Russ Brandon on WGR

[CodeMonkey]

If I remember correctly, the comeback game was blacked out right ? (Not trying to be an a$$, just a genuine question)

That was a playoff game and was in January 1993. And you are correct, it did not sell out..

[Virgil]

I need to bring up the orioles here. They have a terrible attendance during the regular season and their fans are just terrible. They are in a huge city and still can't sell tickets. They finally makes the playoffs and it's like lambeau in there. Just packed and crazy.

 

We have fans who endure this crap year after and when we finally wise up and stop paying for a product with no return, we are the bad fans come December? I think not.

 

Put a playoff team on the field, and you can guarantee a sellout. You can even raise prices.

 

For the first few years after our playoff drought, the FO might have an argument. After all this time, they owe us

[CardinalScotts]

spend some money and fix your linebackers you knew all camp these guys weren't good enough. Win = crowds I would hope at 4-3 the fans would be excited again

[bananathumb]

• An idea for a movie: Bills fans capture Russ Brandon and force him to go to Detroit with them to identify where Wilson's will is kept. After many scenes of intrigue and danger, the will is found, opened by the lead Bills Fan (Me!) and read to the gang. It reveals of course that the Bills will be sold immediately after Ralph's passing, so instead of getting his $200 millions in renovations, NY State and Erie County put the money towards a trsut fund that will eventually grow large enough to buy the Bills from Ralph's estate for the community and build a new stadium along the waterfront.
  
• Russ Brandon is played in the movie by Anderson Cooper, I am played by Sean Connery and my love interest is that Latin chick on Modern Family.
  
• Profits from the film go towards the new Bills stadium.
  

[May Day 10]

Im just sick of this turkey making us feel like second class citizens in the NFL. Our own team is doing this. Im a Sabres STH and a Phillies partial STH (lived in Philly). The admiration those organizations show their fans, even under Golisano isnt even comparable to the Bills. The team puts ZERO effort into making things more enjoyable for the fans. From commercials that might create feelings of excitement, to gameday production on the Jumbotron (literally nothing), to the awful, awful television shows filmed with the cheapest and oldest A/V equipment manageable. Does Wilson want the taxpayers to fund that stuff too?

 

Obviously winning is the most important thing. But living in other markets over the years, you see the various things teams do to entertain their fans, build new fans, and get their team out there. The Bills do not even do a fraction of it. I think a lot of people get more and more disconnected with the team, and I guess that will make it easier for them to justify moving them. People in WNY will justify it by saying we are too poor... BS. I was asked about Jets tickets about a dozen times last year due to the rare event of a "big game" at RALPH WILSON stadium.

[Joe W]

Glad to see that so many are beginning to see the light as to what a tool this guy Brandon is. What exactly did he do when he was the GM of the team, sit there with his thumb up his a$$.

 

I hope they allowed to be the "GM" of his fantasy team.

[jester43]

Glad to see that so many are beginning to see the light as to what a tool this guy Brandon is. What exactly did he do when he was the GM of the team, sit there with his thumb up his a$$.

 

I hope they allowed to be the "GM" of his fantasy team.

"beginning?"

[Stussy109]

A pretty good source with a friend on the administrative side of things in the organization told me the purpose of the 1yr lease agreement was to allow for new ownership to negotiate their own lease terms for what its worth.

[Joe W]

A pretty good source with a friend on the administrative side of things in the organization told me the purpose of the 1yr lease agreement was to allow for new ownership to negotiate their own lease terms for what its worth.

 

If you believe that I've got a "New" Peace Bridge to sell you. There's no sale while Wilson's alive - he's not about to pay the huge cap gains tax on the sale. So it's pick your poison : continue with the same sucky ownership and administration while he's alive or wait til he's dead but then the team in all likelyhood the team moves.

[Miyagi-Do Karate]

This is a myth that is commonly accepted by this board but it is just not true. I think everybody could agree that 1988 was the start of the Golden Era of the Buffalo Bills lasting thru 1994(the first season after thei 4th super bowl loss & 1st year they did not make the playoffs in that stretch)

 

1988 - Sold out all 8 games including 1 game in December where actual attnedance was over 77K. Average attendance that year - 77,849

 

1989 - Sold out 7 out of 8 games. Lone game they did not sell out was against New Orleans Dec 10th. Actual attendance that game was still over 70K. Average attendance that year was 77,464

 

1990 - 1st Super Bowl year, sold out all 8 games including 2 December games, one the day after Christmas. Average attendance was 77,693. In addition they also sold out 2 playoff games both in January. The actual attendance at the Raiders game was over 80K in the AFC Championship, ONLY 42 NO SHOWS AT THAT GAME.

