Braley sells the Argos to Bell and Kilmer

[TheLionKing]

Absent from the deal is Rogers Communications, which is part of the MLSE ownership group with Bell and Tanenbaum. Rogers was reportedly not interested in acquiring the 142-year-old franchise, likely because it has no ties to the CFL while Bell has a vested interest in the league through its broadcast affiliate TSN.

Is that a surprise to anyone ? They're probably still trying to lobby the NFL for a franchise.

The NFL wannabes can keep on dreaming.

Just like those Parti Quebecois dreaming of an independent country.

[BC 1988]

That is good news. I'm not surprised it's the Bell-Tanenbaum part of MLSE, pretty much they are the only group who could swing a a favorable lease deal for the stadium.

I knew about the resistance from a group of Toronto FC supporters ever since they put the natural turf in that qualifies them to host FIFA events. The other improvements being made to the stadium might help win them over eventually.

It was interesting that a condition of the deal will be 2 Grey Cup hostings over the next 10 years, possibly the first one as early as 2016. (I thought Hamilton and Ottawa would be next in line after Winnipeg). The CFL must have been actively involved for Braley to confirm he could provide that.

This article provides a bit more detail about how dire the situation is there. An Argo "home" game being played in Fort McMurray is really humiliating to the fan base.

http://www.tsn.ca/bell-tanenbaum-in-tal ... s-1.268118

[David]

News1130 Sports ‏@News1130Sports ·
David Braley tells me after selling the Argos : "We have no plans to sell the #BCLions at this particular moment."

DH

[SammyGreene]

News1130 Sports ‏@News1130Sports ·
David Braley tells me after selling the Argos : "We have no plans to sell the #BCLions at this particular moment."

DH

And that's the first time he has said those last 4 words when regarding his future as owner of the Lions. Tells me that the status could change at any time or he has even established a selling price that no one has bitten on as of yet. Stay tuned.

[B.C.FAN]

Braley has been focused on the Argos sale. I'm sure he had no desire to entertain offers on the Lions while he was trying to resolve the Argos' complex issues. He knows the Lions can roll along and probably still make a profit under the management of Dennis Skulsky, even if attendance continues to slip. In a year's time, he'll probably want to give serious consideration to selling the Lions while he is still healthy and active.

[sj-roc]

Braley has been focused on the Argos sale. I'm sure he had no desire to entertain offers on the Lions while he was trying to resolve the Argos' complex issues. He knows the Lions can roll along and probably still make a profit under the management of Dennis Skulsky, even if attendance continues to slip. In a year's time, he'll probably want to give serious consideration to selling the Lions while he is still healthy and active.

The sale of the Argos was in the works for about a year (the argofans.com chatboard has an active 40-page, ~800-post thread on the sale of the Argos that started in Jan 2014). Same will probably be true for the Lions, which means the wheels are probably already in motion. Braley's long-since self-imposed 75th bday divestiture deadline comes May 31 of next year.

Edit: this story will probably be overshadowed in Toronto with news breaking this morning of the Leafs signing free agent head coach Mike Babcock to a reported 8yr/$50M contract to be their bench boss.

[dpoe]

http://goo.gl/amErdC

[sj-roc]

Terms of the deal set the transfer date as not until Dec 31, 2015. This means the new ownership will not incur losses on the 2015 season.

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CFd0fdPWYAI23H8.jpg

The irony is that the Argos are back on the site of their former home, the old Exhibition Stadium, some 35 years after public sentiment was in favour of abandoning the facility for an indoor (or indoor-optional) facility after the rainy 1982 Grey Cup. Most of those voices from that era are probably dead by now.

[BC 1988]

Terms of the deal set the transfer date as not until Dec 31, 2015. This means the new ownership will not incur losses on the 2015 season.

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CFd0fdPWYAI23H8.jpg

The irony is that the Argos are back on the site of their former home, the old Exhibition Stadium, some 35 years after public sentiment was in favour of abandoning the facility for an indoor (or indoor-optional) facility after the rainy 1982 Grey Cup. Most of those voices from that era are probably dead by now.

The original CNE Stadium was affectionately dubbed the "Mistake by the Lake" (borrowed from Cleveland) by quite a few residents. It was poorly designed for both baseball and football. We'll see what MLSE can do with modern technology to make the weather conditions easier to bear in late fall. Toronto FC has never qualified for the playoffs once in their 9 seasons so it hasn't been an issue.

The first question in the Q & A at the end of today's press conference was will the Grey Cup be hosted in 2016? Orridge evaded the question by saying that is an announcement for another time.

[Tighthead]

Classic CFL bad luck having the Babcock deal take the spotlight.

[dupsdell1]

Congrats to the Argos and the CFL , Know every team ( except bc and Edmonton too big) have a CFL size stadium , Now If the lions some how can turn there lower bowl into a very intimate experience please curtain off the upper deck with lions memorabilia or something, do not leave it were you can see upper deck seating .

