May Day 10

Lame to get bent out of shape about this. He is correct.

Patriots and Cowboyz Barf

I revised the post to say that if the Pats in present day, somehow faced the same circumstances, they wouldnt sell out either in all likelihood. In the Patriots' run, they haven't been close to those circumstances. There is a spoiled-ness that occurs with fanbases with extended success. It happened to a degree with the Bills. We saw it with the Atlanta Braves. Detroit Red Wings have had spells where they struggled to sell tickets, including playoff games. I don't think Pats fans have even been tested in... what seems to be forever.

They had like 3-4 days to sell tickets without online sales. Bad weather forecast against a team who just kicked their teeth in.... and with some key injuries. 80,000 seat stadium. The attendance that date would fill today's New Era Field and then some (as well as Sullivan Stadium and Gillette). Those are pretty valid reasons... different time. If you saddled the present day Patriots with the identical set of circumstances, I wouldnt be surprised to see them not sell out. Now, present day they sell playoff tickets well ahead of time (during the season), there is online and a secondary market that both quickly take hold. I feel pretty secure in saying that any Bills playoff games in present day would easily be sold out and also huge on the secondary market. You say you cant imagine the Patriots not selling out a playoff game. The same goes with the Bills. How many teams do you think could get as many paid fans into the building as the Bills at this point? 17 year drought for sniffing the playoffs (Hardly even a big game) and 21 years for a playoff win. It is pretty remarkable and any fan of the NFL would say the same. Any 'subjective' look at fan-bases that doesnt favor market size or team success would see the Bills near the top. Shooting from the hip, I would say Packers, Bills, Eagles, Broncos, Chiefs, Giants, Cowboys, Vikings, Browns, Steelers should all be up there in the top 10. I would be curious to see how Gillette Stadium sells in a post Brady/Belichick era if the batons aren't handed off neatly and they languish for any period of time. Just curious, maybe they still sell out, I dont know. I have a lot of friends who are Patriots fans and to a man, they really dont particularly enjoy the gameday experience of going to Gillette (outside of meaningful NFL games).

Whenever anyone tries to quantify fan-studies, it ALWAYS gives a giant boost to large-markets as well as teams who are currently good

I think I can say with confidence, that the atmosphere both in and outside the game is much more tame than it was 10 years ago. And if the team had big games, people would be better behaved (maybe prime time is an exception). Tickets cost more/worth more, and more people typically want to remember/enjoy what happens.

Eliminate the nerds who 'started' the moniker as well as those who claim it as some sort of exclusive group and presume the need to speak for all of us. Can't stand that either. Basically the phrase has taken a life of its own and has become our "Raiders Nation", Steeler Nation, Viking Nation, etc. Everything is Nation or Army. We have mafia. Like it our not, the cat is out of the bag and it has become a mainstream-accepted name. I have heard Jim Rome, Cowherd, etc refer to our fanbase as "Bills Mafia" often, as I see various NFL reporters tag #billsmafia when they mention the Bills. I think I am fine with that. It is original and doesnt roll off the tongue too poorly.

The futility of the team is the most defining characteristic of the Bills and their fanbase, and it brings me more 'shame' than a few people videotaping themselves jumping through tables (neither of which bring me much shame) I also disagree that a home playoff game will be worse. Tickets will be a lot of $$$. People attending will be more 'serious' about attending, and more people will probably temper their drinking somewhat and want to remember the game. The weather is also typically poor which keeps the widespread tailgating a bit more brief/subdued. Hopefully we see who is right someday.

I really couldn't care less what the rest of the league thinks of us or me. I support a team who hasn't sniffed the playoffs in nearly 2 decades. I participate in a mild tailgate.... but whatever people do on their own is their business and it doesn't affect me bad stuff happens everywhere https://www.yahoo.com/news/fan-reportedly-shot-head-following-031115487.html https://www.yahoo.com/news/video/mets-fan-critically-injured-fight-113544035.html http://www.csnphilly.com/the700level/watch-cowboys-fan-knocks-out-eagles-fan-one-punch?p=ya5nbcs&ocid=yahoo http://www.tmz.com/2015/12/01/cowboys-stadium-security-cops-investigating-choke-video-possible-assault/ https://www.yahoo.com/news/brutality-nfl-fandom-full-display-144057669.html

it seems to be very polarizing.... but I think it is outstanding.

Just watched it. I thought it was funny. I love our fans. To hell with anyone else.

