Bills moving?

[deluca67]

If there is any truth behind the Bill's possible move is this great news for the Sabres?

 

I for one, am not willing to have another penny of my tax dollars going to an NFL ATM. Enough is enough. It's too much for only 8 home games and 16 total.

 

I'd rather see my money go to a business that actually plays in Buffalo. ;)

[sabre31_98]

If there is any truth behind the Bill's possible move is this great news for the Sabres?

 

I for one, am not willing to have another penny of my tax dollars going to an NFL ATM. Enough is enough. It's too much for only 8 home games and 16 total.

 

I'd rather see my money go to a business that actually plays in Buffalo. ;)

 

 

To quote Barry Bonds, I would murder you if it were legal.

 

Go Bills.

[ThePolishSabre]

If the Bills move, how long before the Sabres do too?

 

It will be a very sad day in Western NY when the Bills move.

[bob_sauve28]

If there is any truth behind the Bill's possible move is this great news for the Sabres?

 

I for one, am not willing to have another penny of my tax dollars going to an NFL ATM. Enough is enough. It's too much for only 8 home games and 16 total.

 

I'd rather see my money go to a business that actually plays in Buffalo. ;)

I just can't stand football anymore. It's really all commercials and hype. I hope they move, too.

[scottnc]

No Bills talk here!! Save that for August.

[Eleven]

DeLuca, I'm assuming you live somewhere in WNY, and with that assumption, you should want the Bills here. I'm not a fan of the NFL--I think the game is weak, the flow is overly diluted with ads, and the league is overflowing with idiots.

 

BUT, in this country, THE NFL PUTS A CITY ON THE MAP. PERIOD.

 

Think about this: How, in the general American or world consciousness, does San Antonio fare? Birmingham? Columbus? Portland? Salt Lake? All, with the exception of Birmingham, have a team in a major league sport, and all are considered "small-time" cities by those who don't live there. And all are larger than Buffalo.

 

When did you begin to think of Indianapolis as a major city? Of Charlotte, Jacksonvile, or Nashville? I'll bet it was subsequent to those cities' acquisitions of NFL teams. (If you try to tell me that you always thought Jacksonville was a major metro, I'll think you're being dishonest.)

 

Would you really think New Orleans was anything more than a small party town (which is what it is) if it didn't have the Saints? Ever heard of a place called Green Bay, Wisconsin? Bet you wouldn't have without the NFL. Hell, maybe you wouldn't have heard of Wisconsin, period. What about Kansas City? Do you think the Royals are what put it on the map?

 

The world--and I've travelled it pretty well--knows Buffalo because of 4 Super Bowl losses, but at least the world knows of Buffalo. This is a great city, and the standard-bearer is the Bills, not the Sabres, not Mayor Brown, and not the waterfall. Bass Pro and a casino won't make us worldbeaters, either.

 

I reiterate that I'm not a pro football fan. I love the Philharmonic (and the fact that Maestra Falletta continues to rack up recording contracts for our little orchestra), I love the Albright-Knox, I love our two lakes and our two rivers. But I'd rather see my tax dollars spent on a little-used stadium for a football team that I care for only somewhat (hockey is a better sport), because that's what makes people stand up and say "Buffalo, yeah, I know of that place."

 

Look, in Buffalo, we want to play in business, politics, and general recognition. And you've gotta pay to play. Simple as that. Give up the extra $50 in property taxes and stop being a curmudgeon.

 

[EDIT: It occurs to me that someone might want to use LA as a counterexample. My response: When Buffalo becomes the second largest city in the country and has a worldwide appeal through its film industry, I'll reconsider.]

[PTS]

I believe Golisano said today that he would step in if the team was put on the market.

[Eleven]

I believe Golisano said today that he would step in if the team was put on the market.

 

Not quite. He said he'd keep an open mind---no more, no less--and I'd welcome it.

[slugspirit]

It will be a very sad day in Western NY when the Bills move.

 

Quite the understatement.

[haseoke]

I'm really quite sick of football, though. i dont mind the game itself, i just mind the officiating. not for biases, but just the ludicrous things officials can and conmstantly do in football. an 80 yard touchadown pass to win the game is taken back because somebody thought they saw somebody close their fist around a guys jersey and mebbe he did and mebbe he didnt, but the other team goes on to win. and this is perfectly routine. the slightest infractions or percieved can be blown into negating the most important plays of the game. i think overofficiating is really killing football.

that said, the bills have a positive effect on the sabres. they keep more sports bars open, sports fans in buffalo, they make us more of a sports town, and that spills over onto the sabres. the bills porbably help the local economy, though im not sure about that. if the bills moved, its not like all their fans would come and sell out the sabres arena instead.

j

[Rabbit151]

The Bills are moving?

