May Day 10

Cant believe its the end of the BCS. Its strange though. Like Herbstreit and Mussburger pointed out... this may be the best slate of BCS we have gotten to date.

I guess it comes down to what you feel is the motivation for this is for both sides and if you feel it is necessary. I feel it just maxes out the earnings for Mr wilson by a few million (which is his right). As a secondary result, They were probably hoping in the beginning it would result in toronto somehow adopting the bills but it's pretty obvious that won't happen. Rogers imo is readying to buy the team and move them to toronto. So much points to that and I cannot come up with any other motivation. they weren't thrilled by the price tag as by all accounts the new deal is less. Then you have wilson. Made double that of a conventional home game. Now a bit less. Are we to believe that a billionaire really cares about that relatively small revenue stream that they can make while they sleep? At the expense of bad press and alienating your fans and even some players? But those who really feel this is about Regionalization and the toronto market is there to be had to root and support the buffalo bills, my points mean nothing. I don't feel the bills are actively orchestrating a move. They are in it for the cash payout. However, I feel like they aren't actively doing much, if anything to solidify the team's long term future in buffalo. Large interests in toronto however seem to be lining everything up to swoop in and take the franchise when they come up for sale. Edit: sorry for any strange phrases: autocorrect

Did you read any of my posts in the thread?

Bills houston nut's arguments: Stevie johnson does drop ball in rws x1000 Strawman Comeback game 20 years ago x1000 I am a sth so everyone who disagrees with me is whiny and entitled. Did I miss anything?

needless to say, this development is very good for the Bills. Now they can remain on the "In the Hunt" list for an additional week or 2

If Super Bowl XXV was played in Buffalo it wouldnt have mattered. Norwood would still have missed the FG.

I have said it in countless threads, but it is completely different times now than 20 years ago. Internet sales and resales. The Bills make a run, get a home playoff game or 2, look promising, and they get into the "waiting list" category pretty quickly. I would put money on it. Once that gets crossed over, the team's ticket sales are secure for long-term unless they go through a long stretch of terrible play (such as the Sabres). They can even afford a few off years, as long as they make the tickets profitable for fans to resell certain games every so often. Then that is when the Bills would inch ticket prices up closer and closer to the re-sale value.

I dont want to go to Toronto. The atmosphere sucks There is no tailgating/pregame atmosphere. 4PM games with traffic promises to see me arrive back at home late on a work night after (odds are) seeing the Bills lose at a game that the experience is really not fun The entire thing only symbolizes the Bills' one day relocation to Toronto. I am not going to support, enable, or be a part of that. I am happy in its failures and the fact that they cant sell tickets. The NFL and Rogers would love (and one day planned on) the money shot of a dome full of rabid NFL fans in another country ready to obtain a team. Ralph already gets his lump sump money (which is somewhere between 1 and 2 times the normal game-take at the Ralph, dunno when revenue sharing is cut into that). Let's be honest and that is what it is about for the Bills and not Regionalization. As a fan and Erie County tax payer, the whole series is a kick in the nads

Do you think everything that happened in that game play for play would be identical leading up to that point if played in Orchard Park? The Bills are a decent home team. Pretty bad on the road. Win percentage in Toronto is .143 The Bills have better results playing at home. When you have a franchise that deals with things like untimely fumbles, bad challenges, bad play calling, bad luck, etc, they need every advantage and every single inch they can grab onto. This season they had a .571 win percentage at home and the 3 losses had 3 playoff teams to the ropes. In Toronto Id give them maybe a 65% chance to win that game? At home, maybe 80-85%? Im sure it would reflect change in Vegas odds as well. That difference, and the "near miss" of that game, psychologically moves everyone to the compelling conclusion that "they win this game if it was in Buffalo". So much, that Brandon himself has generally admitted the game may undermine winning.

I really will never believe this series is truly about regionalizing the Bills for either side. At least as a primary function. I believe that it is/was seen as a good revenue stream for Mr. Wilson, and a dress rehearsal/foot in the door for Rogers to one day own the team and move them to Toronto. The Bills' regionalization will and does lie Hamilton and south IMO and they have done a good job drawing fans from there (independent of the series). I believe this in large part is a result of the Canadian dollar, the surge in Canadian to US shopping, and the great pregame and game atmosphere at the stadium. Now if they can mine Toronto for businesses, especially those with US operations, and provide packages to get them to games down here, that would be wise. Toronto citizens though will not root for a Buffalo team in droves though IMO. In fact, if this series continues, because it received some press, it will become more of "a thing" to show up in the opposing team's garb and cheer loudly against the Bills.

