Braley bumps his price for Leos in ‘ thriving’ CFL
$ 40 million: That’s the figure he’s thinking about, but of course it’s all negotiable
SCENE & HEARD: David Braley stepped down from the upper chamber as a Conservative senator last December, but the Canadian Football League’s most influential owner will forever remain a smooth politician.
Braley recently stepped up negotiations to sell his Toronto Argonauts to Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment, sparking speculation that the same was about to happen with his B. C. Lions.
When asked what price he would put on the Lions franchise, Braley answered with the question: “What would you pay for it?”
He rolled his eyes when the number $ 25 million was volleyed back to him. “Not even close,” he said.
The one- on- one conversation took place Wednesday morning in the Emerald Room of the Fairmont Pacific Rim during a break in the unveiling of the Grey Cup Festival, to be held Nov. 26- 30 in Vancouver.
“With the new TSN television contract in place for five years and new stadiums in Hamilton and Ottawa, the league is as stable as it’s ever been,” Braley said. “I’d be inclined to think in terms of $ 40- million.”
When Lions’ president Dennis Skulsky was later informed of the number, he choked back his coffee and smiled almost painfully.
“Everything’s negotiable,” he said as he walked Braley down the spiral stairs to the hotel lobby. Skulsky and some of his fellow community- minded Waterboys football fraternity will be first in line when Braley’s ready to do business.
HERE ‘ N’ THERE: Festival GM Jamie Pitblado showed considerable class by acknowledging Scott Ackles in the crowd Wednesday.
Ackles had been in Pitblado’s chair for three previous Grey Cup Festivals … Former and present Lions players on hand included a healthy- looking Jim ( Dirty Thirty) Young who was bursting with pride when Braley let it be known the two were gridiron teammates as teenagers at Westdale High in Hamilton … The Lions’ organization was well represented at the JCC Sports Dinner Thursday night when GM and vice- president Wally Buono was honoured with the 2014 Jack Diamond Award.
“When you look at the list of previous recipients, it’s a humbling experience to be here,” he told a hushed audience. “I have a lot of people to acknowledge but none more than my wife of 41 years. Thank you from the bottom of my heart, Sande.”
SHORT HOPS: Matt Sekeres of Team 1040 was an excellent master of ceremonies and among the JCC Dinner guests was co- worker Bob Marjanovich, accepting well- deserved plaudits for his Super Bowl coverage followed by sterling in- depth interviews this week with Pat Quinn and Joe Sakic.
END ZONE: Hastings Racecourse lost a beloved member of the trainers’ colony when 37- year- old Melanie Walters died Thursday following a training accident at her parents’ farm in Langley.
Melanie and her father Dr. Ken Walters, a prominent horse owner and former Vancouver Canucks team dentist, were at their happiest embracing each other in the winner’s circle at Hastings.
“Everyone in the backstretch is in shock,” trainer Dino Condilenios told Randy Goulding of The Daily Racing Form. “She would show up in the barns every day wearing a big smile.”