Pondslider

Who cares? There are over 6 million people in the Greater Toronto Area to draw from and only 32 NFL teams in the world. All current Bills season ticket holders could turn in their tickets and the team would be just fine.

"Sammy Watkins" has a nice ring to it.

Well that's basically the definition of speculate which is why I used that word, so I never said it was a definite thing, but it's part of the article which the thread is about so it seemed like fair game to comment on.

It was speculated in the article that a regional name change would be part of the deal. That's all.

I know, right?

The article makes it seem (I understand it's mostly speculation and not anything imminent) that the change would be some sort of compromise to appease the rich guys who don't want to own the "Buffalo Bills," but can't move the team as far away as they want.

To be fair he probably needs the money to pay off another another intern or assistant he knocked up.

The article mentions the Bruins thing and says it would have to have Jacobs' youngest name on it and not Jeremy's. The best I can guess since the Toronto connection isn't addressed in the article is that because the Maple Leafs are technically corporate owned that it wouldn't violate the league rule. Or maybe the writer is just speculating and left that part out because it would ruin his whole theory. *edit*nevermind. bandit is right.

Niagara Bills sounds terrible. Not just because it would be taking the city of Buffalo out of the the name, but because it makes no sense. Neither would the logo. The logo already has nothing to do with the team name. Rename them the Niagara Bills and it has nothing to do with anything. Might as well just completely rename and rebrand them at that point.

The league has already said the team needs a new stadium in Buffalo. If something firm cannot be put together here but one of the bidders emerges with a plan that involves a new stadium there's no reason for the league not to support that move.

Interesting thanks.

I'm far from a ratings expert, so someone can correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't that really comparing apples to oranges? Yes the Bills have high TV ratings for the area because so many people in Buffalo watch the team on Sundays, but even if the team had slightly lower ratings in a bigger area they'd still (in theory) be reaching more people than they are in Buffalo. And reaching more people means more money for advertising etc.

That's a good point. It might make more sense from individual owner's standpoint to pay whatever is necessary to get the team and move them to LA or Toronto or wherever, but like that article I posted earlier about the expansion fees said the NFL could be splitting over $2 billion the next time they add two more teams whereas the relocation fee to move the Bills would probably less than a quarter of that. I do think if the team stays in Buffalo that it will lead to expansion in a few years with some of the out of town suitors getting that consolation prize.

Based on what the NFL said the relocation fee would be for LA in 2011: http://www.footballphds.com/2011/12/19/nfl-in-la-relocation-fees-for-los-angeles-currently-at-275-million/ and the estimated expansion fee in 2012 http://www.forbes.com/sites/mikeozanian/2012/02/04/nfl-owners-to-split-over-2-billion-when-league-adds-two-teams/ a potential owner looking to relocate would be paying a slightly more most likely, but if they are that rich it's worth it to have the guarantee of getting the team now whereas who knows when the league might be expanding again.

But as far as I know those teams aren't for sale, which is why billionaires are starting to line up to bid on the Bills regardless of how difficult it may be to move them. That's what lawyers are for. And I don't think the Bills are so "storied" as to make them untouchable. The Browns have a history that goes back further than the Bills and history has been pretty kind to Art Modell outside of Cleveland. I'm sure an owner moving the Bills would love to leave behind the history of the team like Modell did and get to start over in whatever city he wants without having to pay expansion fees.

His first choice was Miami actually.

Then at best the NFL is saying that being caught with marijuana is equal to beating your wife. I agree the NFL's disciplinary system is a joke.

Is there some kind of connection I'm missing? Are people bringing him up just because he's rich? Also, assuming he is interested in the team, why would he keep the team in Buffalo beyond the current lease? For that matter when you're worth more than $30 billion you can probably afford the penalties of breaking the lease early.

Not a chance.

Sign and trade?

Wawrow speculated on Twitter that it's the Seneca Mall.

Trump is saying he'll pay for the stadium himself because he knows he'll never actually have to pay for anything. He has no chance of owning the Bills, so he can say that he'll spend roughly $2 billion of his $2.7 billion to buy the team and build a stadium. Meanwhile he looks like he's trying really hard not actually doing anything.

He's demanding a trade to Cleveland.

Need a back up Fred plan if Jackson retires or doesn't re-sign.

Why would Andre Reed be trying to convince Watkins to wear 83?