RTW2012 Posted September 20, 2011 Share Posted September 20, 2011 Ralph has already made arrangements for the franchise when he passes. It is simple: Sold to the highest bidder. Unless you're Ralph's lawyer you have no idea what Ralph's arrangements are, and I highly doubt they are that "simple." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chandler#81 Posted September 20, 2011 Share Posted September 20, 2011 3. Even if no right-of-first-refusal exists, Toronto people may bid on the Bills if the team is put up for sale after Ralph passes, so following developments in Toronto is still relevant to the Bills' future. Not every freakin' week! Yeesh! It's getting so I'll only be able to sleep when you're dead.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
benderbender Posted September 20, 2011 Share Posted September 20, 2011 when RW dies the magic portal closes Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ICanSleepWhenI'mDead Posted September 21, 2011 Author Share Posted September 21, 2011 I'm no expert on Toronto politics, but if the Toronto mayor wants to help lure an NFL fra If my uncle had breasts, he'd be my aunt. I suggest you check out the picture at the top left corner of this Toronto Sun article (the Toronto mayor is the one with the football in a three point stance on the left, his looney councilman brother is on the right): http://www.torontosun.com/news/torontoandgta/2011/01/20/16969641.html Have you ever seen your uncle with his shirt off? Just sayin' Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ramblin' Rob Posted September 21, 2011 Share Posted September 21, 2011 Note to self; Ignore all posts by dead sleepers. For real dude get some sleep, you clearly need it. And when you get up, check the date on the food in your bomb shelter, organize your next militia meeting and prove that our govt. was responsible for 9/11. Maybe even out the fake elvis at the games to be the real Elvis....plenty of other more important bats#!& crazy things that your investigative mind is needed for. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ICanSleepWhenI'mDead Posted September 21, 2011 Author Share Posted September 21, 2011 Note to self; Ignore all posts by dead sleepers. For real dude get some sleep, you clearly need it. And when you get up, check the date on the food in your bomb shelter, organize your next militia meeting and prove that our govt. was responsible for 9/11. Maybe even out the fake elvis at the games to be the real Elvis....plenty of other more important bats#!& crazy things that your investigative mind is needed for. Thanks for the chuckle. P.S. Remember Ruby Ridge! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gpodpdx Posted September 21, 2011 Share Posted September 21, 2011 (edited) First of all, there's the CFL to consider. If Toronto gets the Bills, that would probably doom the CFL. The Toronto NFL team would become "Canada's National Team." Maybe the CFL won't even let an NFL team come to Canada. Until Ralph dies, this is all rumours, speculation, and opinion...All meaningless drivel until Ralph dies. Edited September 21, 2011 by gpodpdx Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ICanSleepWhenI'mDead Posted September 21, 2011 Author Share Posted September 21, 2011 (edited) Yeesh! It's getting so I'll only be able to sleep when you're dead.. My significant other says the same thing - - go figure! Edited September 21, 2011 by ICanSleepWhenI'mDead Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ICanSleepWhenI'mDead Posted September 21, 2011 Author Share Posted September 21, 2011 (edited) * * * * * Ted Rogers wasn't an NFL man, but he was a big Toronto booster and a visionary, who had both the resources and the willpower to go after this deal and make it work. Tanenbaum was brought in, but regarded as a minor player. . . . jw Larry Tanenbaum made efforts to buy a professional football team (the CFL Argos) long before the Bills-In-Toronto Series was negotiated. Here's what the Globe & Mail said on March 13, 2004: http://www.cansoc.org/showthread.php?21750-MLSE-set-to-bail-on-Toronto-stadium Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment is pulling out of a proposal to build a $120-million sports complex at the University of Toronto. * * * * * * The exit of MLSE is a blow to Tanenbaum, who had been a driving force behind the complex. He proposed the idea last fall with the university and pushed MLSE to get involved. He also raised the possibility of MLSE acquiring half ownership of the Argos once the complex was completed. However, MLSE's board has never keen on the idea and the company's chief executive officer, Richard Peddie, had been calling the project tight for weeks and raising concerns about the finances. The MLSE board finally rejected the plan yesterday. Cynamon also confirmed that MLSE will not be acquiring an interest in the Argos. You could argue that this shows that Tanenbaum didn't even have the stroke to make MLSE buy a 50% stake in the Argos, so how could he swing putting together an ownership group to buy an NFL team - - a much more expensive proposition? Maybe there was a realization that the Argos, while cheaper, involved a much greater risk of loss than an NFL team. There is reason to believe that Tanenbaum and Paul Godfrey were really the "visionaries" behind trying to bring an NFL team to Toronto, and Ted Rogers was the guy "brought in" because he controlled the necessary stadium and was a source of additional required cash. Here's