Confirmed with Link: Senators are for sale - and it’s a Gong Show

[Micklebot]

At the risk of being considered myopic, I'd rather someone who loves Ottawa at the helm. Without knowing fine details, The Rock's involvement strikes me as exclusively for business reasons, whereas yes, there's that element to Reynolds' involvement... but there's also an obvious love of the city playing a part too.

I'd rather Reynolds, but if the backup option is the Rock you're laughing. If they join forces...

 

[Gil Gunderson]

Well it's good to know this is going to be entertaining either way. Not sure I can see anyone but these two groups (Neko Sparks and Remington) winning out at this point. I suppose Andlauer and Kimel brothers have an outside chance considering their NHL ties already.

 

[YouGotAStuGoing]

I'd rather Reynolds, but if the backup option is the Rock you're laughing. If they join forces...

Hard to disagree here! We’re debating two (three?) very strong options. I think my preference is Reynolds > both > Rock… but I’m also a fan of the Sparks group as a collective and admittedly not entirely up on the details of the Remington group.

 

[HSF]

Wallace insinuated there's the potential of Reynolds joining the Sparks group if they become the favourite.

He also said they're backed by the Reuben brothers out of the UK (big real estate guys and part owners of Newcastle United), who have a reported net worth of $19B USD, and the group's "hockey advisor" is Mattias Norstrom (close friend of Daniel Alfredsson's).

If they're involved and win, we'd have the 2nd richest ownership group in the league.

So it sounds like that group has star power and significantly more financial wherewithal than any other. Makes sense since they, apparently, came in far above anyone else in the first round of bids and are willing to go over $1B.

Another interesting tidbit he mentioned - the Kimel family's hockey advisor is Mats Sundin.

pretty neat

that group is looking solid

 

[Senscore]

Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson leads Maple Leafs fans in wrong chant at home opener

Dwayne Johnson led Maple Leafs fans in a "Let's Go Leafs" chant at Toronto's home opener Thursday night and no one was brave enough to correct him.

www.sportsnet.ca

Pass. Give me Reynolds all day, every day.

Although



Does the Rock even know his money's in this? Feels like this is just about investing rather than any sort of personal connection.

 

[SPF6ty9]

I'd rather Reynolds, but if the backup option is the Rock you're laughing. If they join forces...

Ya gimme Lebreton first, then Reynolds, then The Rock. Can't imagine The Rock really caring too much about the team or the city. More about the publicity and the return.

 

[Micklebot]

Ya gimme Lebreton first, then Reynolds, then The Rock. Can't imagine The Rock really caring too much about the team or the city. More about the publicity and the return.

It's a stretch, but the Rock does have some Canadian ties, his father was from Nova Scotia, and he played for the Stampeders for a short spurt

 

[Sun God Nika]

A ownership group with the Rock, Reynolds and potentially Alfie and infinite money to spend on the team ?

I just ed

 

[OmniSens]

If Rock owns the Sens, my life is complete.

 

[ReginKarlssonLehner]

Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson leads Maple Leafs fans in wrong chant at home opener

Dwayne Johnson led Maple Leafs fans in a "Let's Go Leafs" chant at Toronto's home opener Thursday night and no one was brave enough to correct him.

www.sportsnet.ca

Pass. Give me Reynolds all day, every day.

Agreed. Want nothing to do with that phony Rock guy.

 

[Senator Stanley]

Wallace insinuated there's the potential of Reynolds joining the Sparks group if they become the favourite.

He also said they're backed by the Reuben brothers out of the UK (big real estate guys and part owners of Newcastle United), who have a reported net worth of $19B USD, and the group's "hockey advisor" is Mattias Norstrom (close friend of Daniel Alfredsson's).

If they're involved and win, we'd have the 2nd richest ownership group in the league.

So it sounds like that group has star power and significantly more financial wherewithal than any other. Makes sense since they, apparently, came in far above anyone else in the first round of bids and are willing to go over $1B.

Another interesting tidbit he mentioned - the Kimel family's hockey advisor is Mats Sundin.

It's too early to read too much into this. We don't know how much these guys are investing, how big a role they would have, etc.

If Bill Gates invests in my company, it doesn't mean I will have access to Bill Gates's wealth.

 

[Masked]

It's a stretch, but the Rock does have some Canadian ties, his father was from Nova Scotia, and he played for the Stampeders for a short spurt

And he has many Canadian half-siblings.

Assen na yo!

 

[DaveMatthew]

It's too early to read too much into this. We don't know how much these guys are investing, how big a role they would have, etc.

If Bill Gates invests in my company, it doesn't mean I will have access to Bill Gates's wealth.

Well it's been rumoured that this was the group that's already bid $900M, reportedly quite a bit more than anyone else, so I'd venture to guess they have the cash to make a pretty serious run.

We certainly don't know how much each party is willing to invest, but Dwayne Johnson himself has a reported net worth of $800M, so it's not a huge leap to think this is the group with the deepest pockets.

 

[Gil Gunderson]

Well it's been rumoured that this was the group that's already bid $900M, reportedly quite a bit more than anyone else, so I'd venture to guess they have the cash to make a pretty serious run.

We certainly don't know how much each party is willing to invest, but Dwayne Johnson himself has a reported net worth of $800M, so it's not a huge leap to think this is the group with the deepest pockets.

Wasn't Remington not far behind?

 

[Senator Stanley]

Well it's been rumoured that this was the group that's already bid $900M, reportedly quite a bit more than anyone else, so I'd venture to guess they have the cash to make a pretty serious run.

