Sens army HQ

[hwy418]

Originally Posted by J.OT13

Anyone else cringe at this line?



Seems "passed-away" would be more respectful.

There were definitely some tensions between fans and Melnyk in the later years, but he did save the Senators and kept them in Ottawa. He was generous to the community. He stuck around despite Watson's continued efforts to shut-him out (Kanata stadium and MLS team proposal, the casino file, taking Ruddy's side on the LeBreton collapse).

I hope that the new arena will include a life-size statue of Melnyk, possibly of him at a skates for kids event. I think he's deserving of that honour.

Not sure about a statue (Alfie first), but add him to the Ring of Honour for his contributions to the organization and our community.

[YOWflier]

Hard pass on outdoor the statue idea from me, for many reasons. Inside the rink they can have some sort of memoriam. Ring of honour is probably best.

[J.OT13]

Ring of Honour is a no brainer. Hope the new building has a museum highlighting the team's history, from the Original Sens, to the new franchise, the local legends, and of course a special commemoration for those we've lost.

[harls]

Originally Posted by J.OT13

Yeah, back in November.

I agree, he brings so much more to the table than money. The value of him as an owner might be worth tens of millions on its own in exposure. That's before the TV series he's proposing. I hope it factors into the NHL's decision.

Look at how the media oogled the Mike Fisher/Carrie Underwood thing.

[J.OT13]

game is at 7pm. I assume the Press Conference will be before the game. Hoping for some sort of announcement, but not expecting anything major.

Mayor Sutcliffe and National Hockey League Commissioner Gary Bettman will be meeting in the Office of the Mayor at 12:00 PM today. The media are invited to attend to take video footage/pictures at 11:45 AM in the Mayor’s Office. There will be no questions. Instead, there will be a press conference hosted by the National Hockey League at tonight’s hockey game.


Le maire Sutcliffe et le commissaire de la Ligue nationale de hockey Gary Bettman se rencontreront au bureau du maire à midi aujourd'hui. Les médias sont invités à assister à la prise de séquences vidéo/photos à 11h45 dans le bureau du maire. Il n'y aura pas de questions. Mais, il y aura une conférence de presse organisée par la Ligue nationale de hockey lors du match de hockey de ce soir.

Liam B. Harrington
Special Assistant, Community Relations | Adjoint spécial, Relations communautaires
Office of the Mayor | Bureau du Maire

[rocketphish]

Bettman offering no hints about new Senators owner
NHL commissioner met with Ottawa Mayor Mark Sutcliffe on Monday afternoon

CBC News
Posted: Mar 27, 2023 3:33 PM EDT | Last Updated: 6 minutes ago

National Hockey League commissioner Gary Bettman says the new owner of the Ottawa Senators will likely be announced by "early mid-summer," and has reiterated his stand that the team will not be leaving the city.

"I have no announcement to make," Bettman told reporters at a pre-game news conference at Canadian Tire Centre, where the Senators are taking on the Florida Panthers Monday evening.

Bettman confirmed there remain "somewhere around six" groups vying to purchase the team, but he offered no clues as to who they are, or who might be leading the pack.

"I know there's been a lot of speculation about who the bidders are, what they're prepared to pay — I think ignoring the speculation would be a good idea because most of it has been inaccurate," he said, urging patience.

"We're not on the clock. The goal is to get it right, and if it takes a little longer, it takes a little longer."

Bettman said he expects the selection process, which is being managed by New York investment bankers Galatioto Sports Partners, to take another six weeks, and described it as "among the most vibrant processes I've ever seen."

Bettman dashed any speculation that the franchise could relocate to another city, confirming any move will be to downtown Ottawa.

"If the team is going to move, the only move that will be permitted is downtown. The … Senators are not leaving Ottawa," he told reporters.

Other details, such as the precise location of any new arena, will be up to the successful bidder and new owner of the franchise, Bettman said, though he did express some skepticism about the suitability of LeBreton Flats due to its size.

"I don't know whether or not 6.3 or 6.9 acres is enough…. It struck me as being a little small," Bettman said, expressing concern about space for parking, loading and other utilities.

"There are options downtown, and that's always a good thing to have."

He reiterated that the ultimate decision about a new arena, and what to do with Canadian Tire Centre if the team does move downtown, will be up to the new owners.

"That will all be up to the successful bidder and the new owner of the franchise," he said.

Bettman's visit to Ottawa comes amid rampant speculation about the team's prospective buyers.

Actor Ryan Reynolds has reportedly teamed up with Toronto-area developers The Remington Group. Both Bettman and Daly have indicated the movie star's involvement could be a huge boon to both the franchise and the league.

Toronto billionaire and minority Montreal Canadiens owner Michaal Andlauer has put in a bid, as have the Kimel brothers of Harlo Capital, according to both CBC sources and other news outlets.

Like Andlauer, Jeffrey Kimel is already involved in the NHL as a member of the Pittsburgh Penguins management committee.

According to The Athletic, Los Angeles-based AI entrepreneur Neko Sparks is preparing a bid, and even retweeted a post by that publication about his interest in the Senators.

