Ottawa's new professional baseball club, the Rapids, will be bought by Zip.ca's CEO Rick Anderson and president Rob Hall, the OBJ has learned.

Sources intimate with the deal say the acquisition is close to being announced, with the purchase occurring before the Rapids play their first exhibition game against the New Jersey Jackals on May 22.

Online video rental company Zip.ca, along with Mr. Hall's company Momentous.ca, is based in Ottawa.

Both Mr. Anderson and Mr. Hall have been prominent figures in the national high tech and political landscape. Mr. Anderson has worked with the Conservative Party and helped grow the Reform Party with Preston Manning, while Mr. Hall founded the Canadian Internet Registration Authority (CIRA) which oversees the dot-ca domain, and is one of the principal founders of the Canadian Association of Internet providers, which represents all Internet service providers in the country.

The arrival of the Ottawa rapids franchise to the city was announced in February, when the Can-Am League said it would restore baseball to Ottawa after the departure of the Lynx due to poor attendance and parking disputes.

When contacted by the OBJ, a Zip.ca spokesperson said the company is an "enthusiastic supporter" of the new team, but neither confirmed nor denied the news of the acquisition.

"Whether Rick and Rob get involved with the team beyond being avid fans remains to be determined," the spokesperson wrote in an e-mail.

In a separate e-mail, Mr. Anderson said, "The lawyers tell me we have nothing to announce until we have something to announce ... We also have great faith in the Can-Am League approach and leadership; we think Can-Am is terrific for Ottawa with its condensed May 22-Sept 1 real-summer season, family-affordable pricing, longer-term player stability and community orientation."

To learn more about the Rapids, click Ottawa baseball team announces name and manager to read a story by OBJ reporter Roman Zakaluzny, and for the profile on Zip.ca, click Zipping up the online video rental market.

To participate in a discussion about the baseball team, click The future of the Ottawa Rapids to visit our discussion boards.