Guelli says Bills “would absolutely consider” playing games in Canada again

[Bob in STL]

Terrible idea.  We need to make him aware of it.  

[PromoTheRobot]

4 minutes ago, T.E. said:

 

Yes. Any Bills flirtation with the city of Toronto puts them one step closer to ultimately moving there.

If that was their goal, why spend $1.4B of their own money on a stadium in OP?

[T.E.]

7 minutes ago, PromoTheRobot said:

If that was their goal, why spend $1.4B of their own money on a stadium in OP?

Pegula isn't going to live forever.

[NoHuddleKelly12]

Jon Bon Jovi spotted hovering around OBD again…

[PromoTheRobot]

41 minutes ago, T.E. said:

Pegula isn't going to live forever.

 

Exactly. So why piss away $1.4B?

[BuffBillsForLife]

If the league puts a gun to every team's head and tells them they have to play an international game every year, I would rather have it be in Toronto than Brazil or Australia or wherever. Otherwise, absolutely not.

[Big Turk]

59 minutes ago, T.E. said:

Oh man, the whole franchise might collapse because a handful of Canadians are coming up with melodramatic, phony reasons for why they dont want to pay for more expensive tickets next year. 

Yes. Any Bills flirtation with the city of Toronto puts them one step closer to ultimately moving there.

 

Please. Still shaking in your boots after all these years?

1 hour ago, Einstein said:

 

He did not mention the international series and Pete has zero say over the NFL’s league wide international series plans.

 

They could strongly suggest they be included in the Canada games...

[H2o]

So, we're about to open a new stadium and this 🤡 says we would absolutely consider playing games in Canada? Idiot

[Bad Things]

What an insult to the fans.

[Goin Breakdown]

On TV

[PromoTheRobot]

32 minutes ago, Bad Things said:

What an insult to the fans.

 

Overreact much? The NFL already plays games at neutral sites. What is the difference if a game is played in Canada, Brazil or Germany? The Bills have to play them like every other team. It doesn't mean they are moving. FFS they built a new stadium!!!

Edited September 14 by PromoTheRobot

[Draconator]

And if anyone bothered to read the article, both Guelli and the President of MLSE said that they would visit this, down the road. Nothing is going to be played in Canada in the near of somewhat distant future, like 5 to 10 years from now. 

[BillsFan130]

As a Canadian, I hope this never happens again 

[PromoTheRobot]

2 minutes ago, BillsFan130 said:

As a Canadian, I hope this never happens again 

 

Well, you really don't have a stadium that can host an NFL game anywhere in the country. Not Rogers Center. BMO Field is too small. BC Place in Vancouver maybe? Or how about a preseason game at Tim Hortons Stadium in Hamilton?

[BillsFan130]

1 minute ago, PromoTheRobot said:

 

Well, you really don't have a stadium that can host an NFL game anywhere in the country. Not Rogers Center. BMO Field is too small. BC Place in Vancouver maybe? Or how about a preseason game at Tim Hortons Stadium in Hamilton?

Ya for sure. Rogers centre only holds only about 40k now. Used to be 50k+ when the bills were here before 

[HaldimandBills]

4 hours ago, HIT BY SPIKES said:

 

Wrong.

 

Toronto is the 4th largest city in North America.  It has plenty to offer the NFL.

 

How long do you think Canadians are going to continue to cross the border given the current climate down there?

 

I personally know of 4 sets of longterm Bills season ticket holders who decided not to renew in the new stadium.

 

I appreciate you suffer from that well established City of Buffalo fear of losing your professional sports teams given the city's 5 decade long economic decline however to say Toronto would not be a great new NFL franchise is pure homerism.

 

The Bills are NOT going anywhere.

 

Why the fear bro?

I'm Canadian and live in Oakville...

 

Seriously don't recognize the University of Waterloo emblem in my avatar?

 

Toronto has nothing to offer the NFL. 

 

No improvement to TV revenue. The TSN and Sportsnet Toronto NFL team TV revenue would be an insignificant drop in the bucket compared to what the NFL already receives from TSN, DZN, and CTV for the Canadian NFL rights. Advertising revenue would be next to irrelevant. Stadium revenue given the up front cost wouldn't do anything for the NFL. NFL isn't the MLB, NHL, and NBA where teams have a local broadcast team to generate advertising revenue. NFL wants a bottom line of how you contribute to the total pie. How does Toronto help NBC, ESPN, FOX, ABC, and Amazon? It doesn't. 

