We’re probably going to learn the identity of the new Ottawa Senators’ owner shortly, perhaps as early as this week. This will conclude what’s become a very long process that started back in November. Sens fans are anxious to find out who it is, but probably not as anxious as they are to stop reading all the speculation and guesswork about it.
The Sens next ownership is expected to be headed up by one of the following:
- Michael Andlauer, part owner of the Montreal Canadiens
- Steve Apostolopoulos, who tried to buy the Washington Commanders for roughly five times the probable price of the Senators
- Jeffrey Kimel, former part of owner of the Pittsburgh Penguins
- Neko Sparks, an LA-based producer and entrepreneur.
The Sparks bid has been getting the most attention in recent days, and not because it’s necessarily seen as a front runner, but because it continues to accumulate celebrity investors – a lot of them. If that group doesn’t win, it won’t be because it didn’t make enough noise.
Hip hop artist Snoop Dogg, former sprinter Donovan Bailey, comedian Russell Peters, and Dragon’s Den panelists Robert Herjavec, Arlene Dickinson, Wes Hall, and Manjit and Ravinder Minhas are among the celebrities apparently lined up to help push the Sparks’ bid.
With the exception of Snoop Dogg, every celebrity listed was announced after final bids were submitted May 15th. The late announcements have led to some chuckling on social media, as fans begin to comically wonder who else might join the Sens ownership fray.
Despite the group’s best efforts to impress, one thing is for certain. The Senators next owner won’t be the group with the most celebrities. It’ll be the one with the deepest pockets.