Well we did have an 80K+ capacity then and any game then would sellout in today's stadiums. Anyways. Its well documented that in Buffalo there is a working class element to the crowd/college atmosphere that is lacking in most NFL venues. I dont think we have the best fans or anything, but the atmosphere in RWS is up there among the best when the game means something. A home playoff game at this point would be crazy IMO. edit: Green Bay seems like the only crowd to really come across on TV so far

I was thinking that yesterday. Especially the Philly game. I wonder if it was the audio mix on NBC

Im good with not going to that garbage.

Im not sure if the NFL wants that game. All parties had egg on their face after this season's game. The Bills lost a close one in a season they really did have a look at the playoffs and also had more people rooting for the visiting team from 1000 miles away despite this "regionalization effort", Toronto again showed that they have trouble filling the place for the day they covet the Bills. This time it had some coverage nationally (internationally), so I wouldnt be surprised if all 3 parties are looking to alter or abolish the agreement.

Colts and Bengals too, huh?

I think we should all have a tablet underneath the seats and all vote on the next play call

That's basically what I do to stay sane about it. I have said before, that I would be happier if the STH price was the same, Regular Season games were more, and the preseason games were less/free. It did kind of tick me off though during the last Toronto deal when they decided they didnt want the preseason game anymore and we were "stuck" with it. The only reason I feel like the "evaluation" of the Toronto series is legit, is Im not sure if Brandon openly admits it is anything but a resounding success unless there is real smoke there. I suspect Rogers could possibly be the ones looking into axing the series as they cannot get people to go no matter what the price point. This year more than any it has given their hopes to land an NFL team (The Bills) some bad press going against it.

I want to know why they are saying they will give Byrd an offer now and want him back. Also want to know about what goes into "evaluating" the Toronto series. Why werent these 2 things "evaluated" last year when they could have been resolved without a problem. You can argue those 2 things are negative factors in costing the Bills a playoff spot, in which management was negligent

in my mind, the toronto series being "under review" is a copout. What is being reviewed and how long could it possibly take? Does someone have a 1-6 on one piece of paper, and a 4-3 on another in front of them? I know there are contractual things that need to be ironed out, but I work in contracts and it is normally plain and simple/ black and white. I also want to know why this is an issue now and not reviewed under the previous evaluation a year ago when they could have not entered the contract. Same type of thing with Byrd. What is going on with that offer they said may be coming? Was it there last year, and if not, why now and not before he was able to have a negative influence early in the season and on some young players? Im not sure if it was brought up, but I would to see what they plan on spending in 2014 in relation to the cap.

I dont know what the deal is, but Brandon is always let off the hook when it comes to questioning.

I dont know what they could do next. They used "The Big One" last year with Wilson "stepping down" and Brandon "Taking over" with a sudden full commitment to winning. They are pretty much out of bullets. It should be fine now, and it is not unrealistic the Bills could be an actual contender in this AFC next season. However, if Wilson is still the owner of this team and 2014 and/or 2015 end up another 1 step forward, 2 back "regime", then I don't know what they will be able to do.

I dont think kool-aid is necessary. It isnt hard to see that it is playoffs or bust for this team next year. A couple good moves/draft and they should be able to challenge New England for the Division (unless they have some sort of wicked offseason). If they took a step back next season, he will have to bring his riot gear

I like Rex ryan. Straight shooter and has done a heck of a job. I would be thrilled if he ever became the bills coach. I Couldn't Stand Him At first, BUT He Grew On Me And Earned respect.

Rivalries are all situational these days anyways. New England indy/balt. San Francisco vs seattle, Pitts balt. No roster limits. 100 games. Separate men from boys

Ideally, I would like to see expansion (as it may be the lone way Buffalo is spared relocation). I would actually like to see something like 4 conferences of 10 or something like that and treat it kind of like NCAA. Play everyone 1x in your Conference and alternate home & away. Then 7 or 9 random games against teams inter-conference (say 3 from each of the others). Top 4 playoffs in each Conference, and the 4 remaining teams are re-seeded for the Semi-Finals. I dont know, just throwing stuff out there.