With the franchise expected to cost more than $800 million — and NHL brass trying to talk the price up even higher — the new owners are expected to be a consortium led by a deep-pocketed tycoon from afar that includes local minority shareholders to provide some hometown flavour.

CBC News has learned of at least three local parties involved in larger bids: the Malhotra family of Claridge Homes; Jean-Pierre Poulin of Devcore; and Jeff York of the Farm Boy grocery stores.

It's not clear which prospective bidders the local parties are aligned with.

Earlier on Monday, Bettman dropped by Ottawa city hall for a lunch meeting and photo op with Mayor Mark Sutcliffe, before meeting with National Capital Commission (NCC) CEO Tobi Nussbaum.

Bettman described both meetings as "very constructive." Sutcliffe joined Bettman at Monday's pre-game news conference, though the mayor didn't sit behind the table with the NHL commissioner.

The team is officially for sale after Eugene Melnyk died last year. Melnyk's daughters, who currently own the team, have signed an agreement to build a new arena on LeBreton Flats, but it's not binding.

Capital Sports and Entertainment Group (CSEG), which owns the Senators, inked a memorandum of understanding with the NCC last year to build an arena on LeBreton Flats. Their partners include Live Nation Entertainment, the parent company of Ticketmaster.

The proposal would see a major events centre, with additional mixed use development, on a 2.6-hectare site on Albert Street.

The NCC is hoping to sign a lease this fall, but there's nothing compelling the team's new owners to go through with the LeBreton deal.

On Monday, NCC spokesperson Valérie Dufour told CBC the meeting between Bettman and Nussbaum "was very positive, with both parties recognizing the value and opportunity for the Ottawa Senators and the National Hockey League to build a downtown arena at LeBreton Flats."

NHL executives have signalled for years that they want the Senators to move from Canadian Tire Centre to a downtown arena, but they've been sending mixed messages about whether that necessarily means a move to LeBreton Flats.

In February, NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly, who joined Bettman in Ottawa on Monday, told The Bob McCown Podcast that Lebreton Flats is "certainly a relevant part of the mix," but might not be "an essential element."

Last week, Sutcliffe told TSN1200 that LeBreton is "not the only location" up for consideration.

During last fall's election campaign, Sutcliffe was staunchly opposed to any direct municipal funding of a new arena, and in December told CBC he didn't "support a cash contribution from the city of Ottawa."

Last week, however, he appeared less certain.

"I'm not a fan of putting city money into an arena, but it depends on so many factors," he told reporters. "I think it's too early to have that conversation."

With files from Joanne Chianello

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/ottawa/nhl-gary-bettman-in-ottawa-senators-1.6792398

[J.OT13]

Has anyone been able to find a full video of the Press Conference? I've been searching igh and low with no luck.

[J.OT13]

I heard Bettman answer one question about Reynolds. His tone gave me the impression that he picked the wrong horse. Something along the lines of "he made a decision, I respect that and wish him the best of luck".

[rocketphish]

Gary Bettman on Sens Sale: 'We're not on the clock. The goal is to get it right.'

Bruce Garrioch, Ottawa Citizen
Published Mar 27, 2023 • Last updated 15 hours ago • 4 minute read

Gary Bettman is confident the NHL will find the right fit to be the next owner of the Ottawa Senators.

The NHL commissioner, who was in town Monday night to see the Senators take on the Florida Panthers at the Canadian Tire Centre, told reporters there are number of strong bidders among the six that have moved onto the second phase of sale process.

As Postmedia has reported several times, we may know the owner of the Senators late next month, but the expectation is it will take until July 1 to get the paperwork completed. Bettman noted Phase 2, which will include non-binding bids and an auction, could take up to six weeks.

“Remember, after we get done, and we get to the anointed party, then you’ve got to go through the lawyers doing contracts and we have a league approval process to get through,” Bettman said. “A new owner has to be approved by three-quarters of the ownership of the league.

“That’s something we haven’t done yet and it would be premature to do it. There’s still two-to-three months of work to be done. So, everybody take a deep breath, sit back, we’ll get through this process and we’re going to come out of it on the other side with a really good, strong new owner.”

As only Postmedia has reported, Bettman confirmed six groups have moved onto Phase 2 and those groups are getting a closer look at the franchise before making a final bid.

“There’s been some winnowing of the number of bidders,” Bettman said. “And the more serious bidders, of which are at least a half-dozen are now in the process of coming to see the building, meeting with the front office and doing more due diligence than they did for their preliminary bids.

“The good news is we have a number of substantial owners’ groups who are interested in a meaningful way of owning this team and owning it here (in Ottawa).”

We’re told as many as four of the groups that have made bids will be in the rink at this week receiving presentations from senior team management along with representatives of New York-based banker Sal Galatioto, who was hired by the Melnyk family to sell the team.

As Postmedia reported, Jeffrey and Michael Kimel of Toronto-based Harlo Capital were here Friday to meet with chief financial officer Erin Crowe, president of business operations Anthony LeBlanc and general manager Pierre Dorion to get insight on the club.

