Another A-list celebrity has entered the bidding for the Ottawa Senators, with Snoop Dogg reportedly joining a group fronted by Los Angeles film producer/entrepreneur Neko Sparks in an effort to buy the NHL franchise.
The Athletic, citing sources with close knowledge of Sparks' bid, reported Monday that Snoop has joined an "aggressive" group bid for the Ottawa-based franchise, even as other groups are prepared to put in offers in excess of $1 billion. Said one source: “He’s passionately involved. He’s coming up with ideas. And he’s legitimately excited. He wants this team.”
Snoop isn't the only celebrity interested in buying the Senators, either: He joins Vancouver native Ryan Reynolds — part of the Remington Group hoping to buy the NHL franchise — as one of the most famous names to join the bidding war.
MORE: Detailing Ryan Reynolds’ pursuit of purchasing Senators franchise
Here's everything you need to know about Snoop's involvement in the the group bid to purchase the Senators:
Snoop Dogg joins Ottawa Senators bidders
Snoop is just one part of the group trying to buy the Senators, though he certainly has the biggest name recognition of any partner who has been publicly revealed thus far.
- Niko Sparks
- Snoop Dogg
The star power Snoop brings to Sparks' group is notable in that he can use it not only to lure more investors and celebrities to join Sparks' group, but also to create renewed interest in the franchise (should his group win the right to purchase it). One source told The Athletic Snoop is planning to see how he can become involved with the franchise in the 2023-24 season, including attending a handful of home games and joining TSN broadcasts for analysis and commentary.
The Athletic also reports Snoop is interested in growing and marketing hockey to families from more diverse backgrounds in the Ottawa area and beyond. According to an October 2022 report by ESPN, the NHL's first diversity report revealed 83.6 percent of its employees across the league are white; 4.17 percent are Asian; 3.74 percent are Black; and 3.71 percent are Hispanic/Latino.
"He’s passionate about trying to make this game affordable for visible minorities and kids in low-income areas who haven’t been able to play hockey in the past," one source told The Athletic. "He wants to be community oriented."
MORE: Ryan Reynolds confirms interest in purchasing Ottawa's NHL team
Snoop also has some tangential relations with hockey, notably wearing a Penguins jersey in the 1994 music video for "Gin and Juice." He was also gifted a Senators jersey by former goalie Ray Emery ahead of the 2007 Stanley Cup Final between Ottawa and Anaheim, though Snoop at the time said he couldn't wear it in the Ducks' Honda Center, as Anaheim fans would "barbecue" him.
Snoop Dogg on ESPN’s ‘First Take’ this morning talking about his interest to purchase the Ottawa Senators. pic.twitter.com/4qg7h98GQ3
— Russell Morgan (@NHLRussell) May 2, 2023
He also collaborated with the NHL in 2018, releasing a weekly video series in which he provided fresh commentary on the history of the game. In 2020, EA Sports added him as a commentator and playable character in "NHL 20."
Snoop Dogg net worth
According to Forbes, Snoop has a net worth valued at $300 million. A good portion of that is tied to his status as a music icon, including his 2022 purchase of the Death Row Records brand, on which his first album debuted in 1993. But he has also proven to be a shrewd entrepreneur, and is the co-founder of Casa Verde Capital, a trailblazing cannabis-focused investment fund.
What are the Senators worth?
A March report by Sportico suggests the Senators franchise is estimated to be worth $655 million, which ranks 27th among the league's 32 teams.
Eugene Melnyk bought the Senators for $92 million in 2003. He died in March 2022 at age 62 and his family announced in November it intended to sell the franchise.
The current record for sale of an NHL franchise came in 2021, when the Fenway Sports Group bought the Penguins for $900 million. Multiple reports indicate Reynolds' Remington Group is preparing an offer of at least $1 billion for the Senators.