 

1991 - Sold out all 8 games including 2 games in December, one being against the Lions 3 days before Christmas in which the game meant nothing to the Bills & they rested most of their starters. 635,889 bills fans walked thru the gates that year setting at the time an in house NFL single season attendance record. Average attendance that year was 79,486. They also sold out their 2 home playoff games, both in January & both with actual attendance over 80K.

 

1992 - Sold out 7 out of games including 1 in December. The only game they did not sell out was a game against Denver december 12th. They still had actual attendance of 71,740. Average attendance that year was 77,916.

 

1993 - Last of the Super Bowl years, Bills fans became kind of a spoiled bunch & an entitled fan base. Little did we know what lied ahead over the next 18 years we may have appreciated that team a little more. That year they sold out 7 out of the 8 games including a game against the Raiders in December. The only game they did not sellout was the Jets game on 12/14 in which it was one of the coldest games ever to be played @ Orchard Park. They still got over 71K fans at that game. They sold out their 2 home playoff games once again but only got 61K in the joint for the Raiders game which was even colder then the Jets game & I think was the coldest game in the history of Orchard Park(0 degrees, -32 wind chill).

 

1994 - Attendance started to fall off. They only sold out 6 out of 8 games. They still averaged over 74K per game in actual attendance.

 

 

So please for the last time spear me the crap, you & Promo & whoever else that says they had trouble filling up the place even in their super bowl years. Most other owners would of killed to have attendance like the bills had back in the late eighties & early nineties.

 

Awesome post.

 

Funny you mention the 1991 Lions game. I distinctly remember it not being a sell out and it was one of the few Bills games I have intentionally never watched--opted to go skiing that day instead.

[May Day 10]

A pretty good source with a friend on the administrative side of things in the organization told me the purpose of the 1yr lease agreement was to allow for new ownership to negotiate their own lease terms for what its worth.

 

or not negotiate

[Joe W]

"beginning?"

 

Usually every time I describe the reasons while Brandon is such a tool the other posters pile on, calling me a troll. They're the ones I'm saying have finally seen the light.

[May Day 10]

Awesome post.

 

Funny you mention the 1991 Lions game. I distinctly remember it not being a sell out and it was one of the few Bills games I have intentionally never watched--opted to go skiing that day instead.

 

Isnt that when Thurman was in the running for the rushing title and got angry because they were planning on benching him?

[purple haze]

I've asked this time and again, but why do people really believe a man who has been a successful business owner for more than fifty years has no plan for his business once he's gone? Mr. Wilson's legacy is tied to the Buffalo Bills. His pioneering w/the AFL. His donations to the HOF and his HOF membership.You all really believe he's leaving all that up for auction?

 

There might be an auction between Buffalo connected ownership groups (like the ones reported by WGRZ and various local outlets last spring), but that's it. If I were Mr. Wilson I wouldn't say anything either. That's business. Public knowledge could undermine what he wants to do. Could allow other entities to make a mess of things; be they political or rival business operatives. And I wouldn't want people talking about my passing constantly either or my family's finances. None of our business.

 

Could they move? Yea, but I highly doubt it. It seems to me folks just like to be nervous and stay scared about it. Relax & keep the faith.

 

[Just Jack]

That was a playoff game and was in January 1993. And you are correct, it did not sell out..

 

75,141 was the reported attendance.

[Joe W]

I've asked this time and again, but why do people really believe a man who has been a successful business owner for more than fifty years has no plan for his business once he's gone? Mr. Wilson's legacy is tied to the Buffalo Bills. His pioneering w/the AFL. His donations to the HOF and his HOF membership.You all really believe he's leaving all that up for auction?

 

There might be an auction between Buffalo connected ownership groups (like the ones reported by WGRZ and various local outlets last spring), but that's it. If I were Mr. Wilson I wouldn't say anything either. That's business. Public knowledge could undermine what he wants to do. Could allow other entities to make a mess of things; be they political or rival business operatives. And I wouldn't want people talking about my passing constantly either or my family's finances. None of our business.

 

Could they move? Yea, but I highly doubt it. It seems to me folks just like to be nervous and stay scared about it. Relax & keep the faith.

 

 

Sorry dude, your just looking through rose-coloured glasses. Wilson has absolutely no allegiance to WNY. The taxpayers of NYS have every right to know what his succussion plans are, he's asking for $ 200 million of their money and doesn't want to put up a dime of his own money. Don't misinterpret those HOF donations, that was vanity disguised as charity.

 

Is Wilson cheap, not sure. Is he incompetant like his underlings, absolutely.

[8-8 Forever?]

