Tampa Bay Lightning Owner Jeff Vinik Looking to Vaporize NHL's Record Sale

Tampa Bay Lightning owner Jeff Vinik is in discussions to sell a portion of the NHL franchise, with the potential deal valuing the team at approximately $2 billion, which was unheard of until now in the hockey world.

The transaction, if finalized, would set a new record for the highest valuation of an NHL team. Doug Ostrover, co-founder and CEO of Blue Owl Capital, leads the group interested in acquiring the shares.

For context, and if the sale is completed at the reported figure, it would vaporize the prior-highest sale, when $950 million was paid for the acquisition of the Ottawa Senators in 2023 .

Despite the potential sale, Vinik will retain ownership control of the Lightning for several more years, according to Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman when he first reported the news on August 13.

"Sources stressed the deal is not done yet, adding there will be no immediate change of ownership control and no change in the day-to-day operations of the team," Friedman wrote. "As part of the deal, current owner Jeff Vinik will retain full operational control of the organization for the next several years. He will continue to have a significant ownership stake as part of the new group."

Vinik wrote a statement published in the Tampa Bay Times on August 13 confirming his expected presence within the franchise in the short-term future at the very least.

“I can confirm that we are in discussions to further expand our ownership group of the Tampa Bay Lightning,” Vinik wrote. “There will be no change in the day-to-day operations of the Lightning and Vinik Sports Group. I am very excited about what is to come for the organization and we look forward to sharing more when the time is right.”

Vinik purchased the Lightning in 2010 for $170 million . Under his ownership, the franchise has seen remarkable success, including Stanley Cup victories in 2020 and 2021 and additional appearances in the Finals in 2015 and 2022.

The team’s star-studded roster during those years and the franchise's titles contributed to its rise as one of the NHL’s elite organizations. It also brought the state of Florida to the forefront of the hockey landscape, with the Florida Panthers making the Stanley Cup Final in 2023 and winning the Cup in 2024.

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