Representatives of the Markham-based Remington Group, which includes Vancouver-born actor Ryan Reynolds and is led by Christopher Bratty, along with Windsor businessman Rocco Tullio, owner of the Ontario Hockey League’s Oshawa Generals, are expected to be among the visitors.

We also believe Toronto billionaire Michael Andlauer, Los Angeles-based producer Neko Sparks and an unnamed First Nations Group are also due to be in town. Sources say there was a group in the building Monday, and they stuck around to watch the Senators take on the Panthers.

“I’m running the process, we’re consulting with the process, Sal Galatioto is running the process with his organization. We’re not on the clock,” Bettman said. “The goal is to get it right. If it takes a little longer, it takes a little longer. This wave, is more in person, due-diligence, bricks and mortar, coming in to tour the building, looking at the market and the community.

“It may go faster, it may go a little longer, this is about doing the right thing.”

Bettman said the league is involved in every step.

“Since we’re working along with GSP (Galatioto Sports Partners) and consulting along the way, we’re not sitting on the side and not involved at all, but we’re not running the process” said Bettman. “We’ll have a pretty good idea on who gets to the finish line.”

One person Ottawa fans would like to see cross the line when the dusts settles is the 46-year-old Reynolds. His decision to join the Remington Group came as a surprise, but Bettman noted he respects the move by Reynolds, and he’s devoted to that group.

“Ryan believed it was important to connect with a bidder that he believed would be a good match for him and felt that this person or group would be a good owner,” Bettman said. “He wants to see his bid through. He wants to take it from beginning to end.

“And as I said I respect his view of the process and I wish him good luck.”

Naturally, the league has been pleased with the level of interest in the Senators. The speculation is the sale price could be north of $900 million (all figures U.S.) and as high as $1 billion.

“Let’s say that is among the most vibrant processes that I’ve ever seen,” Bettman said. “I think that’s a testament to this market, the great fan base, the support this team gets from the community, how this team’s being run, and, quite frankly, the state of our game, which has never been healthier and stronger.”

[email protected]
Twitter.com/sungarrioch

https://ottawacitizen.com/sports/hockey/...on-the-clock-the-goal-is-to-get-it-right

[rocketphish]

Insider Trading: Sens bidder has claim to LeBreton Flats

TSN.ca Staff
Published Mar 28, 2023 at 06:44 PM ET

The TSN Hockey Insiders discuss how one of the bidders for the Senators has a land claim to LeBreton Flats, how four or five teams are pushing to have Scott Howson replaced as AHL president and CEO, why Taylor Hall's return is being hampered by the Bruins' cap issues, and more.

Reda: They are The Insiders, Chris Johnston and Darren Dreger: NHL commissioner Gary Bettman was in Ottawa on Monday where he noted the sale of the Senators was ‘progressing nicely’ and now Chris, we’re hearing that one of the potential bidders could be laying claim to a piece of land?

Johnston: Yes and that land would be LeBreton Flats, the most discussed area where the Ottawa Senators have been trying to build a rink it seems like for years. And what Gary Bettman said is still true, Gino; no slam dunk at all that the next owner of the Sens will be building a new arena down there, but an interesting detail has emerged from one of the groups bidding for the team. That’s that the Algonquins of Ontario are part of the First Nations group which has stepped up and is trying to buy the Senators and why that’s significant is that the Algonquins actually have a land claim on that piece of property at LeBreton Flats. It’s controlled, it’s a federally run piece of property that there’s clearly some unique opportunities there if they are the winning bid – and I can tell you that that group of representatives that is partnered with Graeme Roustan were in Ottawa on Monday for the Panthers-Senators game, they met with management on Tuesday and they very much remain in the mix trying to buy this team.

Reda: Now while the commissioner makes his rounds through the NHL cities, Darren, you’re hearing there may be questions surrounding the current American Hockey League commissioner?

Dreger: Yes, it’s a developing story around Scott Howson, who is the CEO and president of the AHL. Sources say that four or five teams are trying to have Howson replaced – now, this approach is a curious one, as it isn’t supported by all of the AHL teams and what’s also interesting here is that the NHL has largely been kept out of the mix until very recently. NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly is now actively involved in trying to sort through what exactly is going on here so it’s something we continue to monitor. It’s also important to note that Howson is on an expiring contract at the end of the season but he went in with a lot of support replacing David Andrews who was the longtime AHL boss.

Reda: While we were at the general managers’ meetings in Florida earlier this month, there was some discussions about the salary cap and how it related to players that are on long-term injured reserve; is that a key topic of discussion right now with the Boston Bruins, Darren?

Dreger: Yes it is, specific to one player and maybe two – Taylor Hall and Nick Foligno of the Bruins. We know, according to reports and video, that Hall has been skating with the Bruins for several days now. Sources say that he feels he is ready. The problem is the Bruins don’t have the cap space to activate Hall. Now the NHL playoffs are less than three weeks away so it’s going to be interesting to see how the Bruins manage this situation or, if like the Tampa Bay Lightning a few years ago, they try and stretch it out until the start of the postseason so it’s something that I’m sure other clubs are paying attention to as well.

