buffalobillsfootball Posted December 19, 2006 Share Posted December 19, 2006 Dear Ralph, The team looked great yesterday. An awesome win over Miami - made me feel great. Today, I have a bitter-sweet taste in my mouth - why? Wilson Not Optimistic About Future of Bills in Buffalo We can’t even go one day, enjoy the win without you reminding us about our uncertain future. Personally, I’m tired of it. I’m tired of hearing you B word, moan, and not make any moves to stand up to the NFL. Keep up the good work on the revenue sharing fight - it is a cause worth fighting. While you continue to plant seeds within the community and enable the national stage that Buffalo cannot support the Bills and their eminent demise is near - why not take it one step further; stand up to the big market teams and PROVE that you can be successful here… How about selling half the team to Golisano and/or a group of local investors and let fresh blood come into the administrative and leadership roles at One Bills Drive and help you with your cause? Yeah, I know, Buffalo will n-e-v-e-r be NYC and/or Dallas and see $250,000 per suite. BUT, guess what? Nor will Green Bay, New Orleans, Jacksonville, Cleveland, Kansas City, Tampa Bay, Tennessee, St. Louis, Detroit, Indianapolis, San Diego, Oakland, Cincinnati, or Minnesota! More than half the league would dream to have revenue like that! You've done your best the past 40 years and I am forever thankful that you chose Buffalo for the Bills... and I know all the noise you're making today is on behalf of our team’s long term success here in Buffalo. (Although, I'd appreciate it if you'd stop making Buffalo out to be a third world country - it's starting to eat at me a bit!) But before you let the Bills bail on Buffalo - this Bills community; which stretches from Syracuse to Toronto --> deserves another shot at local ownership, leadership and success. I can see Tom Golisano putting together a strong team to reach out to other owners in the league to make this revenue sharing deal a win-win for everyone. I could also see Tom reaching deep into his business contacts and partners from CNY to Southern Ontario - to help buy out those suites at higher rates. You can see a powerful sports marketing collaboration between the Bills and Sabres – that would help both teams flourish in Central-Western NY and Southern Ontario. Ralph, I love all that you've done for WNY... you have no idea how much pride this team bring to this community. I appreciate you sticking with the community for this long... and I hope that you/we see a *Buffalo* Bills Championship soon - but please note: The Bills need a new face – a new approach – but not a new home! God bless and Merry Christmas Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pine Barrens Mafia Posted December 19, 2006 Share Posted December 19, 2006 Dear Ralph, The team looked great yesterday. An awesome win over Miami - made me feel great. Today, I have a bitter-sweet taste in my mouth - why? Wilson Not Optimistic About Future of Bills in Buffalo We can’t even go one day, enjoy the win without you reminding us about our uncertain future. Personally, I’m tired of it. I’m tired of hearing you B word, moan, and not make any moves to stand up to the NFL. Keep up the good work on the revenue sharing fight - it is a cause worth fighting. While you continue to plant seeds within the community and enable the national stage that Buffalo cannot support the Bills and their eminent demise is near - why not take it one step further; stand up to the big market teams and PROVE that you can be successful here… How about selling half the team to Golisano and/or a group of local investors and let fresh blood come into the administrative and leadership roles at One Bills Drive and help you with your cause? Yeah, I know, Buffalo will n-e-v-e-r be NYC and/or Dallas and see $250,000 per suite. BUT, guess what? Nor will Green Bay, New Orleans, Jacksonville, Cleveland, Kansas City, Tampa Bay, Tennessee, St. Louis, Detroit, Indianapolis, San Diego, Oakland, Cincinnati, or Minnesota! More than half the league would dream to have revenue like that! You've done your best the past 40 years and I am forever thankful that you chose Buffalo for the Bills... and I know all the noise you're making today is on behalf our team’s long term success here in Buffalo. (Although, I'd appreciate it if you'd stop making Buffalo out to be a third world country - it's starting to eat at me a bit!) But before you let the Bills bail on Buffalo - this Bills community; which stretches from Syracuse to Toronto --> deserves another shot at local ownership, leadership and success. I can see Tom Golisano putting together a strong team to reach out to other owners in the league to make this revenue sharing deal be a win-win for everyone. I could also see Tom reaching deep into his business contacts and partners from CNY to Southern Ontario - to help buy out those suites at higher rates. You can see a powerful sports marketing collaboration between the Bills and Sabres – that would help both teams flourish in Central-Western NY and Southern Ontario. Ralph, I love all that you've done for WNY... you have no idea how much pride this team bring to this community. I appreciate you sticking with the community for this long... and I hope that you/we see a *Buffalo* Bills Championship soon - but please note: The Bills need a new face – a new approach – but not a new home! God bless and Merry Christmas 871696[/snapback] EXCELLENT post. Ralph is back to being the old 1970s Ralph...excuse-making and whining. Bye, Ralph. How about ya go join your buddy Lamar? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
loadofmularkey Posted December 19, 2006 Share Posted December 19, 2006 EXCELLENT post. Ralph is back to being the old 1970s Ralph...excuse-making and whining. Bye, Ralph. How about ya go join your buddy Lamar? 871778[/snapback] Ouch Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pBills Posted December 19, 2006 Share Posted December 19, 2006 Good post. The post about joining Lamar... a-hole. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
East Brady Posted December 19, 2006 Share Posted December 19, 2006 EXCELLENT post. Ralph is back to being the old 1970s Ralph...excuse-making and whining. Bye, Ralph. How about ya go join your buddy Lamar? 871778[/snapback] Hey Joe, maybe you should lay off the six-packs?? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DE Bills Fan Posted December 19, 2006 Share Posted December 19, 2006 Dear Ralph, The team looked great yesterday. An awesome win over Miami - made me feel great. Today, I have a bitter-sweet taste in my mouth - why? Wilson Not Optimistic About Future of Bills in Buffalo We can’t even go one day, enjoy the win without you reminding us about our uncertain future. Personally, I’m tired of it. I’m tired of hearing you B word, moan, and not make any moves to stand up to the NFL. Keep up the good work on the revenue sharing fight - it is a cause worth fighting. While you continue to plant seeds within the community and enable the national stage that Buffalo cannot support the Bills and their eminent demise is near - why not take it one step further; stand up to the big market teams and PROVE that you can be successful here… How about selling half the team to Golisano and/or a group of local investors and let fresh blood come into the administrative and leadership roles at One Bills Drive and help you with your cause? Yeah, I know, Buffalo will n-e-v-e-r be NYC and/or Dallas and see $250,000 per suite. BUT, guess what? Nor will Green Bay, New Orleans, Jacksonville, Cleveland, Kansas City, Tampa Bay, Tennessee, St. Louis, Detroit, Indianapolis, San Diego, Oakland, Cincinnati, or Minnesota! More than half the league would dream to have revenue like that! You've done your best the past 40 years and I am forever thankful that you chose Buffalo for the Bills... and I know all the noise you're making today is on behalf our team’s long term success here in Buffalo. (Although, I'd appreciate it if you'd stop making Buffalo out to be a third world country - it's starting to eat at me a bit!) But before you let the Bills bail on Buffalo - this Bills community; which stretches from Syracuse to Toronto --> deserves another shot at local ownership, leadership and success. I can see Tom Golisano putting together a strong team to reach out to other owners in the league to make this revenue sharing deal be a win-win for everyone. I could also see Tom reaching deep into his business contacts and partners from CNY to Southern Ontario - to help buy out those suites at higher rates. You can see a powerful sports marketing collaboration between the Bills and Sabres – that would help both teams flourish in Central-Western NY and Southern Ontario. Ralph, I love all that you've done for WNY... you have no idea how much pride this team bring to this community. I appreciate you sticking with the community for this long... and I hope that you/we see a *Buffalo* Bills Championship soon - but please note: The Bills need a new face – a new approach – but not a new home! God bless and Merry Christmas 871696[/snapback] I like your approach. You make a very good arguement and I agree with you. The only thing I can't get past is how a new owner will be able to service the tremendous debt load he will have if he buys the team for $600MM-$700MM. Also, can anyone turn a profit with the lowest priced seats and luxury boxes in the league, all within an escalating salary cap which will put more of a squeeze on the new owner in a depressed market. I think you are right that some sort of partnership needs to be done, probably with a group in Toronto. That's the only scenario I see for the Bills long-term survival as it seems to me that Ralph is posturing to sell the team as he gets too old to manage it. Good post. One of the best and most well thought out ones I have read on this topic. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LabattBlue Posted December 19, 2006 Share Posted December 19, 2006 I can see Ralphie using this as an excuse not to spend a lot of money in free agency. The sooner he sells the team the better. Believe me, they will find a buyer committed to keeping the team in Buffalo. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alaska Darin Posted December 19, 2006 Share Posted December 19, 2006 excuse-making and whining. Holy fuggin' hypocrisy Batman! I see you're deep in the spirit of the season. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RkFast Posted December 19, 2006 Share Posted December 19, 2006 Joe....that post was the low-point of your long tenure here. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HereComesTheReignAgain Posted December 19, 2006 Share Posted December 19, 2006 EXCELLENT post. Ralph is back to being the old 1970s Ralph...excuse-making and whining. Bye, Ralph. How about ya go join your buddy Lamar? 871778[/snapback] Absolutely disgusting post. I really would hope there is no place for people who wish that the owner of the Bills would die on this board. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MDH Posted December 19, 2006 Share Posted December 19, 2006 EXCELLENT post. Ralph is back to being the old 1970s Ralph...excuse-making and whining. Bye, Ralph. How about ya go join your buddy Lamar? 871778[/snapback] Somebody needs to get a better sense of humor. Perhaps someone will give you one for Christmas. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BILLS02138 Posted December 19, 2006 Share Posted December 19, 2006 You can see a powerful sports marketing collaboration between the Bills and Sabres – that would help both teams flourish in Central-Western NY and Southern Ontario.871696[/snapback] Wow, great post! I'm tired of his defeatist mentality, too. I think you're on to something here. As someone who now lives in the Boston market for the past four years, I am always amazed at how the Red Sox, Patriots and Bruins pair up together for important games and events. Last year during the Bills/Pats game, the Patriots paraded a bunch of Red Sox players out on the field before the game to get the crowd going. Last week, less than 24 hours after signing Matsuzaka, the new Red Sox pitcher was on center ice dropping the puck at the Bruins game. Buffalo is a small home town with big time perks! The Sabres and Bills are big fish in a small sea. The lack of marketing and collaboration between these two organizations is astonishing. I'm afriad Ralph satisfying his ego will come at the community's expense. It's time that Ralph partner up with Golisano and find ways to collaborate and thrive. If Green Bay can make a decent buck - so can Buffalo. A smart businessman like Golisano WOULD find a way to make it work. Can you imagine how much pride and energy we would have if these two organizations fed off each other in positive ways? Damn! Go BUFFALO Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
buffalobillsfootball Posted December 19, 2006 Author Share Posted December 19, 2006 I like your approach. You make a very good arguement and I agree with you. The only thing I can't get past is how a new owner will be able to service the tremendous debt load he will have if he buys the team for $600MM-$700MM. Also, can anyone turn a profit with the lowest priced seats and luxury boxes in the league, all within an escalating salary cap which will put more of a squeeze on the new owner in a depressed market. I think you are right that some sort of partnership needs to be done, probably with a group in Toronto. That's the only scenario I see for the Bills long-term survival as it seems to me that Ralph is posturing to sell the team as he gets too old to manage it. Good post. One of the best and most well thought out ones I have read on this topic. 871884[/snapback] Thanks. Again, I'd like to see Ralph do something more productive on this issue. Right now, he is losing credibility with the league and polarizing our franchise from the rest. I honestly don't buy into the fact that the league/national media wants the Bills out of Buffalo. There is no proof to that whatsoever. I would argue that the Bills existence/success in the NFL is just as an important, if not more, than placing a team in LA. The Buffalo Bills have a great history in the league. Our fan base is enormous and world-wide. We deserve a strong, passionate leader who we can trust will do all in their power to keep the Bills in Buffalo. However, the Bills also need a top notch marketing arm to tap into our base. At one time, the Bills were king in WNY/S.Ontario. Now, there are just too many options for folks to spend their entertainment dollars. Ralph needs to catch up and lose the ego. Mr. Wilson, do the right thing - bring in Tom Golisano. Prove to us that you’re open to seeing this work. Tom has made his interest known throughout the community. Put the issue of the Bills leaving Buffalo to rest, for once and all; continuing to let this malaise hang over us is not right and heartless. Go Buffalo! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CT/Fordham Bills Fan Posted December 19, 2006 Share Posted December 19, 2006 I was also talking about this with my dad while traveling from connecticut in the early morning on sunday to see that sweet victory over the fish. Anyways, my dad made a good point that we could easily make our ownership a mini version of the Green bay Packers. According to my dad (he said he looked this up), the Bills are worth approximately $800 million. If the bills divided it up into one million shares, they could sell the shares individually for $800. You wouldn't think all of us die hard bills fans would buy a share, along with maybe Golisano buying a majority of it as well. it could definitly work and the shareholders could just pass the shares down to their family (like the packers do). I think it would work and maybe it could happen. I would give up anything to keep my bills in buff. P.S Lets beat those over rated titans Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bills_fan Posted December 19, 2006 Share Posted December 19, 2006 I was also talking about this with my dad while traveling from connecticut in the early morning on sunday to see that sweet victory over the fish. Anyways, my dad made a good point that we could easily make our ownership a mini version of the Green bay Packers. According to my dad (he said he looked this up), the Bills are worth approximately $800 million. If the bills divided it up into one million shares, they could sell the shares individually for $800. You wouldn't think all of us die hard bills fans would buy a share, along with maybe Golisano buying a majority of it as well. it could definitly work and the shareholders could just pass the shares down to their family (like the packers do). I think it would work and maybe it could happen. I would give up anything to keep my bills in buff. P.S Lets beat those over rated titans 872544[/snapback] The only problem with your theory is after Green Bay did it, the NFL made it aginst the rules to take a team public. And before any financial whizs consider a private placement, the NFL also has a rule restricting the number of owners (minority partners) that may contribute to owning a team, I believe it is less than 15 people. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kiwi Bills fan Posted December 19, 2006 Share Posted December 19, 2006 This is his low point?? As bad as this was... you obviously have not had the displeasure of interacting with "Joe" often. This guys is clASS through and through. Joe....that post was the low-point of your long tenure here. 871897[/snapback] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rubes Posted December 19, 2006 Share Posted December 19, 2006 I'd really like to see some opportunistic and ambitious journalist from Buffalo have a nice 60-minutes-style sit-down with Ralph and have him address some of this stuff. Sure beats wondering what the hell might happen. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
I 90 Posted December 19, 2006 Share Posted December 19, 2006 I'd really like to see some opportunistic and ambitious journalist from Buffalo have a nice 60-minutes-style sit-down with Ralph 872556[/snapback] Barbara Pinson didn't bring enough heat ? It's a lousy story for Buffalo. Good for Ralph being the squeaky wheel on revenue sharing. It shows that he is very much alive ( though I have to admit that I chuckled at JSP's " buddy Lamar " suggestion ). . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Jokeman Posted December 19, 2006 Share Posted December 19, 2006 The Bills need a new face – a new approach – but not a new home! God bless and Merry Christmas 871696[/snapback] I disagree, I think a stadium with a retractable roof downtown by the waterfront could do wonders for the team and community. Of course it be expensive to do but am sure we could get more revenue by having a stadium there for concerts etc. and possible destination for NCAA tournament games if the demand is greater then it has been for the games at the HSBC. It also be great to draw people to the new casino being built downtown etc. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mattypro89 Posted December 19, 2006 Share Posted December 19, 2006 EXCELLENT post. Ralph is back to being the old 1970s Ralph...excuse-making and whining. Bye, Ralph. How about ya go join your buddy Lamar? 871778[/snapback] youre a total ass hole. its a disgrace you call yourself not only a bills fan but a football fan. as far as im concerned you can get the hell out! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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