May Day 10 Posted November 26, 2013 Share Posted November 26, 2013 the original deal was $78 million, but there was certainly negotiation this round and I do not believe a dollar figure was ever publicly released this time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tennesseeboy Posted November 26, 2013 Share Posted November 26, 2013 Toronto is a non-starter. I suspect that it would completely alienate the major Western New York fan base (going through customs every week?) and just wouldn't be that popular in big Canadian city with hooks into major Canadian sports (NHL and CFL). If we moved (and I'm not all that convinced that moving is in the cards) there will have to be a major American city to move to. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PromoTheRobot Posted November 26, 2013 Share Posted November 26, 2013 (edited) Toronto is a non-starter. I suspect that it would completely alienate the major Western New York fan base (going through customs every week?) and just wouldn't be that popular in big Canadian city with hooks into major Canadian sports (NHL and CFL). If we moved (and I'm not all that convinced that moving is in the cards) there will have to be a major American city to move to. What if the stadium was right over the border, say in Niagara Falls? Half the Bills fans would stop going, mainly due to sobriety checks at the border, lol. But plenty would get a Nexus pass and just deal with it. Imagine if a new stadium were right near the Rainbow Bridge? People could park and tailgate on the US side and just walk or get shuttled over for the game. PTR Edited November 26, 2013 by PromoTheRobot Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chris heff Posted November 26, 2013 Share Posted November 26, 2013 frankly I don't know why the NFL just doesn't buy out the Canadian Football League. And merge the two league together there's 8 teams so each conference gets 4 teams, and you expand the NFL brand to a whole nother country Briging a team into the NFL named the Redblacks could be problematic. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BuffaloBillsMagic1 Posted November 26, 2013 Share Posted November 26, 2013 If we moved to Toronto , within 5 years we would bre relocating to somehwere else in the USA. We have to fan base of all NFL franchises and wuld lose that, that is for sure. Longterm stupid move would be to go to Canada unless we play hockey..... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Canadian Bills Fan Posted November 26, 2013 Share Posted November 26, 2013 NFL in Canada let alone Toronto would fail horribly. People underestimate how big the CFL is here and would conflict with the Argos. Secondly, Toronto sport franchises are pretty much corporate with the exception of the Jays. anyone who has tried to buy tickets to a Leafs game understands this. The worst thing the NFL can do is to give Toronto a NFL team. CBF Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CodeMonkey Posted November 26, 2013 Share Posted November 26, 2013 The Bills are already seen in half of Canada every week now. More than that I believe. Bell Express (Canada's satellite TV provider) has the Sunday ticket. So theoretically the entire country country has the option to watch whatever NFL game they want, including the Bills, every week if they so choose. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
papazoid Posted November 26, 2013 Share Posted November 26, 2013 The problem is Toronto is the 5th largest tv market in North America. That is very appealing to the rest of the league . and it's ours, all ours, muahahaha. that ralph is a genius. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Over 29 years of fanhood Posted November 26, 2013 Share Posted November 26, 2013 I look at this series as nothing more than ralphie or Russ being a step ahead of the NFL. While the nfl has selected various games to play abroad, in London or Mexico City, the TO series is no different than if San Diego, cardinals or Dallas did a series in Mexico (somewhere) over a number of years, or Seattle doing a deal with Vancouver. NFL is trying to build brand loyalty to the league, while Russ/Ralph are trying to build brand loyalty to the Bills. If they can successfully grow bills fanhood in Toronto even tepid fans just happy to tune in on Sundays, and buy an occasional ticket or two, Bills could stay put in WNY no matter who buys them for a very long time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NoSaint Posted November 26, 2013 Share Posted November 26, 2013 I look at this series as nothing more than ralphie or Russ being a step ahead of the NFL. While the nfl has selected various games to play abroad, in London or Mexico City, the TO series is no different than if San Diego, cardinals or Dallas did a series in Mexico (somewhere) over a number of years, or Seattle doing a deal with Vancouver. NFL is trying to build brand loyalty to the league, while Russ/Ralph are trying to build brand loyalty to the Bills. If they can successfully grow bills fanhood in Toronto even tepid fans just happy to tune in on Sundays, and buy an occasional ticket or two, Bills could stay put in WNY no matter who buys them for a very long time. additionally, ill take a hop skip and a jump to toronto over london or the other options on the horizon. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kirby Jackson Posted November 26, 2013 Share Posted November 26, 2013 I look at this series as nothing more than ralphie or Russ being a step ahead of the NFL. While the nfl has selected various games to play abroad, in London or Mexico City, the TO series is no different than if San Diego, cardinals or Dallas did a series in Mexico (somewhere) over a number of years, or Seattle doing a deal with Vancouver. NFL is trying to build brand loyalty to the league, while Russ/Ralph are trying to build brand loyalty to the Bills. If they can successfully grow bills fanhood in Toronto even tepid fans just happy to tune in on Sundays, and buy an occasional ticket or two, Bills could stay put in WNY no matter who buys them for a very long time. Take it one step further and they get a giant check to do it. They have managed to grow their fan base to hopefully secure them long term in WNY. You are 100% right that the Bills were very forward thinking in putting that together. It had to be done. