Brooklyn-born Vincent “Vinny” Viola — the CEO of Virtu 𝔍Financial and a former chairman of the New York Mercantile Exchange — is in exclus𝄹ive talks to buy the Florida Panthers hockey team, The Post has learned.
Viola, who lives in Manhattan andꦺ West Palm Beach, Fla., plans to be “very involved” in the team, along with his three sons.
His youngest, Travis, 25, ⭕is a big Panthers fan, said a source close to the talk🌳s.
While both sides are worki🍃ng 🍎to hammer out a deal within the next two weeks, nothing has been finalized.
Nevertheless, Viola is already trying to retain what he considers key persoꦿnnel and is in talks with Panthers CEO Michael Yormark about a new contract, ꦚthe source said.
He also plans to keep the team in its Sunꦰrise, Fla., home despite poor attendance.
Viola, ♏who is a Rangers fan, often goes to Florida Panꦰthers games with his kids.
“He thinks he can tur꧂n the🐟 franchise into a winning team,” he source said.
Viola was overseas and unavailable for comment.
The Post exclusively reported on Tuesday that the Nat♉ional Hockey League was close to finding a buyer for the money-losing team.
Miami spor💜ts show host Andy Slater identified the suitor as Viola.
Viola has taken a chance at sports ownership before. He teamed with developer Bruce Ratner in 2004 to buy the New Jersey Nets but no 🥂longer owns an interest in the now-Brooklyn-based 🐽basketball team.
Viola’s high-fr🐼equency trading firm, Virtu, was among the bidders for Knight Capital last year after a trading glitch nearly sank the trading firm.