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The NFL knows Buffalo is an economic black hole with little chance of supporting an NFL franchise at the level they want. But they also don't want another Cleveland Browns-style black eye.
So the Bills team up with Rogers to play a couple games in Toronto. This accomplishes a couple of things: 1) It tests out Toronto as an NFL market. 2) It acclimates both markets to the idea of sharing a team. 3) It grosses $106 Mil!!!
Note the deal runs through 2012, the same year the Bills lease expires. Not that breaking the Bills lease is any big deal. The couple million in penalties is chump change compared to what the Bills are worth. But this way it shows the NFL and the Bills as honoring their obligations.
So what happens as 2012 approaches? It depends if Ralph is still with us. If he departs for the big owners meeting in the sky, the Rogers group will have the inside track to buy the Bills. They will have shown the other owners that they are fit to represent the NFL, not just in Toronto, but in all of Canada. Also, if Ralph were to pass in the next few years, Rogers will have time to build a new larger stadium.
But here's the catch: The NFL will insist that a few games are still played in Buffalo. They may even try to keep the name Bills. I'm also sure that Bills season ticket holders will be given the option to buy tickets in Toronto, at whatever astronomical price they will cost. That way the NFL looks like they are not abandoning a historic NFL city.
Even if Ralph makes it to 2012 and beyond, I fully expect the Bills to shift most of their games to Toronto. The only question is whether Rogers will want more control of team operations, especially if the Bills still haven't made the playoffs by 2012.
So what's left for Buffalo? I predict 3 home games: one pre-, two regular season games. What will fill the void? Three possibilities: 1) If UB emerges as a major football program, they will play games at RWS. 2) If the NFL creates a US-based developmental spring league, we'll get a team, and 3) We get a CFL team, probably the Argos. RWS will have to be torn up to make room for a CFL field. Rogers would probably pay for that. We'd have a natural rivalry with Hamilton, and the CFL season starts earlier and ends before the really bad weather hits.
Any thoughts?
PTR
So the Bills team up with Rogers to play a couple games in Toronto. This accomplishes a couple of things: 1) It tests out Toronto as an NFL market. 2) It acclimates both markets to the idea of sharing a team. 3) It grosses $106 Mil!!!
Note the deal runs through 2012, the same year the Bills lease expires. Not that breaking the Bills lease is any big deal. The couple million in penalties is chump change compared to what the Bills are worth. But this way it shows the NFL and the Bills as honoring their obligations.
So what happens as 2012 approaches? It depends if Ralph is still with us. If he departs for the big owners meeting in the sky, the Rogers group will have the inside track to buy the Bills. They will have shown the other owners that they are fit to represent the NFL, not just in Toronto, but in all of Canada. Also, if Ralph were to pass in the next few years, Rogers will have time to build a new larger stadium.
But here's the catch: The NFL will insist that a few games are still played in Buffalo. They may even try to keep the name Bills. I'm also sure that Bills season ticket holders will be given the option to buy tickets in Toronto, at whatever astronomical price they will cost. That way the NFL looks like they are not abandoning a historic NFL city.
Even if Ralph makes it to 2012 and beyond, I fully expect the Bills to shift most of their games to Toronto. The only question is whether Rogers will want more control of team operations, especially if the Bills still haven't made the playoffs by 2012.
So what's left for Buffalo? I predict 3 home games: one pre-, two regular season games. What will fill the void? Three possibilities: 1) If UB emerges as a major football program, they will play games at RWS. 2) If the NFL creates a US-based developmental spring league, we'll get a team, and 3) We get a CFL team, probably the Argos. RWS will have to be torn up to make room for a CFL field. Rogers would probably pay for that. We'd have a natural rivalry with Hamilton, and the CFL season starts earlier and ends before the really bad weather hits.
Any thoughts?
PTR
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