More Stuff from Twitter.....

[Shi Zi Mi]

CFL News ‏@CFL_News 1h

David Braley has #Argos & #BCLions up for sale. Argos asking price: $20 million. Lions price: $60 million via @simmonssteve

News1130 Sports ‏@News1130Sports 15m

#BCLions owner David Braley tells me his team is not for sale and the 60 million dollar price tag has not scared potential investors.

Braley has talked to more than 1 potential investor in the Lions who was not scared by the 60 million dollar price.

The Argos price tag is more complicated - involves many moving parts.

Province Sports ‏@provincesports 9m

Our quick take on #BCLions sale rumours: #Argos more likely to be sold (possibly v soon), while Leos aren't really on the block.

[Shi Zi Mi]

gary lawless ‏@garylawless 1h

Story to come but #bombers will be officially awarded 2015 Grey Cup on Wednesday by #cfl commissioner Mark Cohon #bn

[Shi Zi Mi]

TEAM Radio ‏@TEAM1040 5m

Senator David Braley has told #TEAM1040 that he is not looking to sell @BCLions, but @TorontoArgos are for sale.

[TheLionKing]

News1130 Sports ‏@News1130Sports 3m

After talking with the agent for NFL OL Danny Watkins, #BCLions gm Wally Buono will now try and set up a meeting with the Kelowna native.

Bouno also talked with the agent for CFL free agent Ted Laurent yesterday - the Lions still in the mix for his services.

Buono talked with Ottawa over the weekend about qb Kevin Glenn. Asking price still high but Bouno will wait.

[TheLionKing]

#BCLions owner David Braley tells me his team is not for sale and the 60 million dollar price tag has not scared potential investors.

Braley has talked to more than 1 potential investor in the Lions who was not scared by the 60 million dollar price.

How time has changed. A few years ago you can't sell the Lions for $1.00

[David]

He told Cam Tucker Of Metro that he's not sure where the $60MM figure came from for the two teams - it's more likely $40MM. He said again that he's not interested in selling the Leos at this time (probably floating a trial balloon).


DH

[WestCoastJoe]

#BCLions owner David Braley tells me his team is not for sale and the 60 million dollar price tag has not scared potential investors.

Braley has talked to more than 1 potential investor in the Lions who was not scared by the 60 million dollar price.

Braley saved the Lions, but he is also one helluva businessman.

[Sir Purrcival]

As much as I believe Braley to be sincere, you can't convince me if someone came along with at skoocum offer, he wouldn't change his mind in a heartbeat. He is a businessman at his core and he won't turn down a really good offer if it does come along.

[Shi Zi Mi]

News1130 Sports ‏@News1130Sports 3h

The #BCLions are getting close to signing 2013 1st round pick and OL Hunter Steward.

[South Pender]

As much as I believe Braley to be sincere, you can't convince me if someone came along with at skoocum offer, he wouldn't change his mind in a heartbeat. He is a businessman at his core and he won't turn down a really good offer if it does come along.

You may be right, but I'm not so sure about that. Braley is worth $2.43B. $60M represents about 2.5% of his net worth. I don't think a difference of $20M here or there will make much difference to him. He's not in it for the money. Just my opinion.

[Toppy Vann]

As much as I believe Braley to be sincere, you can't convince me if someone came along with at skoocum offer, he wouldn't change his mind in a heartbeat. He is a businessman at his core and he won't turn down a really good offer if it does come along.

While no one would suggest that Braley is anything less than an astute businessman, if he looked at the CFL purely as a business investment he'd not have invested a dollar. There are others like Jimmy Pattison in BC who could have bought the Lions easily but it did not make sense from a business perspective. Pattison is not an avid sports fan although IIRC he was interested if an MLB franchise could have worked here as that would be far superior profits and ROE. For Braley with BC It has been a long arduous rode to financial stability and there are far wiser investments paying bigger returns that a CFL team. He has loaned money to his other CFL competitors. That's not a business decision even if it could be argued that he was helping to save the CFL as even an amateur poker player knows you don't play against your own money.

He is in a class by himself when he comes to owning a CFL team. He will try for certain to sell to someone who is the right fit - but in the end there has to be willing and able buyer.

[DanoT]

As much as I believe Braley to be sincere, you can't convince me if someone came along with at skoocum offer, he wouldn't change his mind in a heartbeat. He is a businessman at his core and he won't turn down a really good offer if it does come along.

You may be right, but I'm not so sure about that. Braley is worth $2.43B. $60M represents about 2.5% of his net worth. I don't think a difference of $20M here or there will make much difference to him. He's not in it for the money. Just my opinion.

How do you know how much Braley is worth?

[South Pender]

How do you know how much Braley is worth?

My mistake. I got the information from this article, but now realize, after re-reading the article, that the author was talking about Daryl Katz, who is mentioned just after David Braley.

http://truomega.ca/2011/03/08/affirmati ... r-to-fans/

I'll see what I can find about Braley.

Nonetheless, my point stands that Braley is not interested in his football teams as businesses. In my opinion, he can be seen as a philanthropist with regards to the CFL.

Edit: I found this article that describes Braley as a "billionaire":

http://www.bizmagazine.ca/sitepages/?ai ... 0Q1%202011

I'm sure a careful Google search would reveal Braley's net worth, but I think the point stands that a guy who's as wealthy as Braley isn't going to sweat the sale of his teams. Being of a more philanthropic bent, my guess is that Braley would try to find a buyer who would put the CFL, its teams, and its fans before personal financial gain--just as Braley himself has done. Much as Toppy Vann has noted above.

[Shi Zi Mi]

He's also a big time philanthropist in the Hamilton area......one article I read spoke of ~$70M he's given to the university/hospitals in the area in a short period of time.

[Shi Zi Mi]

News1130 Sports ‏@News1130Sports 3h

#BCLions gm Wally Buono has contacted agents for Manny Arceneaux, Solomon Elimimian & Adam Bighill - wants 2 extend contracts for all 3.

Arceneaux, Elimimian & Bighill heading into the final years of their contracts.

Hearing Bighill is thinking NFL before before re-doing deal with Lions.