Four groups submit bids to buy Ottawa Senators: reports
Four groups submitted bids to buy the Ottawa Senators by Monday's deadline, with at least one offer of $1 billion U.S., multiple reports said.
Of the half-a-dozen groups that had expressed serious interest in the franchise, four of them submitted bids by Monday's 5 p.m. deadline, according to reports by Postmedia and Sportico.
Postmedia reported that three of the bids came from Toronto-area businessmen: Michael Andlauer, Jeffrey and Michael Kimel, and Steve Apostolopoulos. Los Angeles-based entrepreneur Neko Sparks also submitted a bid.
The bids will now be combed over by New York-based Galatioto Sports Partners, which is running the sale for the family of late owner Eugene Melnyk. The owners must be approved by the NHL's board of governors.
The sale of the team has attracted interest and some high-powered celebrity names.
The Sparks group has offered a share of the franchise to Indigenous groups if they are successful, CTV News confirmed Monday. Rapper and entrepreneur Snoop Dogg, who is part of the Sparks bid, posted a video on social media Monday in which he gave "a shout out to the First Nations of Canada."
Rapper the Weeknd is also reportedly part of the Kimels' bid.
Ryan Reynolds, who had aligned himself with Toronto-based real estate company the Remington Group, was not among the bidders, reports said.
That group reportedly pulled out of the process at the 11th hour because their request for an exclusive negotiating window with the National Capital Commission to secure more land for a downtown arena was rejected.
WHO ARE THE BIDDERS?
Andlauer is already a member of the NHL's board of governors as a minority owner of the Montreal Canadiens. He would have to sell his share in the Habs if he is the successful in buying the Senators.
The former beer league goalie is the founder and CEO of Andlauer Healthcare Group, which handles logistics in the pharmaceutical and health care industries.
The Kimel brothers are real estate developers who are former minority owners of the Pittsburgh Penguins. Jeffrey Kimel is the president and CEO of Harlo Capital, a Toronto-based private equity firm. Michael Kimel runs Chase Hospitality Group, a restaurant, catering and events company.
Sparks is an L.A.-based entrepreneur who is the chief technology officer at Pixel Lime, an AI and immersive technology company. His LinkedIn profile says he has "15 years experience in emerging tech, artificial intelligence, blockchain technology, augmented reality, and interactive media."
If his group wins, they would become the first-ever Black-led ownership of an NHL franchise.
Apostolopoulos is a billionaire businessman who is the managing partner of Triple Group of Companies, a real estate firm, and Six Ventures, a private equity firm.
He submitted a $6 billion U.S. bid to buy the Washington Commanders.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
DEVELOPING 120 active fires burning across Canada, 30 are 'out of control'
The 2024 wildfire season has begun, and it's shaping up to follow last year's unprecedented destruction in kind, with thousands of square kilometres already consumed.
Veteran TSN sportscaster Darren Dutchyshen has died
Veteran TSN broadcaster Darren 'Dutch' Dutchyshen, one of Canada’s best-known sports journalists, has died. He was 57. His family says 'he passed as he was surrounded by his closest loved ones.'
BREAKING B.C. parents sentenced to 15 years for death of 6-year-old boy
A British Columbia Supreme Court judge has sentenced the mother and stepfather of a six-year-old boy who died from blunt-force trauma in 2018 to 15 years in prison.
Legislative speaker cuts ties with Sask. Party, alleges he faced threats, harassment from gov't MLAs
The Speaker of the Saskatchewan Legislature Randy Weekes has severed ties with the Sask. Party after accusing some members of harassment and intimidation tactics, including a situation he claimed saw the Government House Leader bring a hunting rifle to the legislative building.
Kevin Spacey receives star support as he fights to get his career back
Kevin Spacey is pushing back on the 'rush to judgment' against him and is being backed by some big names as he seeks to reclaim his acting career.
A Toronto man killed his mother and decapitated her. His lawyers argue it wasn't murder
A ‘lifetime of abuse’ led Dallas Ly to snap and repeatedly stab his mother inside their Leslieville apartment in 2022 but he never intended to kill her, his defence lawyers argued during his murder trial in Toronto on Thursday.
Father charged with second-degree murder in daughter's stabbing death southwest of Montreal
A father has been charged with second-degree murder in the stabbing death of his 34-year-old daughter in southern Quebec.
Trudeau calls New Brunswick's Conservative government a 'disgrace' on women's rights
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau assailed New Brunswick's premier and other conservative leaders on Thursday, calling out the provincial government's position on abortion, LGBTQ youth and climate change.
The latest advice for expecting parents? Sign up for childcare as soon as you're pregnant
Canada's new $10-a-day child care program is expanding, but there's growing evidence that demand for the program is rising even faster, leaving many parents on the outside looking in.