Hip-hop artist and entrepreneur, Snoop Dogg, has confirmed that he is part of a group of over a dozen investors led by businessman Neko Sparks, who are bidding to acquire the Ottawa Senators, an NHL team. Sparks is the only Black owner in NHL history, and the final price for the franchise is expected to exceed $1 billion, which would be the most expensive sale in NHL history.
Snoop Dogg had previously launched his Snoop Football League in 2005, which aimed to provide young people, regardless of their background, with the chance to learn the values of character, integrity, discipline, and teamwork through football and cheerleading. In a recent Instagram post, Snoop expressed his desire to bring those same values to hockey and make the sport more accessible to minority communities who may not feel welcome.
If successful in their bid, the inclusion of Snoop Dogg in the consortium could help to generate more interest in the Senators and to monetize a potential new arena that the group may be interested in building. The Senators currently play in a rink that is located outside of the city limits, and moving the club downtown is an important factor for any future owner.
Sparks is not the only prospective buyer with celebrity backing, as the Remington Group is being supported by actor Ryan Reynolds. The sale of the Senators is ongoing, and there is no official date for its completion as the process of vetting buyers continues.
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