You could tell he was trying to mask serious disappointment but still towing the company line of "i have confidence in the coaches and GM". He did say the last 2 weeks have been unacceptable...from the D and Fitz on down. This Arizona game, from the team psyche to future ticket sales to the entire outlook for the rest of the season is huge.

He said Miami has 5,000 tix left which will be a challenge to sell out in 6 weeks...and the last 3 home games they have a long way to go (he did not say so but you could read between the lines that they'd have to sell at least 20,000 tickets for each of the last 3 games). Those are going to be some embarrassing crowds unless the team strings together a few wins.

 

Yep. That is it for tix sales unless they win a few. Miami will prob sell out but 65k is still a pretty good crowd for a cold night game in mid november. What is more likely is the game sells out,.. is in TV and about 40,000 actually show up in 30 degree weather.

[JohnC]

This is a myth that is commonly accepted by this board but it is just not true. I think everybody could agree that 1988 was the start of the Golden Era of the Buffalo Bills lasting thru 1994(the first season after thei 4th super bowl loss & 1st year they did not make the playoffs in that stretch)

 

1988 - Sold out all 8 games including 1 game in December where actual attnedance was over 77K. Average attendance that year - 77,849

 

1989 - Sold out 7 out of 8 games. Lone game they did not sell out was against New Orleans Dec 10th. Actual attendance that game was still over 70K. Average attendance that year was 77,464

 

1990 - 1st Super Bowl year, sold out all 8 games including 2 December games, one the day after Christmas. Average attendance was 77,693. In addition they also sold out 2 playoff games both in January. The actual attendance at the Raiders game was over 80K in the AFC Championship, ONLY 42 NO SHOWS AT THAT GAME.

 

1991 - Sold out all 8 games including 2 games in December, one being against the Lions 3 days before Christmas in which the game meant nothing to the Bills & they rested most of their starters. 635,889 bills fans walked thru the gates that year setting at the time an in house NFL single season attendance record. Average attendance that year was 79,486. They also sold out their 2 home playoff games, both in January & both with actual attendance over 80K.

 

1992 - Sold out 7 out of games including 1 in December. The only game they did not sell out was a game against Denver december 12th. They still had actual attendance of 71,740. Average attendance that year was 77,916.

 

1993 - Last of the Super Bowl years, Bills fans became kind of a spoiled bunch & an entitled fan base. Little did we know what lied ahead over the next 18 years we may have appreciated that team a little more. That year they sold out 7 out of the 8 games including a game against the Raiders in December. The only game they did not sellout was the Jets game on 12/14 in which it was one of the coldest games ever to be played @ Orchard Park. They still got over 71K fans at that game. They sold out their 2 home playoff games once again but only got 61K in the joint for the Raiders game which was even colder then the Jets game & I think was the coldest game in the history of Orchard Park(0 degrees, -32 wind chill).

 

1994 - Attendance started to fall off. They only sold out 6 out of 8 games. They still averaged over 74K per game in actual attendance.

 

 

So please for the last time spear me the crap, you & Promo & whoever else that says they had trouble filling up the place even in their super bowl years. Most other owners would of killed to have attendance like the bills had back in the late eighties & early nineties.

 

Exceptional post.

[Joe W]

Yep. That is it for tix sales unless they win a few. Miami will prob sell out but 65k is still a pretty good crowd for a cold night game in mid november. What is more likely is the game sells out,.. is in TV and about 40,000 actually show up in 30 degree weather.

 

These games will be impossible to sell out. There's going to be a ton of tickets on the secondaries like stubhub. Why anyone would buy them at face from the Bills Ticket Office when theyre available at a discount is beyond me. Miami will only sell out and be on TV if Bills or TV station buy up the remainder.

[Dopey]

I have a slightly different thought on the owner's sell issue. The team he paid $25,000 for more than half a century ago has been supported by the community and public authorities with taxpayer funds for over a half century. There were numerous stadium expenditures made by the taxpayers that helped to develop his business. While other owners were required to sizeably contribute to their stadium upgrades (new and renovation) Wilson never did so. The community has generously subsidized his private business. The majority of people agreed with this arrangement.

 

Does Ralph have a legal obligation to make arrangements to keep the team in the region after he passes? No, Does he have an ethical obligation to do so as long as he is getting maybe not maximum return on his asset but a fair-market return that still generously rewards his estate? That is an issue that will not cross his mind because he doesn't think in those terms. For him it is simply a business and estate issue that seeks the maximum.

The community has generously subsidized his private business. The majority of people agreed with this arrangement.

 

Bingo, the majority of people agreed with this arrangment. Why? Because it is a viable business that draws thousands of people to the stadium to spend money and contribute to the tax base. Me thinks you are taking this team tooooo personal. IT'S A BUSINESS!!!