"Negotiations Underway for Sale of Lightning Franchise, Estimated to be Worth Nearly $2 Billion"

The Tampa Bay Lightning, with a value of nearly $2 billion, are currently in the process of being acquired by Doug Ostrove, co-founder and CEO of investment firm Blue Owl Capital, according to reports from various media sources on Tuesday.

As reported by Sportsnet, the deal has not yet been finalized between Ostrove and current Lightning owner Jeff Vinik.

In a statement, Vinik confirmed, "We are currently in discussions to expand our ownership group for the Tampa Bay Lightning. There will be no changes to the daily operations of the Lightning and Vinik Sports Group. I am very excited for the future of the organization and will share more when the time is appropriate."

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Vinik, who purchased the Lightning in 2010 for a reported $170 million, will continue to lead the organization for the next few years and maintain a significant ownership stake, according to Sportsnet.

Under Vinik's ownership, the Lightning have won back-to-back Stanley Cup championships in 2020 and 2021.

If the sale is completed, it will surpass Michael Andlauer's $950 million purchase of the Ottawa Senators last September as the largest in NHL history.