Hollywood actor Ryan Reynolds could be at risk of missing out on NHL side Ottawa Senators, as interest in the team has peaked.
Reynolds has got a taste for life as a sporting owner, and following the success of his takeover at National League side Wrexham AFC, he's been interested in getting involved a little closer to home. It was announced last month that Reynolds had teamed up with The Remington Group to buy the Senators, with the Melnyk family looking to sell the franchise.
However, according to Postmedia and a report in the Ottawa Sun, Reynolds and The Remington Group face fierce competition from rival bidders, with as many as four already lodging proposals. The franchise is said to be valued at $800million, but with the prospect of mass real-estate up for grabs, some groups are willing to pay over $900m, and it could even reach the $1billion mark.
Reynolds is a loved actor worldwide, but has become increasingly popular in Wales for lifting Wrexham and potentially sending them on their way back to the football league. Reynolds is in love with the club alongside co-owner Rob McElhenney, but expressed his desire to buy the Senators last year.
His initial plea on The Tonight Show quickly became a reality as he teamed up with a Toronto real-estate group, but interest in the Senators is more competitive than first thought. Not only does Reynolds want to get involved in the NHL, he sees the Senators as huge potential to venture into different projects away from just the action on the ice.
Following the success of Welcome to Wrexham on Disney Plus, Reynolds is keen on producing a new series focused around the purchase of the team and also the development of the new stadium. A huge part of the bid from Reynolds and the real-estate group is leaning on building a brand new facility for the Senators in the downtown area, to replace their current home that sits outside of the city.
However, they're not the only ones smart enough to see this is a huge investment opportunity, as other bidders have been named. One of the rival bidders is said to be Jeffrey and Michael Kimel, a rival Toronto-based real-estate group who even attempted to partner with the late Eugene Melnyk and oversee the new stadium development in the past.
One factor that could play into Reynolds' hands though is that NHL commissioner Gary Bettman has already welcomed the actor's proposal, and believes that his introduction would only boost the popularity of the league. The NHL head office would like to have new owners in place by July 1, and they're determined to make sure the right ownership group is put in place, with a commitment to keep the team in Ottawa essential.
Reynolds has already proved his commitment and worth to Wrexham, and will be hoping that helps his case as negotiations continue. He clearly cares about Ottawa too, as he said on The Tonight Show last year: "I grew up in Vancouver which has my heart. But I also grew up in Ottawa. I spent a long time in Vanier, which is a little town right inside Ottawa."
