May Day 10

yeah, welcome. I think we need to make some kind of formal treaty between Buffalo and Cleveland sports fans. Our cities are so similar in heartbreak/failure in sports. Cleveland roots for the Sabres, Buffalo roots for the Cavs and Indians (Im a huge Tribe fan). We pull for the Browns/Bills depending on who is out first.

even by 12 months is much quicker than I had expected/hoped for and a good sign IMO

... unless the team increases in value. Golisano didnt make money on the Sabres at all... but once he sold....

I wonder if he had learned his lesson with the Sabres and will immediately nuke the front office this time.

Philly? I lived there and it was fine. Especially the way the Arenas/stadiums are set up. Was so easy getting out.

There seems to be smoke here. Pegula is definitely a guy who just gets things done as well.

Not to mention the last thing the nfl wants is big controversy and legal proceedings to quickly and unfairly rip a team from a loyal and we'll respected fanbase. Especially while the public just financed some stadium improvements

I have never felt this optimistic on the bills' future!

no. Niagara Falls is an embarrassing hellhole

I agree. As time goes, the more unique and valuable the whole RWS "thing" will be. Look at Wrigley Field. Everyone I know has made a trip there and loved it. Its mainly a matter of structural integrity, and how feasible it is they dont interrupt September - December/January (lol). Any major renovation there can create potential revenue streams. I really do like the UB/Amherst idea, especially if UB can work out a deal with themselves and a better NCAA Conference (as well as the public here). I would think if interest can grow, conferences would really be open to landing the WNY TV market. Will people show up? I dont know. I currently attend games in the MAC and I love it, but disappointed more people dont go. It doesnt help that the stadium there is the worst venue I have witnessed any sport in. I do think if the Bills left, the program would stand a chance to take off. But if they can crowbar everything into the same facility... and UB could be in the Big10 or ACC with large crowds. Oh my. UB is pouring money into the current monstrousity though. I will add West Virginia sells beer too, and may be the only Big 12 school that does so.

I like that too. You have a lot of converging traffic ways there that can be tied into, you would have UB there that would present more state money justification as well as extend it from 10-12 dates to say 16-18. Plus maybe a bowl game.

PTR has a pretty good take there. I love the idea of renovating RWS, but realistically it may be nearly impossible. Niagara Falls wont happen IMO. It seems Erie County has and will hold their foot in the door and Polancarz hinted there was some sort of language in the lease that would lock in EC. Niagara Falls is a dump. Literally, so we would also likely need countless State and Federal funds (and time) to clean up all the environmental damage there. Also worth mentioning the politicians up there are complete bozos. That is too much to overcome in an already tenuous process.

Any new "renovations" we are speaking of would likely be started in 2020 or so. They would likely be a bit of structural enhancements as well as complete rebuild of areas. It would basically use the same shell and build a "new" stadium with it. Look at soldier field. You would walk in opening day and it would look like a much different stadium. I just wonder if they can do it during the course of an offseason. I wonder if they would have to play a season at the Carrier Dome or something.

we all want the same thing. Brandon, etc isnt going anywhere under the trust. Team should be sold in 1.5-3.5 years? If the team succeeds before then, hooray for everyone. If they are 6-10, than let the cleansing commence.

I would put that much in. Also, the State and COunty could/would kick in something. Doesnt the NFL also have a fund for stadiums too?

building a competitive NFL team isnt/shouldnt be this difficult/complicated and take much time. Not too long ago, Denver, Kansas City, Seattle, and Carolina were picking ahead of Buffalo.

the biggest thing, like has been mentioned, is he is claiming someone has approached him gauging his interest, and by the way the conversation went, it is likely a local interest.

I actually believe a Toronto team would be potentially good for the Bills A lot of people in Canada outside Toronto hate Toronto, so they may be inclined to go root for the Anti-Toronto team. That is why you see a ton of fans of miscellaneous teams and the Habs in Hamilton-and Hamilton-south

Dont forget, Brandon signed a new agreement after his big "promotion" in the first place (right after saying ALL decisions will be geared solely to win). We also dont know what really happened behind the scenes. For all we know Toronto/Rogers and the NFL could have been pressing to end/delay the deal due to all the bad press. He also didnt bring on Whaley. He has been here for awhile. Nix was definitely staying here for a long time, then he resigned. To me that is the same type of over-speak/guarded speak the Bills have used since I can remember. I also dislike how protective/decisive they are on their sorry QB position of going forth with Manuel, Lewis, and Tuel. Many good QBs in the league were drafted/traded even with a decent/proven guy already in the position. Kaepernick, Foles, Rivers come to mind off the top of my head. To me that is more of the over-guarded attitude that we are used to. The whole Byrd thing was mishandled from last year on. I can see the argument of letting Levitre walk, but apparently there was no effort at all in retaining him, nor finding any sort of serviceable replacement.

I also think there needs to be a message sent to the NFLPA and agents out there that the Bills are back in business and are going to be a place players want to be/go/stay. Like has been said, these guys still have time to "proove themselves".

We will see. As it stands, we have a team who has finished in last place for 6 seasons in a row... in a division that includes both the Lolphins and the Jets. They managed last place again in 2013. If they truly turn the corner this season or next (which a sale likely wouldnt come before Summer of '15), then yeah, some continuity could be deserved.

x1000

I disagree. Finishing 4th in a 4 team Division for the past 6 seasons that includes the Dolphins and Jets is completely on fire and not trending anywhere IMO. Especially in a capped and revenue sharing league. The Sabres had a lot of talent and they won their Division less than 10 months before Pegula closed the purchase. The decision to keep Regier and especially Ruff doomed them to where they ended up. They would have changed Ruff and brought in a fresh voice, they could have gotten some mileage out of that team. Look at all the 1st &2nd rounders they landed for those guys. Pegula was also impatient by throwing so much money at Leino his 1st year. I would hope that a new owner will blast out the FO when it comes to the horrifically failed football product.

really? Coming off a Division title and making the playoffs the season he bought them, compared to missing the playoffs for 14 years and finishing in last in a 4 team division 6-straight seasons?

$3 Billion http://www.forbes.com/profile/robert-rich-jr-1/ Golisano $2.1 Billion http://www.forbes.com/profile/tom-golisano/