Senators for sale – It’s not clear right now as to who will buy the Senators, but as it stands, the purchase of the club has many fans hoping for a new beginning as the franchise has struggled in recent times. Whether it’s a buyer that has made their name in Hollywood or the music industry, or seasoned hockey franchise owners, the Senators will benefit under new management.
On the 4th of November 2022, Senators Sports and Entertainment announced that the process to sell the Ottawa Senators hockey club had begun. The process was initiated by the passing of club owner, Eugene Melnyk, in March 2022.
With the Senators having not lived up to expectation this season, and the wide range of interest that the announcement of the sale of the Senators has garnered, all bets are on as to who will own the Senators. Even Ryan Reynolds has emerged as a potential buyer, whose interest in purchasing the Ottawa team is bolstered by him having spent some of his childhood growing up there.
One of the conditions of the sale? That the Senators remain an Ottawa. Amidst the introduction of legal sportsbooks in Ontario, which is already generating significant revenue, opportunities like advertising deals and other partnerships could see a rebirth of the struggling Senators.
Michael Andlauer
Founder of 6 companies, including Andlauer Healthcare, the Montreal raised Tycoon is leading the race of potential buyers to be the next owner of the Senators. Andlauer feels to be a good fit to take over as owner of the Senators, as the businessman has some experience owning hockey teams.
Andlauer owns the AHL Hamilton Bulldogs, which are a farm team of the Montreal Canadiens, where Andlauer has become a 20% stake owner. Andlauer would have to divest his stake in the Canadiens if he were to buy the Senators.
Andlauer’s alliance with another OHL owner, Rocco Tullio (owner of the Oshawa Generals), has bolstered the (now) Toronto based businessman’s shot at landing the Senators, and switching his allegiance from Montreal to Ottawa.
Neko Sparks
Neko Sparks is currently leading a consortium of between 13 and 15 investors, who have placed a bid of 950 million on the Senators. The team is valued at 800 million according to Forbes. Among other ventures, Sparks’s Pixel Lime works with the Senators by aiding their marketing development, and extending their digital reach. This existing partnership is said to have the ability to bolster a potential deal with the Los Angeles based businessman and his group of investors.
What makes this bid, and potential purchase even more significant, is that the majority of the Sparks consortium are people of colour, which would make the Ottawa Senators the first black-owned franchise in the NHL.
Sparks’ consortium includes investors that are said to be major players with high visibility in Canada, with one of the investors being described as a big name in the music industry.
Michael Kimel
Being ranked as one of Toronto’s 50 most influential people, Michael Kimel has blazed a trail through North America in a number of different industries. He is the co-founder of Harlo Entertainment, and has founded numerous other businesses, including Chase Hospitality Group (CHG).
The tycoon also co-founded Overactive Media, which has become the only company on the planet to own three franchised esports teams. Kimel also serves as a member of the Pittsburgh Penguins Management committee.
Kimel has a track record of being involved in professional sport. His service as a management committee member of the Penguins makes him a good fit for the potential challenges of being the owner of the Senators.
lead photo by Matthew Fournier on Unsplash
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