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The_Pauser wrote:Quite honestly, Aquilini possibly buying the team has me very worried. The guy is a huge money grabber and really only cares about how profitable an investment is. If the team ever starts losing money again I fear that he might just gut the team, cut as many costs from anywhere he can, and try to dump them whenever he can as best as he can to whomever he can. He's definitely not a guy I would trust.

BUT, Greg Kerfoot on the otherhand, if he could afford to buy the Lions while owning the Whitecaps, that wouldn't be such a bad thing.

What costs has Aquilini made in the Canucks budget? Gameday - not that I can see. Scouting, nope. It appears that he has increased the teams' spending on operations. He is making lots on the Canucks but he is spending freely.

Kerfoot is taking a decade to get a stadium built. Put. That coffee. Down.

You like the waterfront - buy a sailboat.

Hmm, I can see some possible benefits of Aquilini ownership, now that some of you have posted your thoughts... I'm still not 100% on it, but I can see what you're saying.

Let's hope Jim Balsilie doesn't get any wild ideas (about the Lions, that is)

Tighthead wrote:
What costs has Aquilini made in the Canucks budget? Gameday - not that I can see. Scouting, nope. It appears that he has increased the teams' spending on operations. He is making lots on the Canucks but he is spending freely.

Kerfoot is taking a decade to get a stadium built. Put. That coffee. Down.

You like the waterfront - buy a sailboat.

Well for starters, the Canucks used to always give away free program booklets at every game. Now it's a one page fold-up pamphlet. But I digress...the Canucks are a profitable entity. They had been profitable for a couple years prior to Aquilini purchasing an interest in the team. We can't really compare his actions with the Canucks to what his actions would be with a BC Lions team that is more easily prone to losses. That, and going by the opinions of people who know him closely he isn't a guy I would trust. Pre-Braley, the Lions have had so many bad owners I don't want to risk another one.

Big Time wrote:This team was largely a joke for a long time, and shockingly like the current Argos regime (i wonder why ), until he hired Ackles and Buono. In general, he seems to follow rules when they are convenient, and works to undermine those who he disagrees with. The fact that he lives in Hamilton yet has shown so much commitment to BC has been commendable, but I would not classify him as a great owner.

Braley is a great supporter of the CFL and is not a mingling owner but just read The Water Boy to realize what shambles the organization was in when Ackles arrived in 2002.
It was Ackles that hired Buono and created the business model that turned the club around. Braley deserves credit for fully endorsing it but he also stayed out of Adam Rita's way too.

Between cross-promoting with the Canucks and knowing how to market the team, Aquilini ownership would be a positive.

Braley was looking for the best. He's an owner. When Rita couldn't produce he got BOB. The best. The article also says
“It’s not for sale now,” Braley said when approached recently about the Lions. “When the time comes, I’ll pick the person with the same passion as me. And he’ll have to look after it properly. He doesn’t have to be local, but it’s preferable.”
In theory Braley could control both teams. The CFL constitution does not prevent an individual from owning more than one team.
I don't think Braley wants to see what he built destroyed, not just for himself, but for the fans and for BOB. I don't get the Braley bashing.
Hey, he can get rid of Rita again.
You may hate the Argos, but yikes, we sure need another viable team in the east.

http://www.cfl.ca/article/statement-from-the-cfl
Toronto Argonauts co-owners David Cynamon and Howard Sokolowski have issued the following joint statement following recent news reports:

“We want to make it clear we remain the dedicated owners of the Toronto Argonauts, committed to the franchise's success both on and off the field, and particularly in the community. However, we continue to explore different opportunities and are weighing what is in the best interests of our businesses, our families, and the future of the Toronto Argonauts. We will continue to keep the Canadian Football League and Commissioner Mark Cohon informed of any developments, and will certainly inform Argonauts fans, the heart and soul of our franchise, of any real news. In the meantime, we will not indulge in speculation that distracts from what remains our focus: what is best for a game, a team and a league that we truly cherish.”
STATEMENT FROM B.C. LIONS OWNER DAVID BRALEY


"Recent news reports have referred to rumours regarding my ownership of the British Columbia Lions. I want to stress that the team is not for sale. I remain the team's owner, proud of its accomplishments, both on the field and in communities across British Columbia, and dedicated to its future success. As an individual, I have always strived to act in the best interests of the Canadian Football League, something that unites this country and that I care deeply about, and I will always do what I can to strengthen our league, and my team, the BC Lions."

Great story guys. Are the reporters making this up? Ha Ha Ha????

I think those of us who have memories of how bad things were for most of the mid-late 90s are sort of slightly panic stricken at the thought of an ownership change. I am too, unless Scott Ackles walks back in that door after the Grey Cup, and someone with solid connections with the business community works side by side with him to keep the team in the forefront of the community. And I have my doubts about that even if Braley stays.

That said, Toronto isn't working. How Rita and Mohns are still employed is beyond me. I have no skin in the brotherly in-fighting that plagues Canadian discourse, but I'll submit respectfully that a competitive team in Toronto is an imperative in a league without a presence in the Maritimes, Ottawa, Southwestern Ontario, or Quebec City. And if that means we have to trade Braley for a robust local owner that loves the team, then I suppose we should be prepared to do that.

...as long as he doesn't kill the Lions in order to push the Canucks...

The owners in Toronto have to look no further than Rita and Morohns to see the problem.

Big Time wrote:Truthfully, outside of being generously committed to the Lions, I wouldn't say Braley has been a great owner.

Well he's the best owner the Lions have ever had, and the team likely would not exist today if not for David Braley.

Belize City Lion wrote:

Big Time wrote:Truthfully, outside of being generously committed to the Lions, I wouldn't say Braley has been a great owner.

Well he's the best owner the Lions have ever had, and the team likely would not exist today if not for David Braley.

yeah but pezim was more fun

Braley is a lousy owner and Buono is a lousy coach. Ugg.

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I'll bet you Braley buys the Argos and sells the Lions. I hate that but I think thats what will happen.

JohnHenry wrote:Cynamon and Sokolowski have been terrific owners for the Argos by any measure, but it is unlikely they will find new owners as committed and have deep enough pockets to keep the team afloat. Obvious C & S do not want to sink more money into the team, with no assurance the Argos would ever be worth anything.

Perhaps the league should take over the team, and use the wisdom of all the teams to help make Toronto a success. The Argos shouldn't lose any more than $1 million per season, even with 25,000 fans. That amounts to a subsidy of only $125k per team to keep a team in Toronto. Teams could be reimbursed by sharing the proceeds of the highly profitable Grey Cups held in Toronto every 6 to 8 yrs.

While Mr. Braley is about as good of owner as fans could ask for, I don't like the idea of him owning two teams. That seems kind of bush league and would bring ridicule upon the league. Now if his son wanted to buy a team, that's another matter...

Well as long as he doesn't name both teams the Lions. It would be really hard to differentiate as opposed to Rough Riders and Roughriders.