OT: Football in LA again?

[Rob0729]

Wilson has said he won't move the Bills while he's alive, but that's as far as he's gone or will go. The team will be sold to the highest bidder after he dies, IMO, and without a hometown discount. Unlike many Bills fans, I don't despise Ralph for doing so (although I wish he'd do more to keep them local as they are a HUGE part of WNY). He could easily have up and moved them years ago--I told him as much at training camp a few years ago and he just laughed and said "What am I going to do? Sit at my dining room table and count my money? Where's the fun in that?" He's a better guy than some Bills fans give him credit for being.

While there's hope a local billionaire (Tom Golisano, owner of Paychex and the Sabres has expressed an interest, for ex.), I suspect it will be Ted Rogers and friends in Toronto who get the Bills. As a Bills fan, I'd take Toronto over LA any day of the week. While it may be heresy to many of my fellow fans, I think the best we can hope for is a "regionalization" of the team after Ralph dies, i.e., something like the "Niagara Frontier Bills", playing some games in a new stadium about 45 minutes south of Toronto (ie., so that Buffalonians can see the team fairly easily as well) with perhaps several a year back in Buffalo. (That last part may not make economic sense, but a guy can dream.) While not ideal, I honestly wouldn't mind that--it would keep the team close, letting Buffalonians see them if they want (but it would suck for Rochesterians and other Central NYers like I used to be in the day), and let the team tap into a large new market more fully to make them more competitive in what is looking more and more unfortunately like the MLBization of the NFL, which I personally suspect will destroy the game's popularity much like it has done for baseball, but we'll see. Toronto is actually quite a wealthy city in addition to being a large one (4th largest or some such in North America I believe, although I'm not certain), so that would go a long ways to more than leveling the economic playing field for the Bills. I find it funny that some folks on this board mock the Bills for moving to T'to--that should be the last thing you all want.

I never said Wilson will move the team. I said the team would be moved in 2013 to Tornoto. Never said Wilson would be the owner then.

It is well been specualted that Wilson will try to sell the team before he dies. His daughter doesn't want the team and his estate does not have the liquid assets to pay the estate tax upon his death (assuming there is an estate tax when he dies). My guess is the test in Toronto is to show potential suitors the feasibility of own the Bills and moving it to Toronto.

It has been rumored that Golisano may be interested and will try to keep them in Buffalo, but you got to wonder if he will consider it a good buy since his Sabres are one of the lowest payrolls in the NHL (is that because he can't generate enough money in Buffalo to be a player for free agency?) and Paychex has been hit with an economic downturn recently.

As you, others, and I all have pointed out, Toronto is a major metropolis. They have five years to build a new stadium for a potential team. As you pointed out, it is close enough to Buffalo to keep a lot of the current Buffalo fans and even many of the season ticket holders (since it is only a 2 hour drive from Buffalo to Toronto). Moving Toronto makes too much sense for the Bills.

As for it being the worst thing for Patriots fans, I don't buy that. The Redskins are the richest franchise in the league and they have been barely a playoff contender since they have earned that title. The Cowboys are the second richest franchise and haven't won a playoff game since the 90s. Tons of money does not buy wins or championships in the NFL.

 

[FootballFanetic]

I never said Wilson will move the team. I said the team would be moved in 2013 to Tornoto. Never said Wilson would be the owner then.

It is well been specualted that Wilson will try to sell the team before he dies. His daughter doesn't want the team and his estate does not have the liquid assets to pay the estate tax upon his death (assuming there is an estate tax when he dies). My guess is the test in Toronto is to show potential suitors the feasibility of own the Bills and moving it to Toronto.

It has been rumored that Golisano may be interested and will try to keep them in Buffalo, but you got to wonder if he will consider it a good buy since his Sabres are one of the lowest payrolls in the NHL (is that because he can't generate enough money in Buffalo to be a player for free agency?) and Paychex has been hit with an economic downturn recently.

As you, others, and I all have pointed out, Toronto is a major metropolis. They have five years to build a new stadium for a potential team. As you pointed out, it is close enough to Buffalo to keep a lot of the current Buffalo fans and even many of the season ticket holders (since it is only a 2 hour drive from Buffalo to Toronto). Moving Toronto makes too much sense for the Bills.

As for it being the worst thing for Patriots fans, I don't buy that. The Redskins are the richest franchise in the league and they have been barely a playoff contender since they have earned that title. The Cowboys are the second richest franchise and haven't won a playoff game since the 90s. Tons of money does not buy wins or championships in the NFL.

Correct, but it doesn't hurt, either.... except maybe in the 'Skins case.

 

[Kontradiction]

I live in Jacksonville. Believe me when I say that there is no chance of the Jaguars going anywhere.