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Captain Hindsight Posted November 26, 2013 Share Posted November 26, 2013 With everyone saying playing in Toronto is a disadvantage I would argue It shouldn't matter if they play in Buffalo, Toronto, New England or Mexico City. Its Football. Win the game Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Keukasmallies Posted November 26, 2013 Share Posted November 26, 2013 So the Bills in Toronto is comparable to the US involvement in [fill in the blank]. Only the people at the top see any benefit/reward and those who are the "hewers of wood and drawers of water" ultimately pay the price. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kirby Jackson Posted November 26, 2013 Share Posted November 26, 2013 So the Bills in Toronto is comparable to the US involvement in [fill in the blank]. Only the people at the top see any benefit/reward and those who are the "hewers of wood and drawers of water" ultimately pay the price. No, ultimately the Toronto deal helps secure the Bills in WNY long term. The extra revenue that has been generated keeps the Bills viable. Bottom line is that I would rather give a game or two to Toronto (which is only 2 hours away) than risk losing the team to (insert city here). The team is not going anywhere until that 7 year buyout clause kicks in. That is for sure. The sooner the team is sold the better. Until a new stadium is built the Toronto deal is necessary. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
May Day 10 Posted November 26, 2013 Share Posted November 26, 2013 No, ultimately the Toronto deal helps secure the Bills in WNY long term. The extra revenue that has been generated keeps the Bills viable. Bottom line is that I would rather give a game or two to Toronto (which is only 2 hours away) than risk losing the team to (insert city here). The team is not going anywhere until that 7 year buyout clause kicks in. That is for sure. The sooner the team is sold the better. Until a new stadium is built the Toronto deal is necessary. I dont think the deal exists without Toronto's hopes to relocate the Bills Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kirby Jackson Posted November 26, 2013 Share Posted November 26, 2013 I dont think the deal exists without Toronto's hopes to relocate the Bills Maybe, because the deal was negotiated with Rogers Communications (rumored to be interested in the team). From the Bills standpoint they needed the $ and the ability to market to that region. My best guess is that the new stadium is built in NF (US) in about 5-7 years. This allows them to continue regionalize the franchise by being closer to Canada and not much further from Rochester. This team could not survive as a WNY team and they realized that and have successfully expanded their territory. I personally do not believe that the team is a threat to move to Toronto. I do believe the relationship could expand with another game going there (for as long as the Bills play at RWS). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
papazoid Posted November 26, 2013 Share Posted November 26, 2013 I look at this series as nothing more than ralphie or Russ being a step ahead of the NFL. While the nfl has selected various games to play abroad, in London or Mexico City, the TO series is no different than if San Diego, cardinals or Dallas did a series in Mexico (somewhere) over a number of years, or Seattle doing a deal with Vancouver. NFL is trying to build brand loyalty to the league, while Russ/Ralph are trying to build brand loyalty to the Bills. If they can successfully grow bills fanhood in Toronto even tepid fans just happy to tune in on Sundays, and buy an occasional ticket or two, Bills could stay put in WNY no matter who buys them for a very long time. Maybe, because the deal was negotiated with Rogers Communications (rumored to be interested in the team). From the Bills standpoint they needed the $ and the ability to market to that region. My best guess is that the new stadium is built in NF (US) in about 5-7 years. This allows them to continue regionalize the franchise by being closer to Canada and not much further from Rochester. This team could not survive as a WNY team and they realized that and have successfully expanded their territory. I personally do not believe that the team is a threat to move to Toronto. I do believe the relationship could expand with another game going there (for as long as the Bills play at RWS). i agree with these comments. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CodeMonkey Posted November 26, 2013 Share Posted November 26, 2013 With everyone saying playing in Toronto is a disadvantage I would argue It shouldn't matter if they play in Buffalo, Toronto, New England or Mexico City. Its Football. Win the game In general I agree. But the Bills are going from the Ralph to a dome, and playing a warm weather team. That's giving up an advantage, and the Bills are not good enough to give up such advantages. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BillnutinHouston Posted November 26, 2013 Share Posted November 26, 2013 I recall reading something when it first came out they would profit more than double what Ralph would bring on a per game rate. I recall reading this as well, most likely during the last series renewal. No link though. and it's ours, all ours, muahahaha. that ralph Brandon is a genius. Fixed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Big Turk Posted November 26, 2013 Share Posted November 26, 2013 At least the players wouldn't be complaining about the nightlife or women there... Toronto women are gorgeous Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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