Buffalo Bills - Shuffle off to Toronto
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Ralph Wilson Stadium
It is a sad day in Buffalo.
Buffalo is an economic area that is contracting.
Toronto is an economic area that is expanding and hustling and bustling.
Ralph Wilson, the long time owner of the Bills, has his eyes on Toronto.
Already there is a deal in place to play games in Toronto.
Toronto will formally land on the NFL map later this year, when the Bills become the league’s first franchise to play an annual regular season game outside the United States. The deal also includes the Bills playing three preseason games — one every other year, starting this year — in Toronto.
Dates have yet to be announced.
The games would be played at the downtown Rogers Centre, a domed stadium with a retractable roof and home of the Toronto Blue Jays. source
Can moving to Toronto be far behind for the lowly Bills?
Wilson steered clear from discussing whether the Bills would ever relocate north of the border. “Don’t worry right now,” was the best answer he could provide at a news conference Wednesday announcing the Bills would begin playing an annual regular-season game in Toronto beginning this season through 2012.
Based on what Wilson saw during a half-hour drive from the airport to a downtown hotel, he was convinced Canada’s financial capital and North America’s fifth largest sports market was ready for the NFL.
That is not all Ralph said and maybe this is more telling.
“I can answer that in the affirmative,” Wilson said. “It reminds me of my trip to Dallas a few months ago. They’re building in Dallas, Texas, everywhere, cranes, brand-new structures. And I see the same thing here in Toronto.”
It was certainly a different view than what he usually sees in economically challenged Buffalo
Also, Ralph found some partners.
Those partners are Blue Jays owner Ted Rogers and Larry Tanenbaum, chairman of Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment, which owns the Toronto Maple Leafs and Toronto Raptors.
The two have formed a partnership to pursue an NFL franchise. The deal with the Bills is considered their first concrete step toward achieving that goal, and an opportunity to showcase Toronto’s potential to the league.
The deal with the Bills wouldn’t preclude Rogers and Tanenbaum from making bids to buy and relocate other NFL franchises if they go up for sale.
And the economics of the situation are just unreal. Look at ticket prices.
Without going into detail, Rogers made no secret that ticket prices will be expensive.
“We’re going to charge high rates and we’re going to have all the seats sold,” Rogers said.
When it was noted that some tickets would be available for under $100, Rogers held up two fingers and said, “Two,” drawing a laugh from the crowd.
Reports have speculated that tickets would be sold for an average $250 per seat. Bills tickets at Ralph Wilson Stadium, by comparison, average about $46.
Sounds to me like the once proud Bills will be shuffling off to Toronto.
NFL Football Fan Question What ever happened to Jim Kelly at quarterback and the powerful Bills franchise?
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POSTED IN: Buffalo Bills, Predictions
2 opinions for Buffalo Bills - Shuffle off to Toronto
fadango
Feb 10, 2008 at 4:26 pm
I think it is a good move for the franchise. IMO Toronto is much better then any surrounding cities, including Buffalo.
James
Feb 13, 2008 at 2:48 am
Economically you are correct, but think how hard it is for a city and a state to lose a franchise. It will be a sad day in Buffalo.
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