[Corp000085]

The Bills are moving?

 

 

exactly...

 

 

The bills moving is entirely speculation. Ralph is just politicking. He'll never move the bills in his lifetime. There is no city in the country currently with a viable stadium for them to play in. Sure, ralph will try to squeeze the taxpayers again. He'll put the state's balls in a vise. But, he won't move the team.

 

 

As for the bills moving being good for the sabres? Listen, like them or not, the Buffalo Bills are big big business... If they move, its good for not a single person or business in the city.

[deluca67]

I think everyone missed the point.

 

I'm not saying the Bills should move or that I want them to. I am just saying, only as it pertains to the Sabres it may be a good thing. The Sabres would then be the #1 game in town and some of that NFL dollar would have to trickle over to the Sabres? Wouldn't it.

 

On the other hand. I do live in Buffalo. It would be a shot to the ego of the region if they moved. But a fact is a fact and there may not be enough money in the region for the Bills to make the kind of profit an NFL owner wants to make. :(

[BuffalOhio]

He'll never move the bills in his lifetime.

 

Well his lifetime won't last much longer. Dude's almost 90.

 

Corp - WTF were you doing up at 0333? Correcting book reports?

[mrjsbu96]

DeLuca, I'm assuming you live somewhere in WNY, and with that assumption, you should want the Bills here. I'm not a fan of the NFL--I think the game is weak, the flow is overly diluted with ads, and the league is overflowing with idiots.

 

BUT, in this country, THE NFL PUTS A CITY ON THE MAP. PERIOD.

 

Think about this: How, in the general American or world consciousness, does San Antonio fare? Birmingham? Columbus? Portland? Salt Lake? All, with the exception of Birmingham, have a team in a major league sport, and all are considered "small-time" cities by those who don't live there. And all are larger than Buffalo.

 

When did you begin to think of Indianapolis as a major city? Of Charlotte, Jacksonvile, or Nashville? I'll bet it was subsequent to those cities' acquisitions of NFL teams. (If you try to tell me that you always thought Jacksonville was a major metro, I'll think you're being dishonest.)

 

Would you really think New Orleans was anything more than a small party town (which is what it is) if it didn't have the Saints? Ever heard of a place called Green Bay, Wisconsin? Bet you wouldn't have without the NFL. Hell, maybe you wouldn't have heard of Wisconsin, period. What about Kansas City? Do you think the Royals are what put it on the map?

 

The world--and I've travelled it pretty well--knows Buffalo because of 4 Super Bowl losses, but at least the world knows of Buffalo. This is a great city, and the standard-bearer is the Bills, not the Sabres, not Mayor Brown, and not the waterfall. Bass Pro and a casino won't make us worldbeaters, either.

 

I reiterate that I'm not a pro football fan. I love the Philharmonic (and the fact that Maestra Falletta continues to rack up recording contracts for our little orchestra), I love the Albright-Knox, I love our two lakes and our two rivers. But I'd rather see my tax dollars spent on a little-used stadium for a football team that I care for only somewhat (hockey is a better sport), because that's what makes people stand up and say "Buffalo, yeah, I know of that place."

 

Look, in Buffalo, we want to play in business, politics, and general recognition. And you've gotta pay to play. Simple as that. Give up the extra $50 in property taxes and stop being a curmudgeon.

 

[EDIT: It occurs to me that someone might want to use LA as a counterexample. My response: When Buffalo becomes the second largest city in the country and has a worldwide appeal through its film industry, I'll reconsider.]

 

couldn't have said it better myself eleven although i am a fan of the bills! i can understand where deluca is coming from though. living outside of buffalo now though, i have seen the impact that the team and city can have on people and can not imagine if it were gone. i get together weekly with 200-300 fans in new york city to watch games. people catch up and new people catch on. i usually travel back at least 3-4 times for games and stay in hotels, go out to eat and drink in the city, etc. and once again i have always brought the city to the attention of new people.

 

maybe in the end all of the tax benes do not add up, but the economic spinoff from weekend trips as i have just mentioned along with civic pride have to come pretty close.

