Ryan Reynolds is one crucial step closer to owning an NHL team.
The Hollywood superstar is partnering with a consortium led by Toronto-based real estate developer The Remington Group that is expected to make a bid to buy the Ottawa Senators, per the Ottawa Sun’s Bruce Garrioch.
A key piece of the bid will be its intention to build a new arena in the LeBreton Flats area near downtown Ottawa — a substantial location upgrade from the Sens’ current arena, Canadian Tire Centre, on the outskirts of the city.
When first announcing his intention to buy the team in November, Reynolds said that keeping the team in Ottawa was one of his top priorities.
NHL commissioner Gary Bettman “made it clear” that the league wants Reynolds as a minority owner, so The Remington Group now seems to have the inside edge over the reported dozens of groups exploring a bid.
- Just after the team went up for sale, billionaire and Montreal Canadiens minority owner Michael Andlauer was seen as the favorite to buy the team.
- Los Angeles-based actor, producer, and tech entrepreneur Neko Sparks was reportedly putting in a bid — which, if successful, would have made him the first Black owner in NHL history.
Welcome to Ottawa
Garrioch also reports that Reynolds’ production company, Maximum Effort, would plan to produce a docuseries on the Senators similar to his hit show, “Welcome to Wrexham.”
Wrexham AFC has experienced a renaissance since being bought by Reynolds and fellow Hollywood star Rob McElhenney.
