B.C. Lions for sale, owner David Braley says team ‘has to be sold’

Mar 31, 2017 | 3:57 PM

VANCOUVER, B.C. — After extensive rumours B.C. Lions owner David Braley was shopping the CFL team around, the 75-year-old officially confirmed on Friday it is actively on the market. 

During an interview on the B.C. Lions websIte, Braley said the ideal owner would be someone local, although he said he tried to land a local owner 20 years ago and didn’t have any luck. 

“It would be best if it was a local person but we tried to find a local person 20 years ago when I came out here,” said Braley. “I was ‘Mr. X’ while they were trying to find a local person but they couldn’t find a local person to look after it. Some people are kicking themselves now that they didn’t take the risk at that time.”

Braley has dealt with a myriad of health problems, and spent three months in hospital for three months last year. 

“It has to be sold. I am 75 years of age. I don’t want to be here at 95 owning the franchise. I will make sure the franchise is transferred to somebody who will look after it in the way that I would and that’s really how you tackle that,” said Braley. “There are several people who are interested and they’re having meetings with me, having discussions about how they would run it. A sale could occur this year, next year or the year after.”

Canucks owner Francesco Aquilini has expressed interest in the last few months about buying the team, following in the footsteps of the Calgary Flames, which also own the Stampeders. 

Braley bought the Lions in 1996.