Snoop Dogg wants fans to know his interest in purchasing the Ottawa Senators is completely genuine, fo shizzle.

"This ain't no joke or no gimmick. Or an image or likeness play. This is a real ownership play," he told The Athletic's Ian Mendes. "And Snoop will put his foot in the town."

The highly popular rapper and entertainer is part of a bid fronted by Los Angeles-based entrepreneur Neko Sparks to buy the Sens, he confirmed Monday.

But why the Senators? Why Ottawa?

"I love the city. Every time I've come through the city, they've rolled out the red carpet for me. The fans, the city. Everyone. It's been nothing but love," Snoop said. "When you go around the world as much as I have, there are certain places that stick out in your heart. Everywhere I go in Canada, it's always been love, but there's something about Ottawa. And the opportunity for the team to be bought? It's impeccable timing right now."

Snoop's hockey fandom is well-documented. He famously wore a Pittsburgh Penguins jersey in the music video for his breakthrough 1994 single "Gin and Juice," and the Long Beach, California, native has served as an occasional guest broadcaster for Los Angeles Kings games. He says he even went to go watch Kings games in the '80s when they were led by Marcel Dionne.

The 51-year-old says his role in an ownership group would be primarily as a community activist, and he'd come to Ottawa at least six times a year - 10 if the Sens make the playoffs. But he also said that he wants to grow the game at the grassroots level.

"I've always wanted to do something in hockey with kids," Snoop told Mendes. "Because I never had hockey offered to me as a kid."

Snoop also believes he could play an important role to help better market the game's biggest stars.

"They don't know how to market," he said. "Like McDavid, he's the No. 1 hockey player in the world. Why doesn't he have commercials everywhere?"

Snoop isn't the only celebrity interested in purchasing the Senators, though. Canadian actor Ryan Reynolds has joined forces with the Remington Group, which is reportedly preparing a $1-billion offer. There are at least five other interested parties, too.

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