[BC 1988]

Classic CFL bad luck having the Babcock deal take the spotlight.

During the Q & A a member of the media said he'd just received a tweet that the Babcock deal had been reached, and asked for a reaction. One of the MLSE people (I forgot who) joked "Who is that" then said there would likely be an announcement about 2:30, in the meantime they were moving on with the Argos announcement.

Then there were a few more questions mainly about reactions from concerned/angry Toronto FC supporters; (which Leiweke dealt with explaining that the new turf will be more durable than what they have now, and heat will make it grow earlier and stronger in the spring. It's going to be the same system in use at new Wembley Stadium).

[sj-roc]

Classic CFL bad luck having the Babcock deal take the spotlight.

During the Q & A a member of the media said he'd just received a tweet that the Babcock deal had been reached, and asked for a reaction. One of the MLSE people (I forgot who) joked "Who is that" then said there would likely be an announcement about 2:30, in the meantime they were moving on with the Argos announcement.

Then there were a few more questions mainly about reactions from concerned/angry Toronto FC supporters; (which Leiweke dealt with explaining that the new turf will be more durable than what they have now, and heat will make it grow earlier and stronger in the spring. It's going to be the same system in use at new Wembley Stadium).

Argos will always have to compete for attention in their crowded sports market. If it weren't Babcock, the media there would still be occupied with who the Leafs should pick in the upcoming draft, or who they should trade away to move up in the draft, or which other team's disgruntled star's contract they should pick up in exchange for their first draft pick, or who should sing the pre-game anthem next season, or... well, you get the picture. There's always plenty of hockey talk to be had, just like here in Vancouver.

[TheLionKing]

CFL.ca Staff

TORONTO -- Bell Canada and Larry Tanenbaum's Kilmer Group announced their agreement to jointly acquire the Toronto Argonauts Football Club of the Canadian Football League from sports entrepreneur David Braley on Wednesday. Financial terms of the transaction, expected to close on December 31, 2015, were not disclosed.

"The Argos are an important team for this great city and a crucial component in the ongoing success of the Canadian Football League. We're delighted to invest in the most successful Canadian pro football team of all time, and look forward to seeing the Boatmen play at beautiful BMO Field next year," said Larry Tanenbaum, Chair of Toronto-based investment company Kilmer Van Nostrand Co. Limited and Chair of Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment (MLSE).

"Bell is proud to welcome the storied Argonauts club to our team. The Argos and the entire CFL are key to Bell Media's unbeatable array of sports content available to fans across broadband mobile, TV and Internet platforms," said George Cope, President and CEO of Bell Canada and BCE Inc. "Bell has made the industry-leading network and content investments required to deliver the best sports action across every screen consumers may choose. We look forward to cheering on the Double Blue as the 2015 CFL season begins next month on TSN and RDS."

"The Argos could not have found better new owners than Larry Tanenbaum and Bell, who are dedicated to bringing the best of sports to Canadian fans everywhere in innovative ways. We welcome them as an important new part of Canada's national football game," said David Braley, the renowned sports entrepreneur and retired Senator who has owned the Argos since February 2010. Mr. Braley is also owner of the CFL's BC Lions franchise. "I look forward to a great 2015 CFL season with the Argos, and to formally welcoming Bell and Larry Tanenbaum to the League when they assume ownership at the end of the year."

"This is wonderful news for the city of Toronto and one of our most venerable franchises, and with the Toronto Argonauts moving to a renovated BMO Field in 2016, it is the start of a bold new era for our league in Canada's biggest market," said Jeffrey L Orridge, Commissioner of the Canadian Football League. "On behalf of our Board of Governors, I want to welcome Bell Canada and the Kilmer Group, thank David Braley for his lifelong devotion to our league, and recognize CFL Chairman Jim Lawson, who has worked tirelessly and passionately behind the scenes to help make this historic day possible."

"I am excited that the Double Blue will be making their return to The Exhibition grounds in a state-of-the-art facility," said Mayor of Toronto and former CFL Commissioner John Tory. "The Argonauts' move to BMO Field will ensure Canada's oldest and most celebrated football franchise continues to succeed."

Bell Media's TSN and RDS sports networks have exclusive media rights to all CFL pre-season and regular season games, the Playoffs, and the Grey Cup. The agreement includes TV broadcast, digital properties as well as radio rights for TSN Radio stations in Toronto, Ottawa, Montréal and Vancouver. TSN has broadcast CFL games since 1986 and French-language network RDS since 1989. TSN and RDS became exclusive broadcasters of the CFL and Grey Cup in 2008.

The Argos will begin playing at BMO Field beginning with the 2016 CFL season. Located at Toronto's Exhibition Place and operated by MLSE, BMO Field is also home to MLSE team Toronto FC of Major League Soccer (MLS). Extensively refurbished for the TFC home opener on May 10 and the upcoming Toronto 2015 Pan Am Games, the updated BMO Field ensures an optimum playing surface for both MLS and CFL football with features including reinforced natural turf.

