While its home field undergoes extensive renovations, the B.C. Lions will sport some new faces this season, according to team owner David Braley.
He recently told Business in Vancouver he expects the team to make changes before its season opener June 13 in Saskatchewan.
“I think [management] has done a very good job in the off-season,” Braley said. “We have a number of changes that have to be made and training camp will sort that out. I think we will be stronger and better than last year.”
Montreal-born Braley lives in Hamilton, Ontario and also owns the Canadian Football League’s Toronto Argonauts. On May 20, Prime Minister Stephen Harper appointed him to the Senate, where he will sit as a Conservative.
The Lions are slated to begin their training camp on June 6 in Kamloops.
Their home opener, June 20 against the Edmonton Eskimos, will be at the new 27,000-seat Empire Fields on the site of the former 32,000-seat Empire Stadium.
The new stadium is expected to boost restaurant and retail business along the Hastings Street corridor and the surrounding neighbourhood.
A retractable roof is not expected to be installed at B.C. Place until 2011.
Braley made much of his fortune growing what is now Orlick Industries Ltd. He bought that auto parts manufacturer in 1969 when it was known as William Orlick Ltd.