Months on from initial rumblings that Ryan Reynolds was interested in expanding his portfolio of professional sports teams by buying the NHL's Ottawa Senators, it's now been reported that the actor has teamed with a real estate developer to make a bid for the franchise.
Citing league sources in a new report today, the Ottawa Sun's longtime Sens scribe Bruce Garrioch shared that Reynolds, in partnership with GTA-based land developer Remington Group, is "prepared to bid more than $1 billion (all figures US) to buy the Senators and the Canadian Tire Centre."
Garrioch writes, "The belief is Reynolds and Bratty would like to get this deal done as soon as possible and have been aggressive in their pursuit of the Senators." Reynolds was previously spotted in Ottawa with mayor Mark Sutcliffe as well as the National Capital Commission towards the end of the NHL's regular season, as the Senators ultimately fell short in their push for the 2023 playoffs.
The report also notes that, "as part of the proposal, we're led to believe Reynolds and Bratty are committed to building a new rink close to downtown Ottawa that will be surrounded by an entertainment district." Garrioch previously reported the deadline for the second and final round of bids for the team is May 15.
A respective report from The Athletic's Ian Mendes notes how the proposed parcel of land to be developed, at LeBreton Flats, is unceded Algonquin territory. Dylan Whiteduck, chief of the Kitigan Zibi Anishinābeg First Nation, told the website that a representative connected to Reynolds' bid reached out to set up an official meeting — the only prospective ownership group to do so.
Should Reynolds and Remington Group have their bid selected, it's expected the actor will play a public-facing role not unlike his involvement with Wrexham FC, the Welsh football club he purchased with fellow screen star Rob McElhenney in 2020.
The duo's acquisition, and subsequent docuseries Welcome to Wrexham, was instrumental in increasing the club's visibility, which has since helped the team establish a global fanbase.
"I wasn't an expert in... I'll call it soccer for our American audience, but I've adopted it as football and rightfully so," Reynolds shared with CNBC last week. "You have to go hand-in-hand, community and club. The thing I think we did do well with Wrexham FC is … We don't have a large moat around us of publicists, lawyers and other personnel. We're pretty accessible and accountable to both the community and the club. If you're going to grow the club, you have to be in tandem and be able to grow that community."
Last month, Reynolds was linked to the building of a "massive" production studio in Markham.
Citing league sources in a new report today, the Ottawa Sun's longtime Sens scribe Bruce Garrioch shared that Reynolds, in partnership with GTA-based land developer Remington Group, is "prepared to bid more than $1 billion (all figures US) to buy the Senators and the Canadian Tire Centre."
Garrioch writes, "The belief is Reynolds and Bratty would like to get this deal done as soon as possible and have been aggressive in their pursuit of the Senators." Reynolds was previously spotted in Ottawa with mayor Mark Sutcliffe as well as the National Capital Commission towards the end of the NHL's regular season, as the Senators ultimately fell short in their push for the 2023 playoffs.
The report also notes that, "as part of the proposal, we're led to believe Reynolds and Bratty are committed to building a new rink close to downtown Ottawa that will be surrounded by an entertainment district." Garrioch previously reported the deadline for the second and final round of bids for the team is May 15.
A respective report from The Athletic's Ian Mendes notes how the proposed parcel of land to be developed, at LeBreton Flats, is unceded Algonquin territory. Dylan Whiteduck, chief of the Kitigan Zibi Anishinābeg First Nation, told the website that a representative connected to Reynolds' bid reached out to set up an official meeting — the only prospective ownership group to do so.
Should Reynolds and Remington Group have their bid selected, it's expected the actor will play a public-facing role not unlike his involvement with Wrexham FC, the Welsh football club he purchased with fellow screen star Rob McElhenney in 2020.
The duo's acquisition, and subsequent docuseries Welcome to Wrexham, was instrumental in increasing the club's visibility, which has since helped the team establish a global fanbase.
"I wasn't an expert in... I'll call it soccer for our American audience, but I've adopted it as football and rightfully so," Reynolds shared with CNBC last week. "You have to go hand-in-hand, community and club. The thing I think we did do well with Wrexham FC is … We don't have a large moat around us of publicists, lawyers and other personnel. We're pretty accessible and accountable to both the community and the club. If you're going to grow the club, you have to be in tandem and be able to grow that community."
Last month, Reynolds was linked to the building of a "massive" production studio in Markham.
