If you were the new owner of the Buffalo Bills...

[Pride]

The thread about Jim Kelly stating that he has buyers interested in purchasing the Bills got me thinking about this.

Let's say... for hypothetical fun... that you were able to purchase the Bills for the 700+ million dollars they are worth. Now you, alone, own the team. What changes, if any, would you make?

Keep in mind that I am not looking for player changes... as that should be handled by the GM. But what would you do differently in marketing the team, the stadium, the city, the fans, in management (GM, Coach, etc).

Me? I would start by raising ticket prices. I know I know... but I believe that higher ticket prices in Buffalo MAY actually increase demand. Right now, people don't buy tickets because they know that at any time, they can walk up to the ticket window and buy tickets. I'd like to change that.

I would cross-promote in Toronto and offer some type of incentive for Canadian fans to cross the border and attend games.

I would do away with the entire marketing team at One Bills Drive, and replace them with a non-local marketing firm that will be able to truly regionalize, then nationalize the marketing of the Bills. I want to know why there isn't Bills Merchandise in Pro-Shop catalogs and whatnot all over the U.S.

Then I would work to get funding for a DOME, retractable roof, Stadium on a site somewhere in and around Buffalo that offers the surroundings that give Bills fans, and the entire nation a reason to think of Buffalo as a thriving place to live.

Your turn.

[Bufftp]

Re: If you were the new owner of the Buffalo Bills...

I would move them to a more prosperous area and make a killing.
It's business, not personal.

[bigbub2352]

Re: If you were the new owner of the Buffalo Bills...

I would move the team downtown with a retractable stadium,
i would revamp the uniforms maybe to the throwbacks or a new design
would start a huge marketing campaign that reach up to Toronto, down to ERIE PENN, out to Albany, that includes radio spots, as well as billboards and TV commercials all about season tickets
I would have a meet and greet at the new stadium with coaches FO personnel and players for perspective season ticket holders

Lobby for an ESPN ZONE to be built near stadium downtown that will fit between the Bass Pro and Casino
Then move on to FO decisions on players and coaches
if it was current roster and coaches
i would be lookin to add a LB DT WR CB TE Hback C either via FA and draft
would bring in a OC with experience not osmeone who never held the position
i would make the stadium capacity 70,000 as oppossed to 74000
and i would start a channel devoted to covering Buffalo sports like EMpire but this time do it right and have players shows on there like Lee Evans, Derrick Docerky , Steve Tasker Jim Kelly, then go the route of the sabres and have Vanek, Gaustad, Roy and Rob ray Gilbert Perriault have there own shows, and that channel would have the sabres games, and bills games
raise the price of concessions and parking and raise the price of tickets all by $1 dollar to offset changes

Sorry but i think that is what goes on in most NFL/ NHL cities

[OpIv37]

Re: If you were the new owner of the Buffalo Bills...

First, I would sell the naming rights to the stadium. I know Buffalo will never get the same money that the Skins or Patriots get for their stadium, but you can't go whining to the league about revenue when some revenue streams aren't exploited.

Second, I would work on a new stadium, possibly more to the east so Rochester and Buffalo people would be headed in different directions after the game. As it stands now, all the people from Buffalo itself, Canada and Rochester have to go in the SAME direction when leaving the stadium- this may attract more Rochester fans. I would also consider a downtown stadium, but only if there was still significant space for tailgating. Tailgating is part of the Bills experience and I wouldn't want to limit it in any way.

Third, I'd get some real marketing in Toronto and try to cross promote as much as possible. The idea is to get Toronto to feel some affinity for the team to sell luxury boxes and keep them from stealing it or trying to get their own.

Fourth, and most importantly, I'd find a way to shell out for top coaching talent to make the team better and show the fans that I'm committed to winning and not just to the bottom line.

Oh, and a domed stadium is out of the question. This is BUFFALO- the weather is part of football.

[THATHURMANATOR]

Re: If you were the new owner of the Buffalo Bills...

