Extending the Olive Branch
-
I don't want them to leave, but the voices of the fans won't mean that much if they decide to.
-
I don't necessarily agree and here's why; No NFL team has ever been relocated since the advent of social media. Look at all the craziness that went down when the Browns were moved. Browns fans raised hell, and rightfully so. Can you imagine what would have went down if Facebook and Twitter had been around granting the ability for massive organization almost instantly? We're talking public backlash so severe it would be a an absolute PR nightmare for the NFL. I'd be willing to wager the Brown's attempted relocation would have turned out a lot differently had it taken place today instead of 1996. A city that's not so crazy about football like Jacksonville or Miami maybe, but not Cleveland or Buffalo. There would be hell to pay.
Of course you both could be right and that could be my wishful thinking & rose-colored glasses.
-
I don't necessarily agree and here's why; No NFL team has ever been relocated since the advent of social media. Look at all the craziness that went down when the Browns were moved. Browns fans raised hell, and rightfully so. Can you imagine what would have went down if Facebook and Twitter had been around granting the ability for massive organization almost instantly? We're talking public backlash so severe it would be a an absolute PR nightmare for the NFL. I'd be willing to wager the Brown's attempted relocation would have turned out a lot differently had it taken place today instead of 1996. A city that's not so crazy about football like Jacksonville or Miami maybe, but not Cleveland or Buffalo. There would be hell to pay.
Of course you both could be right and that could be my wishful thinking & rose-colored glasses.
...could be my wishful thinking & rose-colored glasses.
No shame in that at all...
-
If the Bills ever leave Buffalo I will be pissed. They deserve a team. Also, the yearly game in Toronto is bullshit.
-
Thank god they cancelled the Toronto game this year. I hope tell Rogers Media to go fuck themselves and cancel the series all together.
-
Thank god they cancelled the Toronto game this year. I hope tell Rogers Media to go fuck themselves and cancel the series all together.
Thank god they cancelled the Toronto game this year. I hope tell Rogers Media to go fuck themselves and cancel the series all together.
So, what is the current status about potential ownership groups, stadium renovation/new stadium.
What's the buzz, tell us what's a happening.
-
Nothing is for certain of course, but here's what seems to be unfolding:
-Ralph Wilson left the Bills in a trust of 4 people including his Wife, his niece, his lawyer, and the Bills Chief Financial Officer. They alone will be voting on who to sell the team to, however whoever they decide can be vetoed by the other league owners. Judging by how the the last relocation vote(Browns) went I'm not too confident in other owners.-It's generally accepted by everyone involved that the construction of a new stadium is a condition of the Bills staying in Western New York. Potentially locations being discussed are Niagara Falls, Downtown Buffalo, or Batavia.
-$130 million in renovations expected to be finished this offseason are expected to do for now. They're adding some cool stuff: http://www.buffalobills.com/news/article-1/6-reasons-to-be-excited-about-the-Ralph-Wilson-Stadium-renovations/d9ae82f2-7c6e-4d78-adfa-1b60fb0a62b2
-Ralph Wilson's last gift to the area, which we found out after his passing, was secretly having his lawyers, the state, and Eerie County craft a secondary document attached to the new lease signed a couple years ago which basically prevents anyone from moving the team within the next 6 years. If they try, they'd have to win the right to in court and THEN pay a $150 million relocation penalty IF they won that court case.
-The largest threat to the team staying in Buffalo is perceived to be Bon Jovi's group which includes Rogers Media in Toronto. They've got the money and they've got the clout. Fans are already banding together to send a big "fuck you" to him with local bars/restaurants/djs/bands signing commitments to not play his music in their establishments and fan groups like http://www.12thmanthunder.com circulating petitions. Here's a sign you can expect to see if you go into a bar or nightclub here:
-Our best hope for keeping the team in Buffalo ownership-wise is probably the group associated with Jim Kelly, but he's recently been battling with some really bad cancer so who knows how that will turn out. Donald Trump has expressed interest in keeping the Bills here, but that's a steep price to pay. I can't imagine having someone like that owning my team.
I personally would stop watching the NFL completely if the Bills moved. Forever. Though you'll probably get a kick out of the fact that a lot of fellow Bills fans say they'd become Browns fans if they were forced to root for another team. There was just a big thread about it on a Bills forum not to long ago.
-
So, what is the deal with Bon Jovi.....is he outwardly stating that he will move the team? And to where? Toronto? LA? Asbury Park?
Why put 130 mill into a facility if one of the probable conditions of keeping the team there is a new stadium? Put that money into the new stadium.
-
Howdy all! Figured I might pop in to drum up any support the Bills may have from the Browns' fanbase. We like our team where it is and hope everyone else does too. Small market teams like us are just as important to the league as big market teams imo.
As I'm sure some of you know, the Bills & Browns have unofficially supported each other for a long time, both being small market teams. From the shenanigans they pulled together to steal Bernie Kosar for the Browns from the Oilers in the 1985 draft(great story btw. Google it if you're not familiar) to Ralph Wilson being one of only two team owners in the league to vote against relocating the Browns in 1996 even though he was considered one of Art Modell's closest friends. He supported the fanbase of small markets teams over all else. When he failed to block the move, he did the only thing he could and declared the Bills/Bengals game next season "Cleveland Browns Fan Appreciate Day" at Ralph Wilson Stadium. He also chose halftime at a Bills/Browns game to receive his Hall of Fame ring.