Johnston: And meanwhile as the Chicago Blackhawks play out the string on their regular season, there’s still a fair bit to play for for their captain, Jonathan Toews. Now Toews is trying to come back and play in one of the remaining games or preferably a few of the remaining games with just eight left on the schedule after Tuesday, and that’s because his future beyond this season is very much unknown, his future in Chicago is unknown, because of what’s gone on with the team there and he’s had significant health challenges. He opened up with reporters in Chicago on Tuesday, talking about the effects of the long COVID, about his uncertain future, but there’s a good feeling right now that he’s at least going to be able to play and at least have some sort of swan song with the Blackhawks before the end of this season.

Reda: As this NHL season is winding down, Darren, is the NHL looking at ways to potentially market the league in new ways for next season?

Dreger: Yes, a couple of new ideas are being discussed here, one would see a weekday where all 32 clubs play in one night during the week, it would be early in the regular season and they haven’t formalized this yet. Another one is the idea of setting a world record for continual running games – it might work in conjunction with the global series over in Europe and then the North American time zones, you could see a ton of hockey, if this is pushed through, in a 24-hour period.

Reda: Looking ahead to this week, the NHLPA will be introducing its new executive director, Marty Walsh, in a news conference this Thursday.


https://www.tsn.ca/nhl/insider-trading-ottawa-senators-bidder-has-claim-to-lebreton-flats-1.1937757

[waterloowarrior]

Algonquins of Ontario, very interesting!

[rocketphish]

You can add another billionaire to the mix of suitors for the Senators
League sources told Postmedia that Rocco Tullio, the owner of the Ontario Hockey League's Oshawa Generals and the Windsor-based Rock Developments, has brought Steve Apostolopoulos aboard as one of his backers.

Bruce Garrioch
Published Mar 29, 2023 • 4 minute read

The sale of the Ottawa Senators has turned out to be a battle of the billionaires.

While Toronto-based businessman Steve Apostolopoulos has been linked to the ownership of the National Football League’s Washington Commanders, you can add his name to the mix of one of the groups interested in purchasing the Senators.

League sources told Postmedia on Wednesday that Rocco Tullio, the owner of the Ontario Hockey League’s Oshawa Generals and the Windsor-based Rock Developments, has brought Apostolopoulos aboard as one of his backers in a bid to buy the club and the Canadian Tire Centre.

Apostolopoulos is the managing partner of the Triple Group of Companies, a commercial real estate firm located in Toronto. He also is the founder of Six Ventures, a private equity fund that manages more than $5 billion, and attended Harvard University.

His name emerged in the last week as one of two formal bidders for the Commanders and reports stated he toured the club’s training facility recently before making a bid. The talk is Washington owner Dan Snyder is seeking $6 billion for the Commanders.

An ESPN report said Apostolopoulos also held talks with Michael Jordan about purchasing the NBA’s Charlotte Hornets, but then turned his attention the Commanders.

Tullio and his representatives could be in town Saturday night for the final round of the Battle of Ontario before the Senators head onto the road for a three-game trip.

Earlier this month, this newspaper reported that Tullio entered his own bid for the Senators before the Monday, March 6 deadline for pitches to be at the offices of New York-based banker Galatioto Sports Partners (GSP).

NHL commissioner Gary Bettman was in Ottawa on Monday and confirmed six groups had moved on to the second phase of the bidding.

Tullio had been talking about a partnership with Toronto-based billionaire Michael Andlauer, but wasn’t able to come to an agreement. Tullio went ahead at the deadline to make his own pitch with Apostolopoulos as one of his backers.

Sources say Tullio offered late owner Eugene Melnyk $650 million (all figures U.S.) for the team late in 2021. Melnyk was willing to listen, but didn’t consider it seriously because he had no interest in selling the Senators.

But Tullio had the financing in place to try to make that deal to buy the Senators or he wouldn’t have approached Melnyk in the first place. He purchased the Generals in 2007 and has built the club into a successful franchise.

Though Tullio had serious discussions with Andlauer about a partnership in November, they weren’t able to come to an agreement and the indications are they opted to enter separate bids with no hard feelings.

Now, they’ve both moved on to the second phase in the sale process being handled by GSP.

As Postmedia reported, Jeffrey and Michael Kimel of Toronto-based Harlo Capital were here Friday to meet with chief financial officer Erin Crowe, president of business operations Anthony LeBlanc and general manager Pierre Dorion to get insight on the club.

The Kimel family has brought Montreal billionaire Andre Desmarais of PowerCorp aboard as a partner.

Representatives of the Markham-based Remington Group, which includes Vancouver-born actor Ryan Reynolds and is led by Christopher Bratty, were in town Wednesday.

It’s not believed Reynolds was at the rink, but officials from the Remington Group are staying for Thursday’s visit by the Philadelphia Flyers so it’s always possible he could join them.

