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A few of Canada’s greatest recognized Dragons’ Den stars, together with a pair of energy siblings from Calgary, have joined a gaggle making an possession bid for the Ottawa Senators.
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4 Dragons — Arlene Dickinson, Robert Herjavec, Wes Corridor and Manjit Minhas, alongside together with her brother Ravinder — are working with the bid group that already consists of celeb rapper/actor Snoop Dogg, comic Russell Peters and Olympian Donovan Bailey.
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“Ravinder Minhas and I are thrilled to affix the bid for the Ottawa Senators NHL group,” Manjit Minhas confirmed on Twitter Monday night.
Just a few hours earlier, a Enterprise Wire information launch revealed the names of the newest high-profile Canadians which might be turning into a part of the Neko Sparks Group bid for the group.
“Manjit Minhas and Ravinder Minhas have intensive expertise in constructing world liquor manufacturers, leisure content material and big supporters of variety in sports activities and enterprise,” stated Sparks, a Los Angeles-based producer who’s aiming to create the primary Black-led possession group within the NHL.
Within the information launch, Corridor stated: “Supporting a BIPOC-led bid is all the things for me. This might be a major and historic transfer and I’m proud to be bringing fireplace to the ice.”
Calgary native Dickinson added, “I’m simply so excited for this. Neko’s imaginative and prescient and dedication are straightforward to get behind. We’re ‘in’ with our capital, and naturally our dedication to the Ottawa Senators.”
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Sparks stated the worth these 5 new buyers carry to the bid is “invaluable,” praising Dickinson as an iconic entrepreneur who’s had important success in advertising and marketing and investing. Corridor is likely one of the nation’s most influential businesspeople, whereas Herjavec has intensive buyer and information analytic expertise, Sparks famous within the information launch.
The Ottawa Citizen reported final week that Quebec First Nation neighborhood Kitigan Zibi Anishinabeg confirmed it was endorsing the Sparks bid. The neighborhood has a land declare on LeBreton Flats, one of many places the place the Senators are contemplating constructing a brand new area.
Final March, Senators proprietor Eugene Melnyk died, leaving the group to 2 daughters. In November, the Senators Sports activities & Leisure board of administrators stated the membership could be offered. Could 15 was the deadline to submit buy bids, of which there have been reportedly 4, the Citizen reported.
The Citizen additionally stated Monday that actor Ryan Reynolds has shut the door on proudly owning the Senators.
Sources near the Vancouver-born actor instructed Postmedia Monday different teams concerned within the bidding course of have reached out to Reynolds within the final week and he’s turned down presents to be a part of different teams, in keeping with hockey columnist Bruce Garrioch. Reynolds had been a part of a possible bid together with Markham-based developer Chris Bratty and the Remington Group.
As Postmedia first reported, Toronto businessmen Michael Andlauer, Jeffrey and Michael Kimel, and Steve Apostolopoulos, together with Neko Sparks, submitted bids eventually Monday’s deadline.
The expectation is a profitable bidder will probably be determined by New York-based banker Galatioto Sports activities Companions, the Melnyk property and the Nationwide Hockey league someday this week, stated the Citizen.
