Wrexham owner Ryan Reynolds ends Ottawa Senators acquisition pursuit
A bid for the National Hockey League’s (NHL) Canadian team Ottawa Senators led by actor Ryan Reynolds is set to be withdrawn.
Canadian actor Ryan Reynolds will not move progress with his bid to purchase the Ottawa Senators according to a number of media outlets.
The Hollywood star and Vancouver Canucks fan was attached to a bid to purchase the team led by the Ontario based Remington Group, a Canadian real estate developer. NHL commissioner Gary Bettman confirmed last December that he’d met with Reynolds about his interest in the team.
The #Sens Goal of the Year Final is set 👊
— Ottawa Senators (@Senators) May 11, 2023
G taking on...G! 😅
Which Claude Giroux moment of brilliance will be crowned this year's Goal of the Year, presented by @rideaucasino:
💰 G-Money or G's Slap-Away 🏒
Vote now! https://t.co/kBU3HeNfNn pic.twitter.com/MIfq51tgxL
But latest reports claim that the Deadpool actor requested an exclusive negotiating window and was denied by the league, leading him to pull out.
Senators stay in Ottawa
Previous owner Eugene Melnyk died in March, and his daughters Anna and Olivia Melnyk inherited the franchise. In November, a process for the team’s sale was initiated. Keeping the team in Ottawa is a precondition of any sale and today, 15 May is the deadline to submit final, non binding offers.
Reynolds wasn’t the only interested bidder with star power. Snoop Dogg announced he had joined a bid led by businessman Neko Sparks. Canadian musical artist The Weeknd agreed to be a partner in a group led by Toronto billionaires Jeffrey and Michael Kimel, the Ottawa Sun reported last week.
Final offers to buy the Ottawa Senators are due today, with the possibility of the franchise tying or setting the record for an NHL team sale. @kbadenhausen has the details.https://t.co/8jweQWZhhp
— Sportico (@Sportico) May 15, 2023
Reynolds and actor Rob McElhenney purchased Wrexham AFC in 2021 and recently saw the Welsh club secure promotion to the EFL (fourth tier of the English pyramid) with the ‘Welcome to Wrexham’ documentary giving the club a new global audience.