what the Toronto Star wrote about the matter in 2005: http://www.skyscrapercity.com/archive/index.php/t-262483.html DAVE PERKINS Toronto Star It will pain Paul Godfrey to miss the final game of the Blue Jays' season, this coming Sunday, but only gently. He has bigger things on his plate — like scouting for an NFL franchise. As usual. Godfrey and his personal lawyer, Dale Lastman, will be in Mexico City, taking in the San Francisco-Arizona game, the first NFL regular-season match played outside the United States. They are flying there on the private jet of Larry Tanenbaum, the CEO of Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment. Flying home, a source said, they will add a passenger to the travelling party, namely Phil Lind, the No. 2 man at Rogers who also plans to be at the game. On the surface, the group — but mainly Godfrey — wishes to assure a regular-season game in Toronto, which is pretty much a given for 2006 or 2007. Dates and details have yet to be ironed out, but expect they will be. NFL commissioner Paul Tagliabue indicated as much last February. But the purpose of this trip certainly does not end there. The presence of Tanenbaum tells you that. Lind's, too. The fact they are flying in Tanenbaum's private jet is not a big deal. The swells go everywhere on private jets these days and these three are always close, anyway. The real purpose of this journey by the three — the president of the Blue Jays, the CEO of Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment and Lastman, a plugged-in board member at MLSE — is to quietly continue the longshot process of securing an NFL team for Toronto. They're not going down there for the refried beans. Phone calls on the subject went unreturned, but it doesn't take much to figure out this play. An NFL team long has been a dream of Godfrey's. He's been at it for about a quarter-century and he's as adamant as ever. Ted Rogers, who is now beginning to turn the financial corner with the Blue Jays, since purchasing the team several years ago and the SkyDome less than one year ago, has shown no interest in laying out the several hundred millions required to purchase an NFL franchise. But he owns the building and might be interested in a position or a partnership. Sources indicate Tanenbaum now is interested both in pursuing an NFL franchise and in joining economic forces with the Rogers/Blue Jays empire on such a purchase. While Tanenbaum doesn't have that kind of money . . . This view is consistent with a statement Ted Rogers himself made in 2006. Here's what the Toronto Star wrote: http://slumz.boxden.com/f16/toronto-seeks-nfl-team-752684/ The men who own the Leafs and the Blue Jays have finally publicly admitted they want to work together to bring a National Football League team to Toronto. "I'm highly interested in an NFL team and Ted is too," Larry Tanenbaum, chairman of Maple Leafs Sports and Entertainment, said yesterday. "We hope to pursue it more rigorously as soon as the NFL gives us the word." Ted is Ted Rogers, owner of the Jays. * * * * * * Tanenbaum, a co-owner of the Leafs, and Rogers were together at a news conference to announce Rogers Communications had bought the right to supply telecommunications services to MLSE when officials from both companies mentioned the corporations would embark on more "joint ventures." There have been rumours the two sports empires might work together to get an NFL franchise, but yesterday was the first time they openly admitted it. * * * * * * * According to a recent issue of Forbes magazine, the average cost of an expansion franchise jumped from $206 million (U.S.) in 1993 to $700 million in 1999. The same issue says the average NFL franchise is now worth $898 million. Those figures seemed daunting even to Rogers. "Rogers Communications is certainly not prepared to spend a billion dollars bringing the NFL to Toronto," Rogers said yesterday. But Rogers is prepared to co-operate with Tanenbaum, since the NFL prohibits corporate ownership of teams. "I think there's a lot of things we can do together that would be better than if we did them separately," Rogers said. Another obstacle is the stadium size in Toronto. With about 56,000 seats, the Rogers Centre would be the NFL's second-smallest stadium, barely outranking the Indianapolis Colts' RCA Dome (55,531). The league's next-smallest venue is McAfee Coliseum in Oakland, with 63,132 seats. Tanenbaum said if the NFL tells him it will award Toronto a team, his group is ready to plan a new stadium or retrofit the Rogers Centre to meet the league's needs. Here's yet another article indicating that Tanebaum was the "leader" of the early efforts to bring an NFL team to Toronto: http://www.cbc.ca/news/story/2006/09/06/nfl-franchise-rogers.html Rogers, who also owns the Toronto Blue Jays, said in an interview after the news conference that he's not in the market for an NFL team. "We're trying to pay down our debt and increase dividends a little bit and strengthen our base," he said. "We don't want to do any harem-scarem thing." Rogers Centre falls short An NFL team could cost close to $1 billion US, a price Rogers said would be too steep to pay. "That's a harem-scarem thing," Rogers said with a grin. While a joint effort with MLSE might possibly bring something in the future, he added: "Rogers Communications is certainly not prepared to spend $1 billion on the NFL coming to Toronto." Tanenbaum does have other investors waiting, so he'll keep lobbying for a team. A