Ouitgoing NY Gov says Bills could relocate

[northernbillfan]

Will there be a National Football League franchise in Orchard Park, New York in 2014? Will there be a National Hockey League franchise in Uniondale, New York in 2016? According to the soon to be former New York Governor David Paterson, there is a distinct possibility that the Buffalo Bills franchise may not be in Orchard Park very much longer and that the New York Islanders franchise will leave Uniondale in 2015.

The future of the Buffalo Bills in western New York is an issue that will be coming into sharper focus over the next 36 months. Ralph Wilson purchased an American Football league franchise in 1959 for $25,000 and has spent more than 50 years owning the team. Wilson is now 92 years old and apparently his family will sell the team after his death. The franchise has two years remaining on the lease in Orchard Park and would be free to go to another city once the obligation is fulfilled.

Full article

[OpIv37]

Re: Ouitgoing NY Gov says Bills could relocate

There is nothing really new in that article, although hopefully it will bring some attention to the issue and force someone at the state level to do something.

I've never been to the Islanders' arena, but I've heard it's an outdated ****hole.

[northernbillfan]

Re: Ouitgoing NY Gov says Bills could relocate

What he was saying is he hopes the incoming Gov puts both of these issues on his agenda.

[Dude]

Re: Ouitgoing NY Gov says Bills could relocate

lol

"Wang"

[X-Era]

Re: Ouitgoing NY Gov says Bills could relocate

Who would I put more faith in Patterson or Pegula... hmmm.

[BertSquirtgum]

Re: Ouitgoing NY Gov says Bills could relocate

patterson is just that, an outgoing governer. and a bad one at that. i would take anything he has to say with a grain of salt.

[DrGraves]

Re: Ouitgoing NY Gov says Bills could relocate

patternson is a scumbag. i hate that man. way to run NY even further into the ground

[more cowbell]

Re: Ouitgoing NY Gov says Bills could relocate

yawn

[Nighthawk]

Re: Ouitgoing NY Gov says Bills could relocate

IMO, the article actually gives me more hope that the state actually cares about the Bills staying in Buffalo and is acutely aware of the situation.

[TigerJ]

Re: Ouitgoing NY Gov says Bills could relocate

Since Ralph Wilson insists on retaining full ownership of the Bills until he dies, there is almost a guarantee of a certain amount of chaos concerning the franchise on his passing, unless he has secretly made some arrangements that he's not talking about. If Paterson's statement reflects interest by the state in getting involved, I'm glad, but I think the state has limited power. They can offer financial incentives in the form of tax breaks and maybe some actual cash to build a new stadium, but not much more. Whether or not that's enough to seal the deal is dubious at best, since potential landing sites for the franchise can also offer financial incentives.

The bottom line is that unless a new owner has some personal reason to keep the Bills in Western NY, he is going to go where he thinks he can make the most money. Given the price of tickets, luxury boxes etc. in Orchard Park compared with most other NFL venues, the odds aren't great that will be in the Buffalo area.

[Nighthawk]

Re: Ouitgoing NY Gov says Bills could relocate

Since Ralph Wilson insists on retaining full ownership of the Bills until he dies, there is almost a guarantee of a certain amount of chaos concerning the franchise on his passing, unless he has secretly made some arrangements that he's not talking about. If Paterson's statement reflects interest by the state in getting involved, I'm glad, but I think the state has limited power. They can offer financial incentives in the form of tax breaks and maybe some actual cash to build a new stadium, but not much more. Whether or not that's enough to seal the deal is dubious at best, since potential landing sites for the franchise can also offer financial incentives.

The bottom line is that unless a new owner has some personal reason to keep the Bills in Western NY, he is going to go where he thinks he can make the most money. Given the price of tickets, luxury boxes etc. in Orchard Park compared with most other NFL venues, the odds aren't great that will be in the Buffalo area.

I just don't agree. How do you know that this organization can't raise ticket prices to get closer to the league average and still not get fans to attend? What gives you or anybody else that impression? The Bills tickets are ridiculously low and I've been saying for years that the Bills should raise them to increase the cash flow. I just believe too many people in Buffalo are paranoid more then they need to be.

[TigerJ]

Re: Ouitgoing NY Gov says Bills could relocate

I think the Bills have some leeway on raising ticket prices. I don't think the area's economy or the market size can support the kind of pricing policies of say the Dallas Cowboys, Washington Redskins, or New York Giants, and a several other teams as well.

[BertSquirtgum]

Re: Ouitgoing NY Gov says Bills could relocate

The bottom line is that unless a new owner has some personal reason to keep the Bills in Western NY, he is going to go where he thinks he can make the most money. Given the price of tickets, luxury boxes etc. in Orchard Park compared with most other NFL venues, the odds aren't great that will be in the Buffalo area.

wrong. ralph makes plenty of money here and so will the new owner.

[BertSquirtgum]

Re: Ouitgoing NY Gov says Bills could relocate

I just don't agree. How do you know that this organization can't raise ticket prices to get closer to the league average and still not get fans to attend? What gives you or anybody else that impression? The Bills tickets are ridiculously low and I've been saying for years that the Bills should raise them to increase the cash flow. I just believe too many people in Buffalo are paranoid more then they need to be.

no way the bills should raise ticket prices. unless they want blackouts on a weekly basis.

[OpIv37]

Re: Ouitgoing NY Gov says Bills could relocate

wrong. ralph makes plenty of money here and so will the new owner.

when it comes to money and rich people, there's no such thing as "enough." The new owners could make $50 billion a year keeping the Bills in Buffalo, but if they could make $50.1 billion in Toronto or LA, they're gone.

Also, there are other issues. Two reasons the Bills are profitable:
1. Revenue sharing
2. Lack of stadium debt

If a new CBA lacks revenue sharing or isn't as generous with it, that cuts into Buffalo's profits. And if the new owners want/need a new stadium, they will not be able to pay for the team, pay for the stadium AND make a profit in Buffalo.

Believing that the team is safe just because Ralph makes money is short-sighted.