Groups fronted by former Pittsburgh Penguins minority owners Jeffrey and Michael Kimel, Los Angeles-based producer Neko Sparks and Montreal Canadiens minority owner Michael Andlauer submitted bids for the Ottawa Senators prior to Monday's deadline, Sportsnet can confirm.
Postmedia's Bruce Garrioch was first to report those three official bids and later reported that a fourth bid was submitted by Toronto area billionaire Steve Apostolopoulos.
The Remington Group, whose bid was supported by Ryan Reynolds, dropped out of the race last week. That bid was seen as one of the favourites.
The bid from the Toronto-based Kimel family reportedly includes Canadian recording artist The Weeknd.
The Sparks bid includes recording artist Snoop Dogg. Sportsnet's Wayne Scanlan reported Sunday that First Nations groups in Canada have partnered with the Sparks bid in a significant way.
A source involved in the bid says the Sparks group has branched off to include First Nations communities in a way that would make them partners in the hockey club as well as a wide range of economic opportunities off the ice.
Andlauer also is the current owner of the OHL's Hamilton Bulldogs.
Apostolopoulos made what ultimately turned out to be a losing bid for the NFL's Washington Commanders, who recently were sold to a group fronted by Philadelphia 76ers/New Jersey Devils owner Josh Harris.
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