possible snag in the Tanenbaum-led group remains the NFL's requirement of a 60,000-seat stadium for teams. Rogers Centre holds roughly 56,000, well short of the NFL standard that's been in place for decades. But Tanenbaum said if Toronto is awarded a team, his group is ready to plan for a new stadium or update Rogers Centre to meet the NFL's demand. Maybe identifying the visionary, as opposed to who was "brought in," depends on who you talk to. I'm not saying Ted Rogers wasn't a key figure in getting the Bills-In-Toronto Series deal done - - I'm just saying that I find it hard to believe that a near-billionaire like Tanenbaum would be as heavily involved in seeking an NFL team as the above reports indicate if he didn't have some skin in the game. Why would Tanenbaum make so much effort if he didn't reasonably expect at least some equity stake in any eventual deal (of whatever kind) to bring NFL games to Toronto? Edited October 11, 2011 by ICanSleepWhenI'mDead Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chandler#81 Posted September 21, 2011 Share Posted September 21, 2011 All in favor of having this thread closed, say 'Aye' Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Senator Posted September 21, 2011 Share Posted September 21, 2011 All in favor of having this thread closed, say 'Aye' A resounding... AYE!!!!!!!!! (I think the only 'nay' will be from the OP that routinely bumps it. ) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
notwoz Posted September 21, 2011 Share Posted September 21, 2011 All in favor of having this thread closed, say 'Aye' Please. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ramblin' Rob Posted September 21, 2011 Share Posted September 21, 2011 Thanks for the chuckle. P.S. Remember Ruby Ridge! Had to take it like a man, didn't you? Now i have to like you. Dang it! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ICanSleepWhenI'mDead Posted October 25, 2011 Author Share Posted October 25, 2011 With this year's game in Toronto coming up, here are some updates: 1. The Ford brothers' power grab designed to reshape the development efforts of Waterfront Toronto failed: http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/toronto/doug-fords-quashed-toronto-waterfront-plan-reveals-rift-with-mayor/article2177167/page2/ 2. The annually published Canadian "Rich 100" list for 2011 recently came out - - Larry Tanenbaum's net worth went up an estimated 6.4% - - he is now listed as having a net worth just over $1 billion: http://list.canadianbusiness.com/rankings/rich100/2011/Default.aspx?sp2=2&sc1=0&d1=a 3. The sale of MLSE is still pending but moving slowly. Tanenbaum is an existing 20.5% minority owner but has a right of first refusal to buy the shares being sold by the 79.5% majority owner: http://www.sportsnet.ca/hockey/2011/09/27/grange_mlse_sale/ It was in March that Teachers announced they were exploring the sale of their stake in MLSE and hired New York-based investment banker Morgan Stanley to find a buyer. So far, the only transaction has been the pension fund buying up the 13.5 per cent share that belonged to TD Bank. That deal closed earlier this month for between $243-and-$283.5 million, according to sources, reflecting a $1.8-to-$2.1-billion valuation for the entire business. The purpose of that deal, say insiders, was to streamline the sale of the larger chunk when a buyer came forward. There was some thought the sale by TD was a signal that there was a buyer lined up. "Teachers wanted to deliver 80 per cent to a buyer; they were intent on selling," said the Bay Street source. "They were running a process." What stage that process is at is unknown, though late last month a source told me that there were multiple bidders looking at the possibility of purchasing Teachers’ interest. Logic suggests that the potential suitors would include Rogers Communications Inc. (which owns Sportsnet) and BCE Inc.’s Bell Media (owners of TSN) given MLSE’s rich trove of live sports programming. 4. One reason why Rogers Communications and BCE, Inc. (Bell) were rumored to be interested in buying MLSE was the fact that making the purchase would allow either company to be the exclusive provider of certain popular sports broadcasts to their existing mobile device subscriber base - - a very profitable endeavor. But the Canadian regulatory body that governs such things has decided that at least some types of program content must be made available to competing companies. Maybe this will decrease the value of owning MLSE to both Rogers Communications and BCE - - because they may not be able to charge monopoly prices to those who want to see sporting events controlled by MLSE: http://www.theglobeandmail.com/report-on-business/crtc-lays-down-new-rules-for-tv-industry/article2174847/ Canada’s broadcasting regulator has introduced a new set of controls on how television content can be sold, in a move that will curb BCE Inc.’s plans to use programming to boost its wireless business. Wireless companies that also own TV channels must offer all their content on fair terms to competing mobile phone providers for their smart phone and tablet devices, and on the Internet, the Canadian Radio-Television and Telecommunications Commission said Wednesday. * * * * * * * The CRTC also introduced a new “code of conduct” to address a tectonic shift in the media industry of late: cable and satellite companies who have bought up TV networks – a trend known as “vertical integration.” The regulator wants to prevent