TORONTO — B.C. Lions owner David Braley isn’t apologizing for buying the Toronto Argonauts, saying he’s simply doing what’s in the best interests of the CFL.
“I love the CFL game and I love the league,” the Hamilton businessman said Wednesday. “The Toronto market is far too important.
“If Toronto strengthens, Hamilton strengthens, southern Ontario strengthens and the CFL office strengthens because it can get more sponsorships.”
On Tuesday night, the Argos announced co-owners David Cynamon and Howard Sokolowski had reached an agreement to sell their club to Braley in a move that had been rumoured for weeks.
Braley, 68, takes over an Argos club that’s hit hard times. It posted a league-worst 3-15 record last year and has won just seven total games in missing the CFL playoffs the last two seasons.
Braley said he has no plans of selling either of his CFL franchises any time soon — he expects to own one or both teams until at least age 75, health permitting — and is committed to strengthening the Argos on and off the field.
“We’re going to restart the rebuilding process,” he said. “You never know when somebody will come along and say, ‘I have a real interest in acquiring that.’”
Braley feels the Argos are in better shape than the Lions were when he bought that franchise.