 

Would Toronto be a healthy market in terms of stadium sellouts and local revenue for the Toronto NFL team owner? Yes. Does Toronto add anything to grander scale of the NFL? No. Given the cost to build a stadium expansion fees and everything else, I'd say it wouldn't be worth it for any potential owner.

3 hours ago, T.E. said:

Oh man, the whole franchise might collapse because a handful of Canadians are coming up with melodramatic, phony reasons for why they dont want to pay for more expensive tickets next year. 

Yes. Any Bills flirtation with the city of Toronto puts them one step closer to ultimately moving there.

Buffalo already owns the Toronto market and Ralph Wilson knew this and went about it the wrong way.

 

Pegula is being much more intelligent in his Toronto approach by bringing aboard Vince Carter, Tracy McGrady, and Jozy Altidore to tap into the deep pockets of Toronto by bringing them to Buffalo. 

Edited September 14 by HaldimandBills

[What a Tuel]

2 hours ago, PromoTheRobot said:

 

Exactly. So why piss away $1.4B?

 

Rams seem like the most clear example and the phrasing of Toronto being the 2nd largest media market in North America lends credence to the fact that the tone deaf NFL may prefer that market like they did LA over worrying about complaints of abandoning a 20 year old stadium. I've been saying this since the stadium deal was announced. Its great for the near term, but in 20-30 years its setting this area up for a huge let down as the lease is coming up and team ownership likely transferring. 
 

Los Angeles Rams (from St. Louis)

Moved: 2016

Former Stadium: Edward Jones Dome (previously the Trans World Dome)

Stadium Age: Opened in 1995. The Rams had played there since its opening. The stadium was 21 years old at the time of the move.

 

Hopefully Pegula makes it so that it doesn't happen like Ralph did.

Edited September 14 by What a Tuel

[BuffaloBillsGospel2014]

Oh no Pegula is the new Ralph. 

[HIT BY SPIKES]

5 hours ago, Turbo44 said:

8 tickets not being renewed? That’s called turnover, bro. Pretty sure they’re being replaced real easily.

Well hopefully he doesn’t drive drunk with 4 kids in the car or try to sleep with all the female employees. Pegula’s management team has set a really low bar

 

Closer to 20 tickets and sure they will be replaced.

 

It is NO big deal.

 

Take the next step and say it -- "Buffalo does NOT need Canadian fans to survive."

 

I know you want to.

 

 

Edited September 14 by HIT BY SPIKES

[HIT BY SPIKES]

4 hours ago, T.E. said:

Oh man, the whole franchise might collapse because a handful of Canadians are coming up with melodramatic, phony reasons for why they dont want to pay for more expensive tickets next year. 

Yes. Any Bills flirtation with the city of Toronto puts them one step closer to ultimately moving there.

 

I love the attitude and welcome your openness.

 

Perhaps Canadian fans would consider simply sending their cheques for Bills games and just stay home.

 

You know and I know that the Bills would not still be in Buffalo if not for the large percentage of Canadians in attendance at Bills games.

 

Even more true for the Sabres.

 

When I hear comments similar to yours, they are usually from Bills fans who had to move away from the Buffalo area (or their parents) to better their economic futures.

 

I am not here to talk crap about the Buffalo area since I love its history and culture but rather point out how blessed that area is to still have two professional sports teams after the departure of the NBA.

 

It took the intervention of Gary Bettman and Ralph Wilson to make that happen.

4 hours ago, T.E. said:

Oh man, the whole franchise might collapse because a handful of Canadians are coming up with melodramatic, phony reasons for why they dont want to pay for more expensive tickets next year. 

Yes. Any Bills flirtation with the city of Toronto puts them one step closer to ultimately moving there.

 

AND there it is.

 

Irrational fear.

4 hours ago, PromoTheRobot said:

If that was their goal, why spend $1.4B of their own money on a stadium in OP?

 

B-I-N-G-O!!!