Remington Group, the Neko Sparks team or someone else.

Interestingly enough, Reynolds and Snoop Dogg do have at least some history together.

Back in 2013, both served as voice actors for the animated film Turbo.

Reynolds voiced the character of Turbo, a garden snail who inherited super speed in an accident and went on to compete in the Indianapolis 500.

Snoop Dogg, meanwhile, was the voice of Smooth Move, a flexible snail who was inspired by Turbo in his efforts to dream that anything was possible.

It’s interesting that a decade later, the two are now among the driving forces in putting the Senators at the forefront of the sports world.

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Twitter.com/Citizenkwarren

GARRIOCH: Billon dollar bid for Senators puts Reynolds and Remington Group in driver's seat Ryan Reynolds is determined to make the Senators a global brand

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