Ottawa Senators

Snoop Dogg Loses Bid To Own The Ottawa Senators

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If you have been following hockey news as of late, then you probably know that Snoop Dogg has been attempting to purchase the Ottawa Senators. Overall, the Senators are a Canadian NHL team that has struggled in recent years. However, the team was recently put up for sale, and it has led to a bit of a bidding war. Los Angeles entrepreneur Neko Sparks was looking to purchase the team, and Snoop wanted in. This would have subsequently led to the first black ownership group in NHL history.

However, a lot of people have been interested in purchasing the team. For instance, even Ryan Reynolds had reportedly been looking into it. Although, he ended up backing out after a few weeks. That said, Snoop Dogg had shown a lot of interest in owning the team. Moreover, he planned to create youth hockey programs based around the Senators. Unfortunately, Snoop will not get to own the team. Instead, Toronto billionaire Michael Andlauer has been given the keys to the franchise.

Snoop Dogg Tried His Best

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – APRIL 18: Snoop Dogg attends the premiere Of FX’s “Dear Mama” at Academy Museum of Motion Pictures on April 18, 2023 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Phillip Faraone/Getty Images)

According to TMZ, Andlauer paid a grand total of $1 billion for the team. Overall, this is a hefty amount when you consider how the Senators are in a small market. However, NHL team costs are on the rise, and this is an example of that. That said, the most expensive teams in the league remain the Toronto Maple Leafs, the New York Rangers, and the Montreal Canadians. Either way, we’re sure Snoop is a little heartbroken over the decision. After all, this could have been an amazing opportunity.

Hopefully, another opportunity pops up for Snoop Dogg. After all, he has done some work with the Anaheim Ducks in the past. If they ever go up for sale, he should definitely consider another bid with Sparks at the helm. Let us know what you think about Snoop’s interest in hockey, in the comments section below. Additionally, stay tuned to HNHH for more news from the sports world.

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The post Snoop Dogg Loses Bid To Own The Ottawa Senators appeared first on HotNewHipHop.

Snoop Dogg Teases Senators Collab During Bidding War For Team

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Snoop Dogg’s interest in owning an NHL team has been recurring news over the past month since he joined a bidding group trying to purchase the league Ottawa team. Snoop and his group have been competing with a different purchasing group also looking to buy the team. That other group includes major investments from actor Ryan Reynolds and The Weeknd. Both parties have been raising the stakes in the month since with offers that now run north of $1 Billion.

Not only is Snoop Dogg looking to become the NHL’s first black owner, but he also wants to bring hockey to the black community. “Amazing what @neko_sparks is trying to do in Ottawa & I’m looking forward to being a part of that ownership team,” he noted in an Instagram caption at the time. A new Instagram post made just yesterday sees the legendary rapper sporting some custom embroidered sweatpants with the Senators logo prominently displayed. While he doesn’t confirm anything the post seems to be a strong hint that his bid may have gone through.

Snoop’s Senators Drip

 
 
 
 
 
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Snoop Dogg has long been a vocal sports fan. He loves football and is often seen volunteering at youth football camps. The team he’s most associated with though, is the Los Angeles Lakers. He’s often sitting courtside at games and has proven himself to be somewhat of an expert on the team and its history. During the team’s late-season turnaround and deep playoff run this season Snoop was frequently supporting his team on social media.

Snoop got some attention recently when he was announced as a headliner for an upcoming Hip Hop 50 event. Mass Appeal and Live Nation are teaming up for a show celebrating the genre’s 50th anniversary. Joining Snoop as headliners are Lil Wayne and Ice Cube. He’s also shown solidarity with the Writers Guild which is currently on strike for improved worker conditions. On top of sending them food, he postponed scheduled shows with Dr. Dre in support of their strike. Tell us what you think about Snoop Dogg becoming the first black NHL owner in the comments below.

The post Snoop Dogg Teases Senators Collab During Bidding War For Team appeared first on HotNewHipHop.

Belly Reacts To Snoop Dogg’s Bid For The Ottawa Senators

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The race for the Ottawa Senators turned into a celebrity frenzy over the past few weeks. First, Ryan Reynolds, who previously received a key to the city, announced that he’d be placing a bid behind the NHL team. Surprisingly, he wasn’t the biggest A-Lister to try and gain a stake in the Sens. Snoop Dogg, out of all people, announced that he joined forces with Neko Sparks to place a bid behind Ottawa’s hockey team. The Weeknd, too, placed a bid behind the team, but there’s no doubt that Snoop Dogg’s been the most aggressive in his pursuit.