First, I would sell the naming rights to the stadium. I know Buffalo will never get the same money that the Skins or Patriots get for their stadium, but you can't go whining to the league about revenue when some revenue streams aren't exploited.

Second, I would work on a new stadium, possibly more to the east so Rochester and Buffalo people would be headed in different directions after the game. As it stands now, all the people from Buffalo itself, Canada and Rochester have to go in the SAME direction when leaving the stadium- this may attract more Rochester fans. I would also consider a downtown stadium, but only if there was still significant space for tailgating. Tailgating is part of the Bills experience and I wouldn't want to limit it in any way.

Third, I'd get some real marketing in Toronto and try to cross promote as much as possible. The idea is to get Toronto to feel some affinity for the team to sell luxury boxes and keep them from stealing it or trying to get their own.

Fourth, and most importantly, I'd find a way to shell out for top coaching talent to make the team better and show the fans that I'm committed to winning and not just to the bottom line.

Oh, and a domed stadium is out of the question. This is BUFFALO- the weather is part of football.

You contradict yourself.

You want to market to Canada but build a Stadium Further away? Makes no sense.

[RockStar36]

Re: If you were the new owner of the Buffalo Bills...

Oh, and a domed stadium is out of the question. This is BUFFALO- the weather is part of football.

THANK YOU!!!!

[Pride]

Re: If you were the new owner of the Buffalo Bills...

The retractable roof stadium is NOT for the games. It IS, however, for concerts and other indoor only (in the winter) events. The stadium would be used year round, not for only 10 days a year like the Ralph currently is.

[Gunzlingr]

Re: If you were the new owner of the Buffalo Bills...

I like the retractable dome idea for the simple fact that it could be used for other events during the winter. Keeping it closed until gameday would save money on snow removal as well.

[bigbub2352]

Re: If you were the new owner of the Buffalo Bills...

with the retractable roof Also big conventions, concerts, car shows, big venue stuff could be brought in, and still have small er concerts and smaller veues could be held at HSBC
selling the nameing rights is another great idea, i am sure Labatt, Rich, or New ERa would defeintly be interested

[OpIv37]

Re: If you were the new owner of the Buffalo Bills...

You contradict yourself.

You want to market to Canada but build a Stadium Further away? Makes no sense.

It doesn't have to be THAT far to the East- just east of 190- no further east than Williamsville. I don't really think an extra 10 or 15 minutes is going to alienate Canadian fans.

[madness]

Re: If you were the new owner of the Buffalo Bills...

I hate all of you as owners already.

[OpIv37]

Re: If you were the new owner of the Buffalo Bills...

The retractable roof stadium is NOT for the games. It IS, however, for concerts and other indoor only (in the winter) events. The stadium would be used year round, not for only 10 days a year like the Ralph currently is.

fair enough, but I have a feeling that the roof would end up being closed for bad weather football games. It would be too tempting.

[OpIv37]

Re: If you were the new owner of the Buffalo Bills...

I hate all of you as owners already.

well the current ownership isn't working so something has to be changed.

[RockStar36]

Re: If you were the new owner of the Buffalo Bills...

All you new owners are CHEAP

[trapezeus]

Re: If you were the new owner of the Buffalo Bills...

i'd get a marketing team to really pitch the bills as America's team. Most of america lives from pay check to paycheck and work at companies that have to stretch the power of their dollar.

How can the cowboys, redskins, and pats be your team when they just throw money around and gouge the little guy? The way the Bills compete is how we all ahve to compete and to see them win is special in that way.

I'd also make sure to get on every football show to heighten the awareness of the Bills. CBS, FOX, HBO, you get on those shows and have your opinion actually matter.

I also work with the local community of businesses to put together Buffalo Weekend packages with hotels, skiing, ticketes to the game, restaurants and make it affordable. Buffalonians who use to live here might be more interested to come home if there was a nice package of things to do with the family and to catch the game.

Stadium is too far out of the picture. with the government so poorly run from an economic standpoint, and business's not seeing what's in it for them, i can't see a stadium deal getting done.