BillnutinHouston

You are free to point to the Toronto series as your best example of Wilson's fiscal approach, just as I'm free to point to his willingness to keep the team (permanently within his lifetime) in a poor market, and to do so without demanding a new stadium. My examples highlight his willingness to sacrifice the value of his asset to what he saw as his higher obligation to WNY. When looked at this way, Wilson left a LOT on the table. That gesture more than trumps the Toronto series IMO. And I think that painting Mr. Wilson as a soulless money grubber is bad juju at this stage of the game. Remember, $40 million of his money is being invested in RWS at the same time his estate is selling the team that will benefit from those investments. This is one of the most encouraging posts I've read in a long time.

You're speaking pretty generally there but it seems that it may vary depending on the specific location. This is from the Vikings' new stadium website, in a FAQ section on their "Stadium Builder's Licenses": How is the project being financed? Of the project’s $975 million upfront capital costs, $477 million, or 49% of the stadium cost, will be paid by private funds made up of a combination of Vikings private financing and equity and the MSFA’s sale of Stadium Builder’s Licenses (SBLs). The Vikings private financing and equity includes certain NFL financing in the form of a loan repaid by stadium revenues. The Stadium Builder’s Licenses program was authorized by the Minnesota legislature in the 2012 stadium legislation (for more on SBLs, click here). The remaining $498 million public contribution will be split between the City of Minneapolis ($150 million) and the State of Minnesota ($348 million). The State has issued appropriation bonds in an approximate amount of $462 million and will finance the remainder of the $498 million public contribution with available State funds. The stadium legislation provides that the City’s $150 million contribution will be advanced to the MSFA through the issuance of the appropriation bonds and will be repaid by the City to the State by redirecting a portion of the current “Convention Center Taxes.” The remaining amount of the appropriation bonds will be repaid to the bondholders from other sources available to the state, including the modernization of state-authorized charitable gaming that includes electronic pull-tabs and bingo and a one-time inventory tax on cigarettes, which raised approximately $36 million. What is a Stadium Builder’s License? A Stadium Builder’s License (SBL) is a one-time contribution that grants Season Ticket Members the right to control their seats for a defined term as long as they continue to purchase Vikings season tickets. SBLs are used to help finance construction of new stadiums; programs have been used as a finance tool for half of all stadium projects in the NFL. Why are SBLs used? SBLs are used to help finance construction of new stadiums; programs have been used as a finance tool for half of all stadium projects in the NFL. The economics of new stadium construction require a partnership between the state and local governments, the team and the fans. This new stadium cannot be accomplished without the support of fans, and in previous SBL programs around the country, fans have had a positive experience with SBLs. EDIT: Where does the money from SBLs go? All net proceeds from SBL programs are directed toward construction costs of the new stadium and stadium infrastructure. How many NFL stadiums have used SBLs? Prior to this project, 16 stadiums that serve as the homes for 17 NFL teams have used SBL programs as a project finance tool. Most recently, new stadiums for the Cowboys, 49ers, Jets and Giants were significantly funded by SBL programs. These stadiums have SBL prices that are more than three-four times higher than the program being discussed in this market. For a market comparison, click here.

What's the point of Trump saying that? How would he know? Does this in itself violate the nondisclosure agreement, and is that what he's angling for as a graceful exit?

I applaud the urgency you're projecting but I'm not sure that your statement is factually accurate. If an owner takes a leap of faith, he/she will do so knowing there's "only" a handful of years left on the lease, after which time the franchise is a free agent. So he can give Buffalo the benefit of the doubt initially but still relocate if WNY can't get it's act together. Or he can sell to yet another buyer who won't have the Erie County lease to contend with.

You are 100% correct about this. Any doubters need only look at the seating plans for the Vikings new stadium. Those plans are fascinating. In a new stadium configuration you will pay much more than the current $900 per year for season tickets between the 35s, but you also may have access to the corridor area where the players walk by so you get the chance to high five the players. People will pay for this type of experience. I will.

Thank you sir. I feel much better now.

Pegula - $1.71B

I really dislike out of control behavior, and I go to every opener where you really see the "amateurs", but I have to say that I've rarely seen ridiculous behavior. When I do I just turn my back to it or walk away. I just haven't seen anything bad enough to detract from the energy and excitement of being there live. It might also depend on where you sit in the stadium.

Agree!

I wonder if the manipulation JW is talking about has to do with Jacobs' pending tax break for the proposed new Delaware North HQ.

Aren't we all.

Jeffrey

Outstanding. He's the one I've been hoping for.

OK I think I'm more embarrassed about this guy than I am about the guy that fell off the upper deck.

It's easy to look at it from a resentful frame of mind, but why not choose to take another, more empowered view of the situation? How about, gee, I can pay $10K to sit in nice seats AND do my part to keep the team I love? Why not? I get that some people just can't afford PSLs by themselves, but I hope folks start pooling their resources and doing group buys. (And yes I will do MY part when the time comes, just as I do now).

What was your point in posting this?

I've been saying this ever since the trustees were named. No way that Ralph would put his family in harm's way by naming his wife and niece to the trust unless he was confident that the team would stay local.

Honest question, not rhetorical: why can't we ask if this is speculation?

Here's what I want to know. The local guys we know of who have an interest, namely Jacobs and Golisano, seem as though they're willing to put up money but possibly, not necessarily enough to win outright. Reports indicate that Jacobs isn't interested in being a primary owner. And we have Golisano's recent statement that he'll bid, but at a reasonable price. I'd like to know who, other than Jacobs, is willing to be parts of a local ownership "team". For example, is Golisano willing to join Jacobs and other local "super friends" to put together a winning bid if they can't win as individuals? Or are they so ego driven that they want to be individual owners or nothing?

Even bringing up Irsay is completely inappropriate in this case. Mr. Wilson has consistently opposed franchise relocation and Mrs. Wilson's personal interactions with both the community and individual fans has more than earned her the benefit of the doubt as well. The Wilsons are the complete opposite of the Irsays.

The new Bills owners might disagree with your second statement. And that's understating it to the extreme.

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.