An unnamed First Nation’s Group, which has shown serious interest, visited with management and was in a box for the club’s 5-2 win over the Florida Panthers on Monday night.

It’s not known when Andlauer, a part owner of the Montreal Canadiens, will be in town, but he’s expected to be among the visitors. His group includes Burlington-based Alinea Group Holdings.

There is some talk representatives of the Los Angeles-based Neko Sparks group will also be in town for Saturday’s game against Toronto.

There is some talk these visits could stretch into next week.

The Senators held their final team photo with the Melnyk family as the owners Thursday morning.

As Postmedia has reported several times, we may know the owner of the Senators late next month, but the expectation is it will take until July 1 to get the paperwork completed. Bettman noted Phase 2, which will include non-binding bids and an auction, could take up to six weeks.

“Remember, after we get done, and we get to the anointed party, then you’ve got to go through the lawyers doing contracts and we have a league approval process to get through,” Bettman said. “A new owner has to be approved by three-quarters of the ownership of the league.

“That’s something we haven’t done yet and it would be premature to do it. There’s still two to three months of work to be done. So everybody take a deep breath, sit back, we’ll get through this process and we’re going to come out of it on the other side with a really good, strong new owner.”

[email protected]
Twitter.com/sungarrioch

https://ottawacitizen.com/sports/hockey/...e-to-the-mix-of-suitors-for-the-senators

[rocketphish]

Ryan Returns: Potential new owner Ryan Reynolds makes second trip to Ottawa as sale of Senators heats up

Bruce Garrioch, Ottawa Citizen
Published Mar 30, 2023 • Last updated 12 minutes ago • 4 minute read

The Remington Group has brought in its heaviest hitter in its bid to purchase the Ottawa Senators.

Vancouver-born actor Ryan Reynolds arrived in town late Wednesday night from his home in New York and spent part of Thursday meeting with Ottawa Mayor Mark Sutcliffe at city hall.

Accompanied by Christopher Bratty, the president of the Remington Group, the 46-year-old Reynolds posted a picture on his Instagram Thursday with Sutcliffe, captioning it “Ottawa friends.” They were also expected to make a stop at LeBreton Flats.

Reynolds and Bratty sat down with Sutcliffe for an hour. The mayor had told the Senators if any of the interested groups wanted to reach out to chat about the city, he’d be more than happy to do it. Remington isn’t the only group to meet with Sutcliffe; others have indicated they’ll take him up on the offer.

“It was a great discussion, very friendly, it was great to meet (Reynolds),” Sutcliffe told Postmedia Thursday from his office. “I really appreciate his interest in our city and our team. That’s really a sign of how much our city, and team, has grown and matured over the last 10 or 15 years.

“The city has grown up; the team has developed and it’s an exciting young team now with lots of potential. There was a time when people wondered if Ottawa was big enough for an NHL franchise. I don’t think people wonder that anymore.

“The franchise is here to stay. The fact that Ryan and his partners, and all of the other potential buyers, are interested and that there’s so many of them, it just shows much the city has grown and how much the team has evolved.”

Reynolds was expected to attend the club’s game against the Philadelphia Flyers Thursday night at the Canadian Tire Centre. Officials from the Remington Group arrived here Wednesday and spent the day at the rink meeting with club officials.

In their presentation to Reynolds, it’s believed the Remington Group sold him on the vision they have to turn the franchise into a winner. The idea involves getting the city on the map as a destination that people will want to visit, and building a state-of-the-art home for the Senators.

“We had a great discussion about the future of our city, the community and the ways the team the drives the economy in our community, through philanthropy and other great things, and civic pride. It was a great discussion about the potential for this franchise,” Sutcliffe said.

The decision by Reynolds to come to town and sit down with Sutcliffe is another indicator of just how serious Bratty and the Remington Group are about winning the bidding war for this franchise.

Reynolds has been in on this process since the Melnyk family announced in November it was going to sell the team, but only to somebody who would keep it in Ottawa. Reynolds is bullish on the idea of being part of the Remington Group and plans to play a key role.

“He is all in on this. That is the sense that I got. He really wants to see this happen and is very committed to it,” Sutcliffe said. “If this goes ahead for his group, he’s not going to be a silent partner, he’s going to be actively involved going forward.

“And he has a lot of ideas. He’s genuinely excited about this.”

NHL commissioner Gary Bettman, who was in Ottawa on Monday, confirmed that six groups had moved on to the second phase of the bidding.

“Ryan believed it was important to connect with a bidder that he believed would be a good match for him and (he) felt that this person or group would be a good owner,” Bettman said. “He wants to see his bid through. He wants to take it from beginning to end.

“And as I said, I respect his view of the process and I wish him good luck.”

As Postmedia reported, Jeffrey and Michael Kimel of Toronto-based Harlo Capital were here Friday to meet with chief financial officer Erin Crowe, president of business operations Anthony LeBlanc and general manager Pierre Dorion to gather insight on the club.

