The NHL is being predictably vague about the process surrounding the sale of the Ottawa Senators.
No firm timelines. No real details. No clarity on where things currently stand. And yet, if the latest reporting from Bruce Garrioch is accurate, this process may have actually been over a long time ago.
According to Bruce, who has been all over the Ownership story from the get go, the Remington Group along with Ryan Reynolds, who was already widely viewed as the favourite to land the team, is preparing a jaw-dropping offer.
$1,000,000,000.
That’s well above the $800M the team was valued at by Forbes back in December. Suddenly feeling like my offer may not get it done anymore.
Here’s what Garrioch had to say on the bid.
League sources told Postmedia Friday the Markham-based group, led by Vancouver-born actor Ryan Reynolds and real estate magnate Christopher Bratty, is prepared to bid more than $1 billion (all figures U.S.) to buy the Senators and the Canadian Tire Centre.
Galatioto Sports Partners, the group running the process, has set a May 15th deadline for the final bids.
Not only does the Remington Group appear prepared to outbid others involved in the process, they also have plans to include some of the other local investors, including a group led by Jeff York of Farm Boy, should there be an interest in a partnership of some kind.
When you combine those three elements- Ryan Reynolds, $1,000,000,000 and local investors…it’s hard to see how this group doesn’t end of up as the next Owners of the Ottawa Senators.
From a fan perspective, there is a pretty clear interest in getting this wrapped up as soon as possible.
The process has already dragged on a little bit and while the level of interest if extremely encouraging, it would be nice to have this finalized so the hockey-side of the operation can start making preparations for next season.
Once that May 15th deadline rolls around, here’s hoping this can move along quickly.
