The B.C. Lions are in need of new ownership following the death of longtime owner David Braley in October 2020.
TSN’s Farhan Lalji reported on Tueday that preliminary discussions have taken place regarding a potential sale of the team with two to four parties expressing interest.
My understanding is there have been some discussions with potential ownership groups for the #BCLions & the Braley estate. There appear to be 2-4 interested parties. The Braley estate is not in a hurry due to other evaluations within the estate that are currently a priority.. 1/2
— Farhan Lalji (@FarhanLaljiTSN) February 16, 2021
Lalji states that the sale is not the top priority within the Braley estate due to other ongoing evaluations. The 79-year-old was an extremely wealthy businessman whose assets will take time to settle.
2/2… During 2021 season the estate & potential new owners could work together to transition control of the franchise. The timing for a sale will also be dependent on the circumstances surrounding the start time of the 2021 season & whether fans will be in the stands” @CFLonTSN
— Farhan Lalji (@FarhanLaljiTSN) February 16, 2021
The viability of the 2021 CFL season is a factor as the decision to play with fans, play without fans or cancel all games will have obvious financial ramifications.
Braley set aside enough money to fund the B.C. Lions for a number of years following his death, so the survival of the franchise is not dependent on a sale.
However, the Lions have seen a steep decline in attendance and fan engagement over the past five years in Vancouver’s competitive sports marketplace. Having a new, engaged ownership group committed to leading the team to a prosperous future is essential for the long-term viability of the CFL on the west coast.