Founded in 1873, the Toronto Argonauts are North America's oldest continuously operated professional football club and the oldest pro sports team of any kind on the continent that still operates with its original name.

The Argonauts have won the CFL championship game a record 16 times, most recently at the 100th Grey Cup in 2012. The team is nicknamed the Boatmen because it was founded by the Argonaut Rowing Club, which owned the club for its first 83 years.

[WestCoastJoe]

http://www.thestar.com/sports/tfc/2015/ ... 0622,d.cGU

Argos move to BMO Field and TFC fans see red

Move helps the Argos but prompts concern that under increased traffic BMO’s grass field will deteriorate to less than soccer quality.

After months of tough negotiations, David Braley has sold the Toronto Argonauts to Bell and Larry Tanenbaum, the chairman of Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment. Next summer the Toronto Argonauts will play on BMO field. Morgan Campbell explains.


Tim Leiweke, CEO of MLSE, talks to the media Wednesday at an official announcement of the Argo's move to BMO field. Leiweke stressed that stadiums can host multiple events without losing soccer-specificity.

By: Morgan Campbell Staff Reporter, Published on Wed May 20 2015

Tim Leiweke, CEO of MLSE, talks to the media Wednesday at an official announcement of the Argo's move to BMO field. Leiweke stressed that stadiums can host multiple events without losing soccer-specificity.

When CFL officials and Argos ownership held a news conference Wednesday to officially announce the football team’s move to BMO Field, “thank yous” flowed profusely.


MLSE chairman Larry Tanenbaum, part of a group buying the Argos, thanked the city and the CFL. He thanked current owner David Braley, seated nearby on the dais at BMO Field’s Tunnel Club, and thanked Argo fans.


But nearly 30 minutes into the event nobody had thanked, or even mentioned, Toronto FC – strange given the soccer club is the stadium’s main tenant. TFC fans were already worried the Argos would damage the stadium’s playing surface, and the CFL-centric news conference didn’t calm concerns the club had become an afterthought in a stadium originally built for soccer.


“It feels like a slap in the face,” says Ryerson student and TFC fan Michael Norton. “This could be the first step of TFC being pushed out of its own stadium.”


Tension between the Argos and TFC fans began soon after original speculation that the CFL team would move to BMO Field when their lease at Rogers Centre expired. Over the last two years the “No Argos at BMO” movement has grown to include a blog, a Twitter account, and a banner hanging in the stadium’s south end during home games.


The anti-Argos sentiment dovetails with Major League Soccer’s stated preference that teams play in soccer-specific stadiums. Of the league’s 20 teams only four play in football stadiums retrofitted for soccer, while New York City FC plays in Yankee Stadium.


TFC season ticket holder Chris Greidanus has been skeptical of the plan since he first heard the rumour, and worries Leiweke underestimates the importance soccer fans and players place on a pristine pitch. He says that soccer games played on fields with leftover football yard lines will turn off purists and discourage them from renewing season tickets.


“If it starts to affect the integrity of the game, that’s my concern,” Greidanus says. “When you have a playing surface that looks bush league, that’s not helping a league that’s trying to make headway in this market.”


While acknowledging the league’s desires, outgoing MLSE president Tim Leiweke stressed that stadiums can host multiple events without losing soccer-specificity.


“Every stadium that I’ve been a part of, they’re a multi-venue facility,” Leiweke said. “This is not unique. It is not new. It is not different. These are not new problems. There are other people that have solved these problems.”


He points to Houston’s BBVA Compass Stadium as an example of an MLS club, the Houston Dynamo, sharing construction costs and a playing field with a football team, the University of Houston Cougars, and co-existing happily.


Leiweke said the ongoing $120 million renovation of BMO Field would include changes to accommodate the Argos.


He said MLSE, which manages the city-owned stadium, would spend about $3 million planting a sturdier hybrid grass. And seating at the north and south ends of the stadium will become retractable, coming out during soccer games and rolling back to make room for a CFL field that, including end zones, is 35 yards longer than TFC’s pitch.


“There are no compromises,” Tanenbaum said during the news conference. “That field will be equally good for both sports.”


Despite those assurances, fans remain concerned. If Argos games gouge grass from the middle of the field, the stadium becomes less appealing to star players and to European teams scheduling friendlies, Norton says.


And while Greidanus says the BMO move would improve the game-day experience for Argo fans, he says fans of the stadium’s main tenant should take precedence.


“The Argos do deserve a field,” he says. “But it probably shouldn’t be BMO.”

Soccer fans concerned.

But it sounds like Braley came out OK, as he usually does.

Being a CFL fan, I am glad for the stability it presents to the Argos.