Anyways, it's obvious what Bills fans think about moving the team. I'm curious what fans of another team think. Would you sign a petition to keep them in Buffalo or join a Facebook group to show your support?
Howdy all! Figured I might pop in to drum up any support the Bills may have from the Browns' fanbase. We like our team where it is and hope everyone else does too. Small market teams like us are just as important to the league as big market teams imo.
As I'm sure some of you know, the Bills & Browns have unofficially supported each other for a long time, both being small market teams. From the shenanigans they pulled together to steal Bernie Kosar for the Browns from the Oilers in the 1985 draft(great story btw. Google it if you're not familiar) to Ralph Wilson being one of only two team owners in the league to vote against relocating the Browns in 1996 even though he was considered one of Art Modell's closest friends. He supported the fanbase of small markets teams over all else. When he failed to block the move, he did the only thing he could and declared the Bills/Bengals game next season "Cleveland Browns Fan Appreciate Day" at Ralph Wilson Stadium. He also chose halftime at a Bills/Browns game to receive his Hall of Fame ring.
Anyways, it's obvious what Bills fans think about moving the team. I'm curious what fans of another team think. Would you sign a petition to keep them in Buffalo or join a Facebook group to show your support?
I'd never support a bills move. The bills belong in buffalo.
-
The Bills should NOT be moved out of Buffalo.
-
So, what is the deal with Bon Jovi.....is he outwardly stating that he will move the team? And to where? Toronto? LA? Asbury Park?
Why put 130 mill into a facility if one of the probable conditions of keeping the team there is a new stadium? Put that money into the new stadium.
So, what is the deal with Bon Jovi.....is he outwardly stating that he will move the team? And to where? Toronto? LA? Asbury Park?
Why put 130 mill into a facility if one of the probable conditions of keeping the team there is a new stadium? Put that money into the new stadium.
He wants to move the team to LA.
A lot of Bills fans agree with you about the money for renovations. Ralph put up most of it out of his own pocket before he died though, so it's kind of seen as a nice gift to hold us over until someone builds a new stadium.
-
Only keep the Bills in Buffalo if...
1. There is strong fan support
2. It's profitable
3. There is a strong enough market to support it.
Not ever city deserves an NFL team just because they're some-what large. Green Bay, WI is by far the smallest city in the world to have a sports franchise valued at over $1 billion USD, they hold the distinction by meeting all three criteria listed above.
I would honestly like to see cities like San Antonio, Toronto, and Mexico City get teams if I knew it would be a success. Even if that means watching the Bills or Jaguars move to these places.
“Football is a game played with arms, legs and shoulders but mostly from the neck up” -
I didn't know we were a small market team...
-
What makes anyone think L.A. deserves a team? Buffalo has had the Bills since their inception. I've seen at least two teams leave L.A. In my lifetime.
-
Only keep the Bills in Buffalo if...
1. There is strong fan support
2. It's profitable
3. There is a strong enough market to support it.
Not ever city deserves an NFL team just because they're some-what large. Green Bay, WI is by far the smallest city in the world to have a sports franchise valued at over $1 billion USD, they hold the distinction by meeting all three criteria listed above.
I would honestly like to see cities like San Antonio, Toronto, and Mexico City get teams if I knew it would be a success. Even if that means watching the Bills or Jaguars move to these places.
Only keep the Bills in Buffalo if...
1. There is strong fan support
2. It's profitable
3. There is a strong enough market to support it.
Not ever city deserves an NFL team just because they're some-what large. Green Bay, WI is by far the smallest city in the world to have a sports franchise valued at over $1 billion USD, they hold the distinction by meeting all three criteria listed above.
I would honestly like to see cities like San Antonio, Toronto, and Mexico City get teams if I knew it would be a success. Even if that means watching the Bills or Jaguars move to these places.
Buffalo has a great football tradition as well as a rabid fanbase. What does San Antonio, Mexico City and Toronto have besides soccer fans? Ass hat!
-
Didn't Bon Jovi cancel his concert that was suppsoedt ob e a part of the Browns season kick off last year? Either way fuck him. Buffalo Bills need to stay the BUFFALO BILLS. This was the only team that had an owner that recognized how wrong it was to steal our Browns. Any Cleveland fan who didnt suppor them on this is an ass hat.
OP's point is spot on as well, just because a market is defined as larger doesnt mean it better or more profitable for everything. Case in point I remember back in the late 90s when the Atlanta Braves were one of the hottest dynasty teams in basebell. You could literally go any night , buy a ticket and then walk down and sit a couple rows behind home plate. The place was half empty everytime we went. Market size does not translate on its own into a passionate spending fan base.
Hello! It looks like you're interested in this conversation, but you don't have an account yet.
Getting fed up of having to scroll through the same posts each visit? When you register for an account, you'll always come back to exactly where you were before, and choose to be notified of new replies (either via email, or push notification). You'll also be able to save bookmarks and upvote posts to show your appreciation to other community members.
With your input, this post could be even better 💗
Register Login