An unnamed First Nations group has also shown serious interest, having visited with management and occupied a box to watch the club’s 5-2 win over the Florida Panthers Monday night.

It’s also believed that representatives of Los Angeles-based producer Neko Sparks toured the rink Thursday, and were in the stadium along with Reynolds. Sparks’ group is expected to stick around for the final round of the Battle of Ontario Saturday night at 7 p.m.

Toronto-based billionaire Michael Andlauer, a part owner of the Montreal Canadiens, is another high-profile visitor likely to be in town this week.

And as Postmedia reported Wednesday, Windsor-based developer Rocco Tullio, the owner of the OHL’s Oshawa Generals, has teamed up with Toronto billionaire Steve Apostolopoulos, who’s been linked to the ownership of the NFL’s Washington Commanders.

Sutcliffe said it makes sense for any of them to meet with bidders.

“If any of the prospective owners wanted to talk me when they were visiting the city, I wanted them to know I was available to talk about the city because I figured it would be helpful,” said Sutcliffe. “If I were buying the team I’d want to speak to as many people as possible in leadership roles in the city.”

[email protected]
Twitter.com/sungarrioch

https://ottawacitizen.com/sports/hockey/...wcm/294ce95d-8425-4631-a12d-106fa2193f1d

[rocketphish]

Ryan Reynolds visits Ottawa amid Senators purchase buzz
Reynolds, Remington Group president met with mayor Thursday morning

Guy Quenneville · CBC News
Posted: Mar 30, 2023 12:02 PM EDT | Last Updated: 31 minutes ago

Canadian-born Hollywood star Ryan Reynolds — one of the more prominent suitors reported to be interested in purchasing the Ottawa Senators — is in the capital.

On Thursday morning, Reynolds posted an Instagram story captioned "Ottawa friends" and accompanied by a Canadian flag.

The photo showed him with his arm around the shoulders of Ottawa Mayor Mark Sutcliffe, standing in front of the City of Ottawa crest.

Chris Bratty, president of The Remington Group — the Toronto real estate company with whom Reynolds is reportedly teaming up to bid for the Senators — is also pictured with Reynolds and Sutcliffe.

City officials confirmed to CBC that Reynolds met with the mayor at about 9:30 a.m. ET.

In an interview Thursday, Sutcliffe said he has met with two groups already and believes more interested bidders are expected to visit Ottawa next week. It's not clear if Reynolds and Remington belong to one of the two groups with whom the mayor has already met.

"They're just gathering information so they can submit their final bids and I've said I'm available to meet with whoever is interested," Sutcliffe said.

Sutcliffe added the groups are also meeting with the Senators management team and the National Capital Commission (NCC), with whom the Senators inked a deal last year to build a new arena at LeBreton Flats near downtown Ottawa.

Early Thursday afternoon, Reynolds was spotted exiting NCC headquarters in downtown Ottawa before climbing into a waiting SUV. CBC News has reached out to the NCC for more information, but has not received a reply.

Reynolds was wearing a jacket promoting Wrexham AFC, a team he co-owns in England's fifth tier of soccer.

Reynolds's visit comes just days after NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman visited the city on Monday.

Bettman told reporters there are "somewhere around six" groups vying to purchase the team, and said the new owner will likely be announced by "early mid-summer." New York investment bankers Galatioto Sports Partners are overseeing the sales process.

"I look forward to seeing how the process plays out," Sutcliffe said Thursday.

Toronto billionaire and minority Montreal Canadiens owner Michaal Andlauer has put in a bid, as have the Kimel brothers of Harlo Capital, according to both CBC sources and other news outlets.

Like Andlauer, Jeffrey Kimel is already involved in the NHL as a member of the Pittsburgh Penguins management committee.

According to The Athletic, Los Angeles-based AI entrepreneur Neko Sparks is preparing a bid, and even retweeted a post by that publication about his interest in the Senators.

The Senators are hosting the Philadelphia Flyers at Canadian Tire Centre on Thursday evening.

"It's been an interesting week to say the least," Sutcliffe said. "Joe Biden was here and then Gary Bettman was here. Now Ryan Reynolds. Who knows who will be next?"

With files from Joanne Chianello, Sannah Choi, Kate Porter and Stu Mills

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/ottawa/ry...ors-mayor-mark-sutcliffe-visit-1.6796017

[rocketphish]

The NHL and the Senators should want Ryan Reynolds to play a starring role in new ownership

Bruce Garrioch, Ottawa Citizen
Published Mar 31, 2023 • Last updated 1 hour ago • 4 minute read

The sale of the Ottawa Senators is headed towards its pivotal final stage and by the end of this month the expectation is the NHL will have identified the club’s new owner.

If Vancouver-born actor Ryan Reynolds and The Remington Group don’t come away as the winners in this process or aren’t somehow part of the club’s next ownership group, then that would be a huge, missed opportunity for the National Hockey League.

The 46-year-old Reynolds was in the house for the club’s 5-4 overtime win over the Philadelphia Flyers Thursday night at the Canadian Tire Centre and there was a loud ovation when he was shown on the scoreboard during a television timeout in the first period.