I like the bills current kits, although i prefer standing buffalo. The problem is, when you try to crowbar an nfl jersey concept on an hockey jersey, it looks awkward and silly. By nature, hockey has the sharpest looking jerseys. Football's need to be dull, but the helmets bring the flair. NHL teams for their outdoor games have all gone retro and knocked it out of the park for the most part. This just reeks of obvious pandering and/or shameless and unnecessary cross-marketing. I was expecting/hoping for a team usa throwback to 1960 or 1980.

X 1,000,000. Can you imagine filling that much time with these organizations?

it is god-awful. What is with these people and botching jersey/logo design?

I have no reason to be embarrassed. I'm not in the videos.

this is what I have (not in order) The day Pegula was announced as purchasing the team Steve Christie capping the comeback game the final seconds of the 1st AFC Championship Game 51-3 vs Raiders AFL Championship in the Rockpile 1964 AFL Championship in SD in 1965 (23-0) Drafting Bruce Smith Jim Kelly arriving in a limo Clinching the Division in 1988 against the Jets, fans storm the field Beating the Dolphins opening day 1980 to break the 20-game decade long losing streak, fans storm the field Thurman Thomas' 31 yard run on the first play of the 4th quarter of Superbowl XXV to take the 19-17 lead

Kept. One of the last bastions of fun with the friends

It is actually the only good stretch in this organization's history. That and a blip in the afl in the mid 60s. Its all they got. Its historically a wretched organization. Hopefully beane and mcdermott can change the tides

Wasnt beane basically a foregone conclusion, a poorly kept secret, and the preference of mcdermott? Even while whaley was still employed? Any of us could have put him on a "list"

Agreed I would wager all these guys would love for these teams to do well. It has got to be monotonous to cover these guys

It was fine. All it was (and all his pieces that take place with "Rex" at Cole's) are basically the devil and the angel on the shoulder of a Buffalo sports fan. Shows the rah, rah side as well as the possible negative 'reality', and the forces butt heads. I am cautiously optimistic with the recent hires... but I would be lying if I said I didnt hear Sullivan's voice from the article tugging at me.

I have been on Brandon's case for 10 years now... but I agree with this. It seems the Bills finally got their 'czar' from the outside, in McDermott. They are finally building a professional football executive staff which is not tailored to Wilson/Littman/Brandon/Overdorf's needs and wants to maintain control over the football operation. At long last, his involvement has likely been completely marginalized. I do think both teams could do a lot to repair their image and perception/relationship with fans. I know losing has a lot to do with it, but both operations seem to be pretty tone-deaf in a lot of ways. I hope Brandon can repair that, but I dont think of him as a real 'fan-friendly' executive. I got sidetracked here, but my main point was we should thank Wilson/Littman and not Brandon for 'negotiating' for the relocation penalty. The suggestion that Brandon went into the talks and unilaterally stuck a poison pill in there, saving the Bills is a silly fantasy. If I had the motivation, I think I could 'argue' reasons Wilson might not have desired such a penalty... and if he had lived 3-5 more years, we could have had a real problem... and without Terry Pegula, we could have a lack of a buyer... But I really don't want to think that way, it really matters not at all. The fact will always remain that the whole thing went down very favorably for us and the Bills. I don't have a problem at all giving Wilson credit for that, even if it was 'only' agreeing to the NRA.

My understanding:As far as the bills were concerned, it was a lump sum money deal. They basically sold the games to rogers for $76 million (the second contract was less and not disclosed). The pricing, most of the marketing, selling of tickets and production fell onto rogers

Its not conjecture, its common sense Why would the bills purposely take a position to directly devalue their asset? In that case, maybe polancarz and nys would have been more than happy to sign a 1,000 year lease with a trillion dollar buyout. Negotiations go: the bills want as much public money as possible to improve their earning potential, and the county wants to lesson the blow, have the team kick in, and obtain as lengthy a binding nra as possible. The bills negotiating up to a 400 million dollar buyout is like you going into a car dealership and talking them up from $22,000 to $28,000. This round, the county and state was in a much better negotiating position than the past. No way ralph wilson wanted to put up the money for a relocation/facility at such an advanced age. He also couldnt really sell, as he desired to own them to the wire, and selling would mean his family would essentially be double-taxed. Also, they didnt know when mr wilson would pass away. The way it went down was the most prime in terms of the nra timeline. They werent even done with the renovations they signed for.

Why would the bills negotiate for a major nra penalty? That position is pro county/state and anti bills. Also, if mr wilson passed away closer to the opt out window... there probably would have been serious out of town bidders. And the evidence is that ralph wilson owned the team and littman was his chief financial guy. I am sure they had a pretty strong footing in the process and had the ultimate authority.