Report: Ryan Reynolds, Remington Group preparing $1B bid to buy Senators

After his purchase of Welsh soccer team Wrexham AFC in 2020 along with fellow Hollywood star Rob McElhenney, which has resulted in incredible success both on and off the field, Ryan Reynolds looks to be gearing up to try his hand at a hockey team.

The ownership status of the NHL’s Ottawa Senators has been in the news since the passing of former owner Eugene Melnyk in March 2022. According to a report in the Ottawa Sun, a joint bid between Reynolds and real estate mogul Christopher Bratty of the Remington Group are accelerating, with the estimated figure expected to be over $1 billion, a far cry from the $92 million Melnyk paid for the franchise in 2003.

The New York-based Galatioto Sports Partners will be the ones in charge of overseeing the bids, with May 15 set as the deadline. According to the Sun, Reynolds’ consortium is very keen on getting the deal done as soon as possible and has been pushing aggressively throughout the process.

The offer will also reportedly include the building of a new arena closer to Ottawa’s downtown core. The Senators currently play at the Canadian Tire Centre in the suburb of Kanata, roughly 25 kilometers away from downtown Ottawa and has long drawn the ire of Sens fans for being so far away. However, another plan would be developing the 75 acres surrounding the Canadian Tire Centre instead of building an entirely new arena—something the Remington Group specializes in.

Reynolds’ bid is not the only one being considered, however. As many as six major groups have all expressed interest in acquiring the franchise, including a bid featuring Sacramento Kings owner Vivek Ranadivé, according to the report.

Reynolds initially expressed interest in ownership of the Senators in November 2022. He is not the only A-lister to have an eye on Ottawa, though, as actor and former star wrestler Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson threw his name in the ring last month.