integrated companies from abusing their market power. The code is designed in part to ensure that independently owned channels are not excluded from TV packages to favour channels that integrated companies own. And integrated players cannot demand more than a “fair market value” for their channels to be carried on competing cable or satellite services. http://www.wizatbusiness.com/what-crtc-decision-means-for-mlse-sale/2011/09/ Yesterday, the CRTC (Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission) announced that large Canadian telecommunications companies that also own other assets like TV broadcasters cannot make that content exclusive to their customers. They must offer their content to every competitor at a reasonable price. This rule specifically applies to companies like BCE Inc. (Bell), Rogers Communications Inc., Shaw Communications Inc. and Quebecor Media Inc. These companies are not happy with this decision because it will hurt their ability to compete since certain content that they each own will have to be made available to their competition. The main thing I can think about after hearing this is what does this mean for Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment? The company that owns the Toronto Raptors, Maple Leafs, Toronto FC, Raptors TV, Leafs TV and the Air Canada Centre in Toronto is known to be looking for a buyer. It has been long suspected that Rogers was interested in it and perhaps Bell was as well. For those two companies to own this gem of an asset would allow them to control the biggest NHL franchise and the only Canadian NBA franchise. This would be the best exclusive content anyone could dream of. However, now that this content could not be made exclusive, will Rogers and Bell be less willing to buy MLSE? This is something that only time will have an answer to, but I can certainly see Rogers and Bell being less willing to pay as high a price as they may have considered before yesterday’s CRTC decision. This may open the door a little wider for current largest minority owner of MLSE, Larry Tanenbaum. It is said that he could not buy this company by himself and would need some partners. Perhaps the price of MLSE just dropped a little, making it low enough for him and his team to make a deal. From this CRTC decision, the future of MLSE is what I find most interesting. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Typical TBD Guy Posted October 25, 2011 Share Posted October 25, 2011 Son of a B word... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ray Posted October 25, 2011 Share Posted October 25, 2011 Keep in mind anyone/group who wants to buy the Bills and move them to Toronto is in for an enormous expenditure of money. $8-900M to buy the team. Same for a stadium in Toronto given the prices of real estate, the type of stadium they would need etc... and then another 5-600M for a relocation of an existing franchise and moving it paid to the NFL. Conservatively are their groups looking to spend $2.4B on an NFL football team causing the dissolution of the CFL? There are so many obstacles to this that people need to think about. Keep in mind that interest on $2B a year is $120M alone not putting a dent on principal of $2B. Big problems for TO and actually when they did not get the Olympics it was a huge benefit to Buffalo keeping the Bills b/c they would have had a 70+K stadium sitting there unused! The team is staying in Buffalo people so please stop the defeatist attitude/talk. They are staying here. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Senator Posted October 25, 2011 Share Posted October 25, 2011 Come on, mods - shut it down already Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chandler#81 Posted October 25, 2011 Share Posted October 25, 2011 Come on, mods - shut it down already I was sooo hoping <it> would just go away... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NyQuil Posted October 25, 2011 Share Posted October 25, 2011 1) JW owns this thread. 2) Why worry about something beyond your control. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Delete This Account Posted October 25, 2011 Share Posted October 25, 2011 (edited) 1) JW owns this thread. 2) Why worry about something beyond your control. So, to recap: .. apparently Ralph Wilson signing a deal to play games in Toronto means that he's already prearranged to move the team there. Never mind that the deal is with Rogers Communications, which can't own an NFL team, and that the only person at Rogers who could afford to own the team is now dead, but did you know there is another guy who could buy the team, but he's not rich enough, but because he's Canadian he has an inside shot to buy the team, and then he'd have to demolish Rogers Centre (sic) which he doesn't own, but that's ok because that's how Canadians roll? And if you don't believe this theory, the OP will support his point by providing a transcript of the interview that YOU did proving the conspiracy, which you are obviously a part of. Does that cover it? actually, glancing back through this utter, naval-gazing, unreadable mess, i'd have to say that GG might have a majority ownership share of this thread based on this concise and amusing roundup. it stood way back then, some 6 pages ago, and i believe still does today. jw ADD: now if only we could relocate this thread. Edited October 25, 2011 by john wawrow Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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