We certainly don't know how much each party is willing to invest, but Dwayne Johnson himself has a reported net worth of $800M, so it's not a huge leap to think this is the group with the deepest pockets.

For sure, I'm just saying that if this group wins, it doesn't mean that they will be the group willing to spend the most on the team. Melnyk, for all his faults, was an owner willing to lose money on his team. He could do that because he didn't have to answer to anybody. A large investor group, especially one fronted by someone who looks far less wealthy than his investors, could operate very differently.

 

[HSF]

We need to know more about the groups and their ownership structure. Last week people were ripping on Sparks but now they are happy. It shows that little peices of info here can change the whole outlook of a group. Are the Reuben brothers the majority owners? This would be key

Having a group of owners is the norm now with how expensive teams are. It will be key to know who the majority owner is of this specfic group

 

[Golden_Jet]

We need to know more about the groups and their ownership structure. Last week people were ripping on Sparks but now they are happy. It shows that little peices of info here can change the whole outlook of a group. Are the Reuben brothers the majority owners? This would be key

Having a group of owners is the norm now with how expensive teams are. It will be key to know who the majority owner is of this specfic group

Agree , none of us really know a lot about the groups Compared to the NHL who is vetting them. Reynolds obviously brings a lot of profile and exposure.

 

[Micklebot]

We need to know more about the groups and their ownership structure. Last week people were ripping on Sparks but now they are happy. It shows that little peices of info here can change the whole outlook of a group. Are the Reuben brothers the majority owners? This would be key

Having a group of owners is the norm now with how expensive teams are. It will be key to know who the majority owner is of this specfic group

Well, last week we had no idea who was in his consortium, now it seems Dwayne Johnson, David and Simon Reuben are involved, which really moves the needle. The Sparks group was always intriguing imo, I think they could be a strong option.

 

[HSF]

Well, last week we had no idea who was in his consortium, now it seems Dwayne Johnson, David and Simon Reuben are involved, which really moves the needle. The Sparks group was always intriguing imo, I think they could be a strong option.

yes

we need more info in general to really understand these groups. For example if a Melnyk type is the majority owner of the group with decision making powers and the rest are just small percentages then it might not be the greatest group.

 

[Neil Patrick Harris]

Niko Sparks group includes the Rock... This just got real...

Deadpool vs the Rock battle royal in the cage for the franchise

This sale just gets nuttier by the day.

 

[Senator Stanley]

Well, last week we had no idea who was in his consortium, now it seems Dwayne Johnson, David and Simon Reuben are involved, which really moves the needle. The Sparks group was always intriguing imo, I think they could be a strong option.

The Sparks group makes me nervous because Neko Sparks is, at least publicly, a complete unknown. That doesn't necessarily mean he would make for a bad owner (Melnyk was a known commodity, after all), but I do want more information on who he is and how he came to front this group. It feels like there's a story here for somebody to write.

Mendes called him a film producer, but he has no major credits and six years ago was running a $10,000 Kickstarter to shoot a web series.

He runs a marketing/production services/AI(?) company, but a lot of people are in that space. Three years ago he was charging $65/hr for his (and his 2-10 person team's) work. https://www.upwork.com/o/companies/~01dce697d6e90048a8/

He runs Sparks Finance Group, but all the content on their website is password protected. https://www.sparksfinancegroup.com/sports-acquistions

 

[Loach]

View attachment 674550

This sale just gets nuttier by the day.

I really is madness. Lol

 

[TonySoprano11]

This thread has devolved into hilarity courtesy of all the resident business and real estate experts we have on here.

I just mean, that most of us could not possibly comprehend the complexity of such a deal these offers are being made on.

The financial aspect alone of multiple owners, their individual and combined assets, liquidity, insurance, creditworthiness etc is complex enough even if we knew all the partners involved, which we don't.

Then there is land deals, development proposals, real estate sales, arena considerations both current and new. On top of tax implications, tax breaks, liens, tax shelters, and greasing the palms of league and city influencers.

It's fun to watch people think they know exactly things are playing out and what has to be done to make this work. Have any of you tried selling a house? That is complicated enough let alone an NHL franchise with an arena and contingent on property development owned by other people that needs government and league approval.

 

[SPF6ty9]

The Sparks group makes me nervous because Neko Sparks is, at least publicly, a complete unknown. That doesn't necessarily mean he would make for a bad owner (Melnyk was a known commodity, after all), but I do want more information on who he is and how he came to front this group. It feels like there's a story here for somebody to write.

Mendes called him a film producer, but he has no major credits and six years ago was running a $10,000 Kickstarter to shoot a web series.

He runs a marketing/production services/AI(?) company, but a lot of people are in that space. Three years ago he was charging $65/hr for his (and his 2-10 person team's) work. https://www.upwork.com/o/companies/~01dce697d6e90048a8/

He runs Sparks Finance Group, but all the content on their website is password protected. https://www.sparksfinancegroup.com/sports-acquistions

I'll give you 2:1 odds he made a lot of his money on crypto.

It does seem weird he is publicly fronting this group, rather than one of the alleged big names within. I guess he must have organized the thing and ran with it.

 

[DueDiligence]

Ya gimme Lebreton first, then Reynolds, then The Rock. Can't imagine The Rock really caring too much about the team or the city. More about the publicity and the return.

The Rock actually tried out for the Calgary Stampeders so he has some Canadian roots!