Opportunities don’t come along often in life, and this is one the NHL really has to wonder if it should pass up on. Reynolds isn’t just an actor, he’s a smart, accomplished businessperson.

If there was any doubt about the commitment of the Markham-based Remington Group and Reynolds to this project, those can be erased after they spent Thursday in Ottawa doing more homework on their bid to try to purchase the Senators from the Melnyk family.

This was a huge power play by Christopher Bratty, the president of the Remington Group, and Reynolds to show this group means business and wants this franchise. This was a no-brainer move, it helped elevate their bid and even NHL.com had a picture of Reynolds on its website Friday morning.

Reynolds had a lot of fun while he was here but, first and foremost, this was a business trip.

Bratty and other representatives of the Remington Group spent Wednesday at the Canadian Tire Centre looking at the building and meeting with senior management, including chief financial officer Erin Crowe, president of business operations Anthony LeBlanc and general manager Pierre Dorion.

Reynolds arrived in Ottawa late Wednesday night, and this is the second time he’s made an appearance at the rink.

Bratty and Reynolds hit the ground running Thursday. They spent an hour with Ottawa Mayor Mark Sutcliffe asking questions and outlining their vision for the franchise. The goal of Remington and Reynolds is to put this city on the map to make Ottawa a destination where people want to come.

“He’s a business guy and he made it clear he’s not going to be a silent partner,” Sutcliffe said. “If he’s successful, he’ll be deeply involved in this team, and the business that will be built around it.”

From city hall, they headed to the National Capital Commission to sit down chief executive officer Tobi Nussbaum and the staff to talk about the LeBreton Flats project. The Senators won preferred bidder status to build a new rink there in June and are now trying to get a lease in place.

Crowe, LeBlanc and former Senators’ defenceman Chris Phillips, the club’s vice-president of business development, attended the meeting with the NCC to discuss the memorandum of understanding the team signed with the NCC.

During the visit, Bratty and Reynolds also made the short drive to LeBreton Flats to get a first-hand look at the current six-acre parcel of land set aside on Albert Street between Preston Street and City Centre, just west of Ottawa’s new central library, which is now under construction.

The scene at the rink with Reynolds there was electric. Sitting in a box on the 100 level, accompanied by at least a couple of executives from his Los Angeles-based production company Maximum Effort, Reynolds was posing for selfies and even taking some of the crowd himself.

He saw the Stittsville Hurricanes, a minor hockey team decked out in their jerseys, sitting in a suite next to him and so Reynolds made a quick trip over to say hello plus take some photos. That’s a great memory those kids will have when they get older.

Postmedia has reported six groups remain in the running. Jeffrey and Michael Kimel of Harlo Capital were in town last Friday and an unidentified First Nations Group was here Monday.

It should be noted that Los Angeles-based producer Neko Sparks, who leads a large group of investors, was also in the rink Thursday and is sticking around for Saturday’s final round of the Battle of Ontario against the Toronto Maple Leafs.

Toronto billionaire Michael Andlauer, considered the frontrunner at the start of this process, is also expected to make a visit and Rocco Tullio, the owner of the Oshawa Generals.

The Senators have created a lot of excitement on the ice because with seven games left on the schedule this club still has a mathematical chance of making the playoffs. Sure, the odds are long, but they’ve got a chance and that hasn’t happened in five years.

The pieces are in place and there just need to be a couple of off-season additions to turn the corner.

That’s why it’s important for the National Hockey League to get the next owner of the Senators right and it feels like Reynolds has to play a key role to avoid disappointment.

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Twitter.com/sungarrioch

https://ottawacitizen.com/sports/hockey/...to-play-a-starring-role-in-new-ownership

[rocketphish]

Senators' suitor Steve Apostolopoulos visits CTC with former NHLer Nick Kypreos on hand

Bruce Garrioch, Ottawa Citizen
Published Apr 03, 2023 • Last updated 10 hours ago • 4 minute read

There’s a new twist to the sale of the Ottawa Senators, and it includes a former NHL heavyweight.

League sources confirmed to Postmedia Monday that Toronto-based billionaire Steve Apostolopoulos and representatives of his group were at the Canadian Tire Centre Saturday night to watch the club’s 3-0 loss to the Toronto Maple Leafs in front of a sellout crowd of 20,057.

A familiar face that didn’t go unnoticed at the rink Saturday was former NHLer Nick Kypreos. The former Hockey Night in Canada analyst sat in a 100-level box with Apostolopoulos’ group, and was seen touring the building with them during the day.

It’s not known what role the 56-year-old Kypreos has, but he would bring a strong wealth of knowledge to the table. He played 11 years in the league, won a Stanley Cup in 1994 with the New York Rangers, had a role in the NHL Players’ Association and is a respected analyst.

Kypreos is missed on Saturday’s HNIC panel with host Ron MacLean, but has a daily podcast on the Leafs with Justin Bourne on the sports-radio station The Fan 590.