The Senators’ connection to hip-hop runs a bit deeper than Snoop Dogg and The Weeknd. In fact, one might argue that it’s Belly that is an indirect catalyst. In 2007, the Senators fought their way to the Stanley Cup finals against the Anaheim Mighty Ducks. As excitement built in the “town that fun forgot,” Belly became the celebrity face of the franchise for the playoffs. So what exactly does Belly think of Snoop Dogg’s bid for the Sens? “Snoop Dogg is an amazing person, a great businessman and we gon’ be able to smoke weed in the stadium! So, I’m all for it,” he told HotNewHipHop. “Smoking weed in the box, for sure… RIP Ray Emery.” 

Belly’s Ties To The Ottawa Senators

Belly Snoop Dogg
TORONTO, ON – JUNE 19: Belly and Snoop Dogg attend CP Records & EBA 2011 MuchMusic Video Awards After Party at Live Nightclub on June 19, 2011 in Toronto, Canada. (Photo by Sonia Recchia/WireImage)

When Belly penned the Sens’ playoff anthem, “Go Sens Go,” he had not reached the same type of success he sees now outside of Canada. Around this time, Belly also began to form a relationship with Snoop Dogg after touring with the rap legend across Canada. The same night of his homecoming show, the late Ray Emery presented Snoop Dogg with a custom jersey that he’s recently flaunted during his campaign for the Sens.

Belly’s fresh off of the release of his album, Mumble Rap 2, the sequel to his 2017 mixtape. The rapper’s latest project boasts appearances from XO labelmate Nav, Gucci Mane, Rick Ross, and a posthumous appearance from Gil-Scott Heron. It marks one of Belly’s final projects before he retires from the music industry as a whole but rests assured, he still has big plans up his sleeve. 

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Ryan Reynolds Drops Out Of Senators Bidding War

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Despite being seen as a front-runner to buy the Ottawa Senators, Ryan Reynolds is reportedly dropping his bid ahead of the May 15 submission deadline. Reynolds had partnered with real estate mogul Chris Batty to prepare a bid reportedly worth $1 billion. His bid was one of seven reportedly in the race to buy the Senators after the death of long-time owner Eugene Melnyk last year. Melnyk had owned the team since 2000.

Other offers include a Hollywood bid from Neko Sparks, The Rock, and Snoop Dogg. The Weeknd is also part of an ownership group led by the Kimel Family. The NHL had been hoping to conclude the search for a new owner by the start of the 2023/24 NHL season. The Senators have not made the NHL playoffs since 2017.

Reynolds’ Departure Leaves Race Wide Open

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – APRIL 29: Ryan Reynolds attends the FYC Red Carpet For FX’s “Welcome To Wrexham” at The Television Academy on April 29, 2023 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images)

According to sources, the Reynolds-led Remington Group bid left the process after being denied an exclusive 30-day window to secure an arena deal in downtown Ottawa. This suggests that the Habs would have left Canadian Tire Centre if the group had secured ownership of the team. The only stipulation the NHL has implemented about the sale is that the new owners must keep the team in Ottawa.

However, the departure of the presumptive front-runner leaves the bidding war wide open. The NHL board were “very impressed” when they met Reynolds and appeared eager to have him buy the Senators. Galaioto Sports Partners, who are overseeing the sale, have declined to officially say how many bids they expect to receive. But of the ones that are public, there are obviously pros and cons to each. Sparks’ Hollywood-backed bid has the potential to bring major star power to Ottawa. However, it is also the least Canadian of the public-revealed bids. Conversely, many of the other bids are being led by wealthy Canadians but lack the star appeal of Hollywood. In a way, that’s what made Reynolds the perfect potential owner. However, all we can do now is wait and see who officially submits a bid before May 15. Get all the latest sports news here on HotNewHipHop

The Weeknd Becomes Latest Investor In Senators Bidding War

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The NHL’s Ottawa Senators are up for sale after the death of long-time owner Eugene Melnyk last year. While the Senators are a team long associated with the NHL, the current iteration of the franchise existed since 1992. They have never won the Stanley Cup, losing 4-1 to Anaheim Ducks in their only appearance in 2007. Furthermore, the Senators have not qualified for the playoffs since 2017.

There are currently four major bids to acquire ownership of the Senators. One bid is led by healthcare mogul Michael Andlauer. Another is helmed by real estate moguls, the Kimel Family. Then there are two Hollywood bids. The first is fronted by Canadian-born actor Ryan Reynolds. Meanwhile, the other is spearheaded by producer Neko Sparks. Spark’s ownership group also includes The Rock and Snoop Dogg. There are also reportedly three other groups interested in purchasing the team. The non-binding deadline to submit a bid is May 15.

