Snoop Dogg said to an Instagram post on May 1 that he “expects” to be part of a bid to buy the Ottawa Senators of the National Hockey League, and now the Long Beach rapper confirmed that his interest in the team is “no joke.”
“This is not a joke or a gimmick. Or an image or likeness game,” Snoop said The Athletic in a recent interview. “It’s a real ownership game. And Snoop’s going to put his foot down in town.
When asked why he was interested in Ottawa over an American city like Atlanta or Houston, Snoop explained, “I want Ottawa because Ottawa wants me. It’s a thriving city. The team will make a U- turn once we get possession. The players are inspired. The community is inspired. I feel like this is what Ottawa needs.”
Snoop also feels a connection to Ottawa: After being given a Ray Emery jersey by the late Senators goalie before the 2007 Stanley Cup Final, he headlined the Ottawa Bluesfest in 2014 while wearing a throwback ” O” jersey.
“Every time I pass through the city, they roll out the red carpet for me,” he said. “Wherever I go in Canada, it’s always love, but there’s something about Ottawa. And the opportunity for the team to be bought? It’s unmistakable timing now.”
Longtime fans of Snoop Dogg may remember him wearing a throwback Penguin jersey on his “Gin and Juice” video, but he was an NHL fan before that. Growing up in LA, he watched Marcel Dionne play for the Kings at the Forum in the 1980s. Now, he has the opportunity to be hands-on in increasing the visibility of the sport beyond performing at the 2017 All-Star Game.
As part of Los Angeles-based entrepreneur Neko Sparks’ effort to become the second Black owner in the NHL, Snoop’s main goal is to make hockey more accessible to underrepresented communities.
Sparks and Snoop will go up against Ryan Reynolds and Remington Group reported $1 billion bid for Senators.
Regardless of whether their bid is successful, Snoop has a busy summer ahead. After entering the Songwriters Hall of Famehe will perform and pair of concerts in LA to celebrate the 30th anniversary of Doggy style. Then, he comes out with a big one joint tour with Wiz Khalifa. Tickets to all of Snoop’s upcoming shows are available via StubHubwhere orders are 100% guaranteed through StubHub’s FanProtect program.