The new owner of the CFLB次元官网网址檚 B.C. Lions knows he has work to do.

Amar Doman has been a fan of the CFL club since he was 10 years old, and has watched its popularity fade throughout the community. Now the entrepreneur believes he has what it takes to reinvigorate not just the Lions but the league as a whole.

B次元官网网址淚 like to rebuild things,B次元官网网址� Doman told reporters Wednesday after it was announced he had purchased the team from the estate of previous owner David Braley.

B次元官网网址淚 think this needs a rebuild, a community touch. And the CFL, I believe, needs a bit of a reboot and I think IB次元官网网址檓 the guy to do it. I think I can pull the community together and also get the community and the team more involved locally.B次元官网网址�

The Victoria-born businessman is the founder and sole shareholder of the Futura Corporation, an asset management firm. HeB次元官网网址檚 also helmed Doman Building Materials and Tree Island Steel.

And heB次元官网网址檚 long wanted to add owner of the B.C. Lions to his portfolio.

Doman said he talked to Braley about potentially buying the club B次元官网网址渁 few timesB次元官网网址� over the years but Braley simply wasnB次元官网网址檛 ready to let the team go.

B次元官网网址淵ou canB次元官网网址檛 time business deals,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淲hen they come up, youB次元官网网址檙e either going to move on them or youB次元官网网址檙e not. And this type of opportunity IB次元官网网址檝e been working on for a long time, so itB次元官网网址檚 something I would have happily closed on years ago, quite frankly.B次元官网网址�

Doman declined to say how much he had bought the team for, but noted heB次元官网网址檚 willing to dig into his pockets to ensure the teamB次元官网网址檚 success.

B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檓 prepared to put dollars into this team, as most owners are right now in the CFL,B次元官网网址� he said.

B次元官网网址淚n the Canadian athletic space, sports space, youB次元官网网址檙e not in it to drive a big return. If a return comes, I think thatB次元官网网址檚 great. I think the No. 1 thing you do with that return is reinvest it in the organization and the community.B次元官网网址�

Braley, a Hamilton businessman, a Canadian Football Hall of Famer and former senator, bought the team in 1997 and was rumoured several times to be looking for a buyer before he died last October at the age of 79.

He wanted someone who was local and passionate about Canadian football, but was never able to find the perfect fit.

B次元官网网址淒avid loved the Lions so much he could just never get to the finish line. It wasnB次元官网网址檛 a matter of money, he just loved the Lions,B次元官网网址� said the teamB次元官网网址檚 president, Rick LeLacheur. B次元官网网址淪o I think today, heB次元官网网址檇 be looking down and saying B次元官网网址楢marB次元官网网址檚 the right guy to replace me in this community.B次元官网网址橞次元官网网址� I think heB次元官网网址檇 just love whatB次元官网网址檚 happened today.B次元官网网址�

What makes Doman special, LeLacheur said, is that heB次元官网网址檚 long been a Lions supporter and had B次元官网网址渢remendous patienceB次元官网网址� in waiting to buy the team.

B次元官网网址淗eB次元官网网址檚 been a fan and heB次元官网网址檚 been a sponsor,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淗eB次元官网网址檚 professional, he knows governance, he gets management to manage his companies. But at the same time, heB次元官网网址檚 an idea guy.B次元官网网址�

HeB次元官网网址檚 also someone uniquely positioned to connect with Metro VancouverB次元官网网址檚 large South Asian community and get them interested in the Lions.

Doman said heB次元官网网址檚 proud of his South Asian heritage and how his grandparents came to Vancouver Island in 1906.

B次元官网网址淚 think I can definitely connect with (the South Asian community),B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淚f I canB次元官网网址檛, who can I connect with? And IB次元官网网址檒l be leaning on them to come down to B.C. Place.B次元官网网址�

Having Doman come in at the beginning of the 2021 season B次元官网网址渕akes exactly the right statement at exactly the right time,B次元官网网址� said CFL commissioner Randy Ambrosie.

B次元官网网址淚 think having Amar step in and with the energy heB次元官网网址檚 going to bring to our league, heB次元官网网址檚 obviously very successful in business, heB次元官网网址檚 got a deep and very rich history of integration of businesses and driving success,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淚 think thatB次元官网网址檚 what we need a lot of.B次元官网网址�

The Lions finished the 2019 season last in the West Division with a 5-13 record. They are off to a 1-1 start this year and will play their first home game Thursday against the Edmonton Elks (0-2).

COVID-19 protocols will limit capacity to 12,500 fans and tickets were still available to the game as of Wednesday afternoon.

As owner, Doman plans to work behind the scenes to B次元官网网址済et B.C. Place a little more noisy againB次元官网网址� and work with the team in the community, but he said head coach and co-general manager Rick Campbell will remain the face of the team.

B次元官网网址淭o me, this isnB次元官网网址檛 about one season. This is about the next 25-30 years and rebuilding the brand,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淭hereB次元官网网址檚 a lot of different factors that have to go in to get this going again. It wonB次元官网网址檛 happen over night. But weB次元官网网址檝e got a good start just getting fans back into the seats after COVID.B次元官网网址�

B次元官网网址擥emma Karstens-Smith, The Canadian Press