The Weeknd Joins Kimel Family Bid

INDIO, CALIFORNIA – APRIL 21: The Weeknd performs with Metro Boomin at the Sahara tent during the 2023 Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival on April 21, 2023 in Indio, California. (Photo by Matt Winkelmeyer/Getty Images for Coachella)

Abel Tesfaye, better known as The Weeknd, was born in Toronto in 1990. According to a report from the Ottawa Sun, it’s The Weeknd’s Canadian roots and love of hockey that is getting him involved in the bidding war for the Senators. The Weeknd is reportedly joining the bid launched by Michael and Jeffrey Kimel. Sources told the Ottawa Sun that The Weeknd has agreed to a “commitment to be involved financially” with the Kimels’ bid.

“He’s going to be a great partner for Ottawa and the NHL,” a source close to The Weeknd said. “The team he works with grew up in Ottawa, so they know the market really well, but he’s the largest musician planet right now. He has the most views, the most streams and he’s a hockey guy.” The source continued, “He doesn’t like to be in the media very often so this really says something that he wants to be part of a bid. He wants to get this deal done, he wants to build something that will be great in Ottawa and he’ll be a good fit. He’s got a lot of connections worldwide.” It’s reported that NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman is eager to have the sale completed by the end of the summer.

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Snoop Dogg’s Desire To Own The Ottawa Senators ‘Ain’t No Joke,’ And He Explained Why

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Snoop Dogg NHL 2017
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Earlier this week, The Athletic reported that Snoop Dogg had joined Neko Sparks’ group bidding for ownership of the Ottawa Senators of the NHL, and Snoop’s group happens to be bidding against a group spearheaded by Ryan Reynolds.

This morning, May 4, The Athletic spoke with Snoop Dogg about the validity of his involvement.

“This ain’t no joke or no gimmick — or an image or likeness play. This is a real ownership play,” he told reporter Ian Mendes. “And Snoop will put his foot in the town.” (You know it’s serious when someone busts out third-person.)

Snoop added:

“I want Ottawa because Ottawa wants me. It’s a thriving city. The team is going to make a U-turn once we get ownership. The players are inspired. The community is inspired. I felt like this is what Ottawa needs. […]

“I love the city. Every time I’ve come through the city, they’ve rolled out the red carpet for me. The fans, the city. Everyone. It’s been nothing but love. When you go around the world as much as I have, there are certain places that stick out in your heart. Everywhere I go in Canada, it’s always been love, but there’s something about Ottawa. And the opportunity for the team to be bought? It’s impeccable timing right now.”

He described his potential role in ownership as “a community activist,” and Senators fans or Ottawa residents at large could expect to “become family.”

Per The Athletic‘s initial reporting on May 1, the Senators are expected to draw a sale “eclipsing $1 billion, although it is unclear how much of a financial stake Snoop has put into the group.”

Snoop made the emotional stakes clear while appearing on Tuesday’s (May 2) episode of First Take on ESPN. Watch clips below.

Snoop Dogg Is In A Bidding War With A Canadian Movie Star Over Ownership Of Ottawa’s NHL Team

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snoop dogg
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Of all the names you’d expect to see in a bidding war over a National Hockey League team, Snoop Dogg and Ryan Reynolds might not be the unlikeliest, but the news is sure to raise at least a few eyebrows. The Athletic reports Snoop has joined an ownership group bidding on the Ottawa Senators opposite Ryan Reynolds’ group, which is reportedly bidding $1 billion for the club and supposedly includes its own musician, The Weeknd. Snoop’s proposed partner in the investment, an indie film producer named Neko Sparks, wants to be the NHL’s first Black owner.

With Snoop as his partner, that goal could be within reach; Snoop’s sweeteners for their deal include his services as an analyst — Chance The Rapper’s recurring SNL character Lazlo Holmes springs to mind here — as well as a rinkside fixture throughout the 2023-2024 season. Certainly, the opportunity to see Snoop in person could boost attendance; likewise, his hilarious sideline commentary at previous hockey games has spawned numerous memes, which could help viewership of televised games.

On Instagram, Snoop reiterated his interest, writing, “Amazing what Neko Sparks is trying to do in Ottawa & I’m looking forward to being a part of that ownership team. I wanna bring hockey to our community.” He already sponsors youth football in his hometown and loves taking part in basketball, boxing, wrestling, and even video gaming events, so if anyone has both the clout and the experience to get Black people watching hockey en masse (again, see Lazlo Holmes), it’s Snoop.