BillnutinHouston

I'll vote for you if you promise to find out if contributions to the BFA are tax deductible. I emailed the BFA months ago about this, and got absolutely no reply. The lack of response is pretty stunning for a group looking to build popular support.

A new owner, and it's not close.

Interesting note from Kryk source (in recent article): --A prominent East Coast sports-franchise sale and relocation expert told QMI Agency in early April that Niagara Falls might make the most sense of any new stadium location in Western New York, as much as anything because it would draw more ticket-buyers from the Golden Horseshoe. "I don't think you're going to lose your season-ticket holders from Buffalo," the expert said. Well, not a lot of them, probably, but surely some -- especially if something isn't done to widen or augment the pair of narrow, two-lane I-190 bridges on either end of Grand Island, and their bottlenecking $1 tollbooths. Would the additional Canadian ticket-buyers more than make up for the ticket drop among Western New Yorkers? Almost certainly. "I think what ends up happening in that circumstance is you might go up from 18% season tickets from Canadians (as is the case now, the Bills say) up to 25% or 30%," the source said. "You'd actually position yourself better for sponsorship and advertising. It could be great for the whole region. I think it would work out very well. It would play well, too. I could see more synergies from MLSE or Rogers or whoever is involved. There are a lot of cross-promotional perspectives." The new owner is going to have as much or more say in the location than anyone. I suspect that the entire ownership selection will revolve around the complete package of not only who can pay market value for the team, but also where they want the new stadium and how viable that owner's stadium plan is from a public funding standpoint. I further suspect that conversations between prospective owners, the trustees, the Governor and the league will all be happening simultaneously and will have to come together in one package in order for someone to be declared the new owner. Many have rightly pointed out that the Toronto series has not successfully stamped the Bills brand onto the hearts of Toronto sports fans. But if the team was partly Canadian owned, that could change. Between the symbolism of an American-Canadian ownership group and building a new stadium in the "Niagara region", I could see where a prospective owner would feel that they are on a solid financial foundation to put in a winning bid on the Bills. I'm not going out on a limb by saying that almost everyone will find something to be disappointed about when the new ownership and stadium location is announced. But to me, the biggest concerns are 1) keeping the team in WNY and 2) building a solid financial foundation for the team going forward. I don't want to have to rely on the NFL welfare system (revenue sharing) or some philanthropist to keep my team afloat into the future, and by leveraging the wealth and corporate sponsorship north of the border, maybe I don't have to.

You're asking if appearances matter. My answer would be, a little, but not nearly as much as winning. If he helps you win you keep him.

For STHers. As I recall, club seat holders could order starting yesterday, and non-club holders can order starting Wednesday.

Red hair ring? Do you mean "red herring"? Now that was funny.

Marcell's just taking care of business like he said he would.

In the trust I trust. If the trust signs off on a deal that includes Canadian interests, I believe the team will stay south of the border, probably in a new stadium. What will be key is the ownership percentages.

This, this and more this. Ralph would have never put her on the trust if the team was going anywhere.

Can you explain/provide context to the first two sentences? What was the "fiduciary duty" question?

The Niagara name has meaning north of the border and if it brings access to corporate support, you do the deal and then have to worry no longer about the financial footing of the team. I'd take that deal.

Correct. That bit of news combined with Rutkowaki's confidence that "too many good people" are involved tells me not to worry. The thing about the "Niagara Bills" is that it puts a stake in the heart of Toronto's NFL notions and co-opts the Golden Horseshoe as part of our fanbase. It would be nice to have our team on very strong financial footing, wouldn't it?

The voice of panic. If what you're saying has merit, and that the trust has instructions to sell to the highest bidder, why would Ralph name his wife and niece to the trust? Why not name faceless number crunchers and keep his beloved family away from the mess of selling the team to someone who wants to relocate the team?

The new stadium in Minnesota has a VERY interesting layout and pricing structure. On the home side, the club seats go all the way down to the field. The visitors side as SBL's (stadium building licenses) and are generally much less expensive. The fact that you can pay for the SBLs over 8 years makes it much easier to handle.

If you're serious, that's embarrassing.

Where would you propose they play during that construction?

Thank you. I'm amazed at how many people need to be reminded of this fact. I still think that Mrs. Wilson's and the niece's appointment to the 4-person trust is significant, and probably indicative of Mr. Wilson's instructions to not necessarily sell to the high bidder. If the high bid was his wishes, he would have kept family away from the decision making so as to protect them from the anger of WNY fans.

Can you explain this statement? Are you saying that PSLs generally don't have to be paid in a lump sum?

And? It's reality. Hopefully Buffalo can step up. Fans who are not able to pay individually will hopefully band together and work out PSL & ticket sharing arrangements that will enable them to contribute. It may take a regionwide "banding together" effort to keep the team viable.

Best of all worlds IMO. Sammy needs an on-field pro mentor and Williams can handle that. And off the field, Watkins appears to be well grounded and won't look for MW's help on that aspect.

Is it possible that we have subsidies and onerous taxes at the same time? If so, might that have something to do with our two-party system where both parties take turns being in power?

I'd love to hear why a West Seneca stadium would be awesome. Do tell.

Yes - Al was a maverick among NFL owners.

I think Jacobs will, but my preference would be Pegula.

The Saints GM may be wondering today what Byrd and Parker knew, and when they knew it.