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New B.C. Lions owner playing long game, while injecting immediate energy into franchise

By Editor

  1. Winnipeg Blue Bomber
  2. Soccer
  3. Compact fluorescent lamps

Creator of the article:

Ted Wyman Amar Doman, owner of asset management and investment firm Futura Corporation, bought BC Lions in August from the estate of the late David Braley. Amar Doman, proprietor of asset administration and funding agency Futura Company, purchased BC Lions in August from the property of the late David Braley. Picture by Fred Lee /PNG

VANCOUVER – The BC Lions have a protracted and storied historical past that goes again almost 70 years, but you’ll typically have a tough time discovering individuals in downtown Vancouver who know they exist.

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It has been a tragic actuality concerning the West Coast CFL franchise lately, and it is much more evident in 2021 after the 2020 season was canceled because of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

The Lions have a median of 12,517 followers per recreation this 12 months, which may be very near the utmost quantity allowed by British Columbia’s well being protocols.

Nonetheless, there may be not a lot pleasure within the workforce, though the Lions have star gamers like quarterback Michael Reilly and receivers Bryan Burnham and Fortunate Whitehead and are stable within the playoff competitors with a 4-3 report.

The excellent news is that the Lions have a brand new, enthusiastic proprietor and he desires to alter the best way the franchise is perceived locally.

“I wish to rebuild issues,” Amar Doman, who purchased the Lions in August from the property of the late David Braley, instructed Postmedia on the time.

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“I feel this (workforce) wants a makeover, the group contact, and the CFL, I feel, wants a little bit makeover. I feel I am the one for that.

“I see youngsters strolling round in NFL uniforms right here in Vancouver at this time and I simply do not perceive why. I feel we will help change that and get much more orange and black right here, get a sense of ‘BC Lions are again’. “

It stays to be seen if Doman’s imaginative and prescient will come true, however the excellent news is that he has deep pockets, a ardour for the league, and persistence to attempt to make issues work in the long term.

“It is a lengthy recreation, proper,” Reilly stated this week forward of the Lions’ recreation in opposition to the Winnipeg Blue Bombers at BC Place on Friday evening. The sport was nonetheless in progress on the time of going to press.

“He positively understands that it isn’t only a fast repair. It isn’t one thing that may be modified shortly and hastily every part is best.

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“You perceive the challenges, however you do not hesitate to deal with them and ensure issues get higher. That is why we’re trying ahead to it as gamers. We’re excited and hopefully our fan base too. Hopefully this fan base will develop. “

Braley, who handed away in October 2020, stored Lions alive for years regardless of declining curiosity locally.

The problem for the brand new proprietor is to make the Lions related once more, which isn’t simple in a multicultural, various metropolis with many competing points of interest.

Victoria-born Doman is the founder and sole shareholder of The Futura Company, one among BC’s largest privately held firms, and he is aware of a little bit about how one can make a enterprise profitable.

“When the announcement was first made there was quite a lot of power and I feel that has continued and can proceed as we proceed to construct,” stated Reilly. “We play good soccer, that helps, however I feel our new proprietor is optimistic. He has positively confirmed himself to be somebody who’s passionate concerning the CFL, is an area particular person which is essential, and he additionally desires this franchise and league to thrive. From what I’ve heard from him, he appears prepared to present us the instruments we’d like to ensure this occurs. “

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It is exhausting to have an instantaneous impression when a sale is in the midst of a season, particularly whether it is throughout a pandemic. It’ll take at the very least an offseason or two to get concrete outcomes.

“However within the quick time he is been the proprietor, I really feel just like the power at BC Place was completely different,” stated Reilly. “We do a couple of issues throughout the recreation which are a little bit completely different from the previous few years that the fan base appears to be enthusiastic about. The intros about what occurs when touchdowns are scored, simply the leisure worth, not simply what we’re placing on the sphere, but additionally how they incorporate it into the sport expertise, had been fairly good this 12 months. “

WILSON UNDERRATED

The Bombers had been virtually of their optimum line-up on the sphere for Friday evening’s recreation in opposition to the Lions, due to the return of defensive deal with Steven Richardson, explosive kick-returner Janarion Grant and weak linebacker Kyrie Wilson.

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All three gamers performed an enormous position in successful the Bombers’ Grey Cup in 2019, and whereas the workforce did properly with a 6-1 report forward of Friday’s recreation in 2021, chances are high they will get even higher.

Wilson acquired particular reward from Bombers head coach Mike O’Shea for mentioning the linebacker was an underrated piece within the workforce’s Grey Cup run.

“We noticed internally what number of video games he really performed and the way dynamic and explosive he was,” stated O’Shea. “I take into consideration how briskly he’s. I do not know that individuals will acknowledge that. “

When you return and watch the 2019 Grey Cup (it is obtainable in its entirety on YouTube), you is likely to be shocked to search out Wilson was all around the subject making video games. He posted 5 defensive tackles, probably the most spectacular being as he tracked down 2019 CFL Standout Brandon Banks after the Hamilton Tiger-Cats receiver caught a go on an intersection sample.

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“That is what we see that the typical fan won’t see,” stated O’Shea. “That’s a formidable piece.”

STOVE LEVER

The bombers additionally hoped Richardson would assist them strengthen their run defenses.

In eighth place within the league and giving up a median of greater than 100 yards per recreation on the bottom, the Bombers goal to return to their 2019 stand and lead the CFL in working protection.

Weighing 5 foot-10 and 304 kilos, Richardson is a defensive deal with completely geared in the direction of stopping the run and hopes that his inclusion after six video games on the injured listing can be an prompt enchancment for that Workforce would imply.

“Simply his bodily stature,” stated O’Shea. “Irrespective of how large he’s, he packs quite a lot of muscle mass into this body and may use it extraordinarily properly. It is very highly effective, very explosive. He is not a slipshod man. It is compact and stocky and explosive. Soccer is a recreation of leverage, particularly within the trenches, and it usually has. “

Twyman@postmedia.com

Twitter.com/Ted_Wyman

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