Arkady Renko Posted August 7, 2010 Share Posted August 7, 2010 Bills CEO Russ Brandon, who also was on the call, and Nicholson agreed that the Argos and Bills could co-exist side-by-side in the same marketplace. But it’s an issue both will worry about when and if it becomes reality. http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Football/CFL/Tor...4/14927246.html Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hossage Posted August 7, 2010 Share Posted August 7, 2010 It shows that he has given the issue plenty of thought. But that would only be due diligence. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Buffalonian-at-Heart Posted August 7, 2010 Share Posted August 7, 2010 I don't see where there was any talk of a move. I think it's more about the current venture between the two cities. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Arkady Renko Posted August 7, 2010 Author Share Posted August 7, 2010 I don't see where there was any talk of a move. I think it's more about the current venture between the two cities. To me, it seems like Russ Brandon was agreeing that the Bills and the Argos could co-exist if they were both fully in Toronto. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jj____ Posted August 7, 2010 Share Posted August 7, 2010 can someone please just tell me if the bills are moving or not so i dont have to live my life in worry!? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Assquatch Posted August 7, 2010 Share Posted August 7, 2010 To me, it seems like Russ Brandon was agreeing that the Bills and the Argos could co-exist if they were both fully in Toronto. Agreed. Why else say "it’s an issue both will worry about when and if it becomes reality" if it's about the current arrangement? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hplarrm Posted August 7, 2010 Share Posted August 7, 2010 It shows that he has given the issue plenty of thought. But that would only be due diligence. My sense would be economically about the extent to which the NFL as part of its strategy to reach more eyeballs by setting up franchises in foreign countries, does the NFL do this best by moving the Bills to Toronto, or instead my sense is try to create a Maple Leafs/Sabres dynamic with the Bills/whoever they are. The Bills by pursuing their current strategy are doing a number of things: 1. Asserting their territorial rights so that if.when the NFL gets a Toronto franchise part of the buy-in price is a payment to the Bills (and Mr. Ralph is he is still with us) for encroaching on the Bills territory. 2. Supports the current Bills regional marketing strategy. In fact, even if there is a Toronto team, Buffalo will be closer and still market to get folks Hamilton and South to Ft. Erie. 3. Tests what the market will pay for football. 4. Builds relationships with Toronto based companies and gets them into the habit of buying football and using it for entertainment. I think it works well together. Franchises co-exist in hockey. There are a lot of advantages to see if and how they can coexist in football. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DanInUticaTampa Posted August 7, 2010 Share Posted August 7, 2010 It looks like Russ is hinting at that, and if he is, that is really just his speclation. He doesn't know if the bills will more to toronto or not. The team isn't going to move while ralph is alive, and whatever happens to the team (whether it stays with the family or is sold to the highest bidder like ralph says) then the new owner will decide what happens with the team. And Russ aint gonna be the new owner. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jj____ Posted August 7, 2010 Share Posted August 7, 2010 yeah well its not like ralph is in the greatest shape these days. i just hope that the team doesn't go to L.A. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Arkady Renko Posted August 7, 2010 Author Share Posted August 7, 2010 yeah well its not like ralph is in the greatest shape these days. i just hope that the team doesn't go to L.A. Move to Toronto, move to LA. Either way, they are dead to me at that point. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Meathead Posted August 7, 2010 Share Posted August 7, 2010 cue the freak outs but i dont think its a question of being a possibility, it already is. whether it happens or not remains to be seen but it is certainly possible personally i think its likely and all in all thats better than them leaving completely. theyd still be my team so in the either or world i take either the official guaranteed-to-happen® mh likelihood of the bills eventually moving to canada: 71.6% deal wied it Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ForbiddenDonut Posted August 7, 2010 Share Posted August 7, 2010 I saw no Brandon quote. They may be putting words in the marketing guru's mouth. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Buffalo_Stampede Posted August 7, 2010 Share Posted August 7, 2010 http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Football/CFL/Tor...4/14927246.html No he didnt. The Bills and Rogers Communications Ltd. made headlines when they unveiled the Bills Toronto Series prior to the 2008 season. Many football pundits interpreted the announcement as the first sign that the NFL club was looking to relocate to southern Ontario. But Bills chief operating officer Russ Brandon has always maintained the series — which consists of three exhibition games and five regular-season contests — was part of the NFL team's marketing initiatives to expand and strengthen its brand in the lucrative southern Ontario market. And Brandon said Wednesday that Buffalo's participation in Football Week in Toronto is another step in that direction. "We're squarely focused on what we stated from Day 1 with our primary objective of this series and that's to expand our market reach into the Greater Toronto Area," Brandon said during a conference call. "We're very focused on regionalizing our brand and it's all part and parcel with what we're doing in Toronto.'' http://bills.football-news-update.com/argo...-football-week/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Buffalo_Stampede Posted August 7, 2010 Share Posted August 7, 2010 More “We want to expand our market reach into Toronto,” said Russ Brandon, chief executive officer of the Bills. But not just to push the U.S. product in Canada’s biggest market; the Bills want Torontonians to head south of the border for their NFL fix, too. http://www.theglobeandmail.com/sports/foot...article1662254/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RayFinkle Posted August 7, 2010 Share Posted August 7, 2010 It has been said before, when Ralph dies so do the buffalo bills. Best bet for them to at least stay in the area is Toronto. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MyHorseAteTheKid Posted August 7, 2010 Share Posted August 7, 2010 http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Football/CFL/Tor...4/14927246.html If and when this happens, It will break my heart... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dwight in philly Posted August 7, 2010 Share Posted August 7, 2010 To me, it seems like Russ Brandon was agreeing that the Bills and the Argos could co-exist if they were both fully in Toronto. that was my feeling. just gathered that brandon felt that the argos and bills could co-exist . the one game in toronto, the argos continuing on. i hate the one game concept, hope it ends, but that is all there was to that article. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HurlyBurly51 Posted August 7, 2010 Share Posted August 7, 2010 It shows that he has given the issue plenty of thought. But that would only be due diligence. He's saying the CFL and NFL can both survive in the same marketplace, even if their games and seasons overlap. He's not talking about physically moving the team up there. Get a grip. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PromoTheRobot Posted August 7, 2010 Share Posted August 7, 2010 I think you can count on the Bills winding up in Ontario, whether its downtown Toronto or at a new stadium elsewhere like Hamilton. I think this whole Toronto series is the prelude. For all we know the $78M was Rogers down payment to Ralph for th Bills. That said, I also think the NFL will insist that some games are still played in Orchard Park. The league doesn't want another franchise move black eye so they will call it "regionalization." A new Canadian owner will assume the team after Ralph passes. They will split the schedule between the two stadiums, then play more in Toronto. At some point they will build a new stadium and claim RWS is obsolete. By then we'll see the Bills for one annual pre-season game. Now Bills fans can pout about it or they can just accept that's how it's going to be. The team will only be 90 minutes away max. Anyone who still wants to buy (much more expensive) season tickets and get a passport or enhanced drivers license will still be able to watch the Bills live. For everyone else the games will still be on TV. IMO, after the initial shock, people will just accept it and still follow the Bills, especially if they get good again. PTR Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Malazan Posted August 7, 2010 Share Posted August 7, 2010 He's saying the CFL and NFL can both survive in the same marketplace, even if their games and seasons overlap. He's not talking about physically moving the team up there. Get a grip. NO! WE MUST PANIC! I HEARD THAT RUBEN BROWN LEAVING THE TEAM WAS ALL PART OF THIS CONSPIRACY! YOU DON'T FOOL US, RUSS! GET OFF THIS BOARD! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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