Apostolopoulos is the managing partner of the Triple Group of Companies, a commercial real estate firm located in Toronto. He also is the founder of Six Ventures, a private equity fund that manages more than $5 billion, and attended Harvard University.

His name emerged in the last week as one of two formal bidders for the NFL’s Washington Commanders and reports stated he toured the club’s training facility recently before making a bid. Word is that Washington owner Dan Snyder is seeking $6 billion for the Commanders.

An ESPN report said Apostolopoulos also held talks with Michael Jordan about purchasing the NBA’s Charlotte Hornets before turning his attention the Commanders.

Though Apostolopoulos was originally linked to a bid for the Senators with Oshawa Generals’ owner Rocco Tullio, we’re told by sources that’s not the case and he wasn’t party to the afternoon presentation by CFO Erin Crowe, club president Anthony LeBlanc and GM Pierre Dorion.

We’re told Apostolopoulos has been quietly going about his business since the Melnyk family decided to put the Senators up for sale in November. He was given access to the data room by New York-based banker Galatioto Sports Partners (GSP) and made a “non-binding” bid at the March 6 deadline.

NHL commissioner Gary Bettman told reporters last week “a half-dozen” bidders remain involved. It’s expected GSP will put a deadline in place later this month for final bids and, as Bettman noted, one group will be “the anointed party”.

From there, the work will begin to get an agreement-in-principle in place.

The frontrunner appears to be the Markham-based Remington Group, which includes Vancouver-born actor Ryan Reynolds. He created a lot of buzz Thursday by joining Remington president Christopher Bratty for a visit with Mayor Mark Sutcliffe and a meeting with the National Capital Commission.

The Remington Group brought a large delegation to the club’s offices to meet with Senators’ officials Wednesday. Members of Reynolds’ Los Angeles-based production company Maximum Effort were in town for Thursday’s 5-4 win over over the Philadelphia Flyers and returned to the city Saturday to do some more homework on the franchise.

As Postmedia reported, Jeffrey and Michael Kimel of Toronto-based Harlo Capital were in Ottawa 10 days ago, while an unnamed First Nations group made a visit here a week ago. Also pursuing the team is Toronto-based billionaire Michael Andlauer, a part owner of the Montreal Canadiens. He met with club officials Friday.

Meanwhile, representatives of Los Angeles-based producer Neko Sparks toured Canadian Tire Centre on Thursday and stayed for the Battle of Ontario Saturday as Sparks himself spoke at length on the weekend with CTV Ottawa co-anchor Patricia Boal about his bid.

The interview was viewed as highly unusual because all the groups involved have signed a non-disclosure agreement and Bettman prefers discretion, but Sparks was forthcoming with details in the discussion.

Sparks said he understands the hype surrounding Reynolds but noted he’s not the only option.

“He’s such a good guy, Ryan Reynolds; I love him too,” Sparks told Boal. “Regardless of what happens, it’s good for the city, it’s good for the team. I don’t see it in terms of competition. We offer different things in terms of what we bring.”

Sparks said he’s assembled a group that has the financial wherewithal to build a new rink and put a winner on the ice.

“We are well-positioned, and we are well-backed,” said Sparks, who also made a trip to city hall to sit down with Sutcliffe. “A nice mix of Canadian money, U.K. money and American money.”

Naturally, the league has been pleased with the level of interest in the Senators. Speculation is that the sale price could be north of $900 million (all figures U.S.) and as high as $1 billion.

[email protected]
Twitter.com/sungarrioch

https://ottawacitizen.com/sports/hockey/...c-with-former-nhler-nick-kypreos-on-hand

[J.OT13]

Not sure the guy who's ambition is to own an NBA or NFL team is a great fit to own a small market NHL team. He'll never be fully invested here. Seems to just be a fallback.

[YOWetal]

Originally Posted by J.OT13

Not sure the guy who's ambition is to own an NBA or NFL team is a great fit to own a small market NHL team. He'll never be fully invested here. Seems to just be a fallback.

Yes. Hard to believe this team is worth $900 million in Ottawa. I fear the scenario of most buyers counts on either substantial support for a new arena or when (as is likely) that isn't forthcoming the league lets them walk away. I think we are making a mistake not stating now that no taxpayer funds will go to an Arena but we will offer land. This would likely lower the sale price but allow that to already be part of their calculations.

[J.OT13]

Originally Posted by YOWetal

Yes. Hard to believe this team is worth $900 million in Ottawa. I fear the scenario of most buyers counts on either substantial support for a new arena or when (as is likely) that isn't forthcoming the league lets them walk away. I think we are making a mistake not stating now that no taxpayer funds will go to an Arena but we will offer land. This would likely lower the sale price but allow that to already be part of their calculations.

I agree. The bidding was means that whoever buys the team will have less capital for improvements. Business plan should be worth more than money.

[ars]

Agree with both of you, I've had this concern since we started hearing the $900-$1b numbers being floated around.

Unfortunately, I feel that the final sale price number is more important to the NHL than the vision and the financial viability of that vision because it will push up the value of every other NHL franchise.