[apuszczalowski]

I don't think Buffalo can afford to lose another Big Buisness (assuming you can consider an NFL franchise Big Buisness) And Ralph is not going around trying to get more money to line his pockets, he's trying to get more support in order to keep the team around for more then 5 years. The new CBA they signed is not going to help keep the Bills financial stable and keep them in Buffalo.

 

The Sabres may not benefit from any NFL $'s if the Bills move, cause alot of Bills fans are also Sabres fans. They may sell out a couple more games or sell a couple more season tickets cause some fans will have more money now, but who says they will want to spend it on the Sabres? Maybe they will move on to another NFL team like the Browns or a NY team like the Jets or Giants?

 

This would also leave Erie County (owners of Ralph Wilson Stadium) with a loss of funds cause they will lose out on the extra cash generated from the Bills 8 home games (plus any preseason or playoff games)

[BuffalOhio]

Maybe they will move on to another NFL team like the Browns or a NY team like the Jets or Giants?

 

 

You mean New Jersey teams, right? The Bills are the only NFL team that plays in the State of New York. That should count for something in Albany (but I'm sure it doesn't).

[apuszczalowski]

Yeah, but they are called the NY Jets and NY Giants so they are technically NY teams.

[inkman]

Not leaving, next topic

[fushetti]

Please, enough Bills talk. They suck, make my stomach hurt, and are not worth talking about.

 

EH Jesus. Here I go... I've been preparing myself for their departure for years now. If it ever happens, it'll be horrible, but if it makes sense for both the franchise and Erie County, then they need to part ways. Western New Yorkers, and those of us who don't live there anymore, have to realize that that area cannot sustain an NFL team. Honestly, if you believe "The Bills put Buffalo on the map" then youre either not from there or have zero pride in your city. There are tons of other things that I'd love to have Buffalo known for than our lousy football team that bleeds the county taxpayers of their money. Don't get me wrong, I want the Bills to win and am a former season ticket holder. I don't want them to leave either. Hell, THEYRE not leaving. I just don't think it'd be THAT bad of a thing if they ever left, for either party.

[Corp000085]

 

Well his lifetime won't last much longer. Dude's almost 90.

 

Corp - WTF were you doing up at 0333? Correcting book reports?

 

It may have been 3am, but i knew what i was saying. Ralph Wilson will not move the buffalo bills in his lifetime.

 

 

What was i doing up? I couldn't sleep... went back to bed at 4.

 

 

As for golisano owning both the sabres and the bills? Well, if the NHL and NFL bylines allow for cross ownership, we're talking a partnership at the highest levels. Imagine some sabres advertizing during september bills games? Imagine some bills advertising during draft season in the HSBC? draft parties, luxury box sales (and discounts if firms buy at RWS and HSBC). If its allowed, golisano is the man to own both teams.

[fushetti]

It may have been 3am, but i knew what i was saying. Ralph Wilson will not move the buffalo bills in his lifetime.

What was i doing up? I couldn't sleep... went back to bed at 4.

As for golisano owning both the sabres and the bills? Well, if the NHL and NFL bylines allow for cross ownership, we're talking a partnership at the highest levels. Imagine some sabres advertizing during september bills games? Imagine some bills advertising during draft season in the HSBC? draft parties, luxury box sales (and discounts if firms buy at RWS and HSBC). If its allowed, golisano is the man to own both teams.

 

 

Doesn't Jerry Colangelo own both the Phoenix Suns and Arizona Diamondbacks? Why can't one guy own two franchises. Ted Turner owned the Hawks, Braves and later the Thrashers for a while didn't he? I can't see why Tommy G can't own both the Sabres and the Ills.

[Taro T]

Doesn't Jerry Colangelo own both the Phoenix Suns and Arizona Diamondbacks? Why can't one guy own two franchises. Ted Turner owned the Hawks, Braves and later the Thrashers for a while didn't he? I can't see why Tommy G can't own both the Sabres and the Ills.

The NFL did have a rule that an owner could not own a team in another sport. That was why DeBartolo's dad owned the Pens and Eddie owned the Whiners. I think they did away with that rule when Huzenga (sp?) took over most of the Miami teams. I don't know if the rule still exists in some form.

[Eleven]

The NFL did have a rule that an owner could not own a team in another sport. That was why DeBartolo's dad owned the Pens and Eddie owned the Whiners. I think they did away with that rule when Huzenga (sp?) took over most of the Miami teams. I don't know if the rule still exists in some form.

 

I believe that you're right. When Huizenga or whatever the eff it's spelled took over multiple teams, the whole rule dissolved. There are NFL owners that own other teams.