The Russ Brandon - Buffalo Sabres Thread

[LGR4GM]

It is creeping into multiple threads. What does Brandon do for the Sabres? Is he helping Terry with the GM search? Do you think he is good or evil? Light or dark?

http://buffalonews.com/2017/04/24/tim-grahams-power-take-thank-russ-brandon/ 

[3putt]

Dark as a moonless night.

[Swedesessed]

Tim Graham's 'power' take? More like Russ using his 'power' to manipulate Tim.  Atrocious.

[Eleven]

So here's my response to 38 from the GM thread; he asked why people don't like Russ:

 

Mainly, he moved a bunch of Buffalo Bills (NFL team) home games for Toronto, one per season, for a few seasons.

 

He also was the de facto GM of the Bills for a short period of time, despite the fact that his background is in business and not marketing.

 

The prevailing theory (to which I do not subscribe) is that, as a high-level executive with both the Bills and the Sabres, he is involved with player / personnel decisions despite a lack of qualifications with respect to either team.

[Stoner]

It is creeping into multiple threads. What does Brandon do for the Sabres? Is he helping Terry with the GM search? Do you think he is good or evil? Light or dark?

http://buffalonews.com/2017/04/24/tim-grahams-power-take-thank-russ-brandon/ 

The problem in knowing what Brandon does is that the organization, either because it doesn't respect the fans or is paranoid that its state secrets will be revealed, doesn't feel it necessary to tell us. We'll never know details of the Drury-Briere deal, the LaFontaine Affair or the Great Babcocktease of 2015. What did Sawyer do and why did he leave? Mind your bidness, fans.

[Sabel79]

Somebody has to catch Battista's flak now that Battista's gone. 

[kas23]

Russ Brandon is balls deep into Bills operations. He's a regular in their War Room. Why a marketing person is involved in the draft is a legit question, especially given his history of being the Bills GM at one point. This is indisputable. What his role is in the Buffalo Sabres organization? Who knows. Let's hope he isn't a hockey fan.

[PromoTheRobot]

Russ Brandon is balls deep into Bills operations. He's a regular in their War Room. Why a marketing person is involved in the draft is a legit question, especially given his history of being the Bills GM at one point. This is indisputable. What his role is in the Buffalo Sabres organization? Who knows. Let's hope he isn't a hockey fan.

 

He's in the War Room, man. The freakin' WAR ROOM, sending out his Brandon vibes. What more do you need?

[tom webster]

He is President of the freaking organization. I'd be in the war room too. Some day people will realize there are three people responsible for the Bills being in Buffalo. Wilson, Pegula and Brandon.

Has he made mistakes sure and he'd be the first to admit that he was out of his element as GM but he is one of the most respected executives in the NFL and will soon be the same in the NHL. His presence and ties to WNY will be huge in the growth of sports and entertainment events in the area.

[kas23]

He is President of the freaking organization. I'd be in the war room too. Some day people will realize there are three people responsible for the Bills being in Buffalo. Wilson, Pegula and Brandon.

Has he made mistakes sure and he'd be the first to admit that he was out of his element as GM but he is one of the most respected executives in the NFL and will soon be the same in the NHL. His presence and ties to WNY will be huge in the growth of sports and entertainment events in the area.

He was in the War Room well before he was president of the Bills.

 

I don't see how him "keeping the Bills in Buffalo" has to do with him being involved in football personnel decisions. And let's be honest, he had 0% with keeping the Bills here and Pegs and his money bags had 100% to do with it.

 

Lastly, I don't know how you think he'd admit to his mistakes. Has he apologized for the failed Toronto experiment?

[PromoTheRobot]

He was in the War Room well before he was president of the Bills.

 

I don't see how him "keeping the Bills in Buffalo" has to do with him being involved in football personnel decisions. And let's be honest, he had 0% with keeping the Bills here and Pegs and his money bags had 100% to do with it.

 

Lastly, I don't know how you think he'd admit to his mistakes. Has he apologized for the failed Toronto experiment?

He did apologize actually.

[darksabre]

He did apologize actually.

Unlike Ted Black who never ate his turd burger.

[dudacek]

Unlike Ted Black who never ate his turd burger.

Au contraire. My cousin's boss has a friend who tends one of the best dive bars in Pittsburgh.

Black and Battista were seen there chowing down on mustard and blue cheese early last fall.

[tom webster]

He was in the War Room well before he was president of the Bills.

 

I don't see how him "keeping the Bills in Buffalo" has to do with him being involved in football personnel decisions. And let's be honest, he had 0% with keeping the Bills here and Pegs and his money bags had 100% to do with it.

 

Lastly, I don't know how you think he'd admit to his mistakes. Has he apologized for the failed Toronto experiment?

As someone else stated, he did apologize and you need to do a little research on business reaction to the business model that Russ put together. Ultimately it was Pegula money but they were astounded by the numbers Russ presented. Even a billionaire needs to be convinced he's not going to blow his fortune on a losing proposition.

[Jacque Richard]

Is his brother also working for the Sabres? His brother is esq with the bills

[nfreeman]

He did apologize actually.

 

Link?  I do not recall an apology -- I recall him saying it wasn't working and they were going to reevaluate the series.

 

As someone else stated, he did apologize and you need to do a little research on business reaction to the business model that Russ put together. Ultimately it was Pegula money but they were astounded by the numbers Russ presented. Even a billionaire needs to be convinced he's not going to blow his fortune on a losing proposition.

 

Crediting RB for keeping the Bills in Buffalo is like crediting a doorman with opening the door.  As I've said previously, there is NFW that he did anything other than execute RWS' wishes.  And if TP hadn't materialized like a gift from heaven, the Bills would be in Toronto right now.

 

As for presenting numbers -- again, you are giving him credit for doing what anyone in that position would've done.  More importantly, TP certainly had his own financial people run their own numbers, and they relied on their numbers, not RB's, in making the decision. 

 

Finally, when TP finally cuts RB loose, no one else is going to give him a comparable job.

[kas23]

Link? I do not recall an apology -- I recall him saying it wasn't working and they were going to reevaluate the series.

 

 

Crediting RB for keeping the Bills in Buffalo is like crediting a doorman with opening the door. As I've said previously, there is NFW that he did anything other than execute RWS' wishes. And if TP hadn't materialized like a gift from heaven, the Bills would be in Toronto right now.

 

As for presenting numbers -- again, you are giving him credit for doing what anyone in that position would've done. More importantly, TP certainly had his own financial people run their own numbers, and they relied on their numbers, not RB's, in making the decision.

 

Finally, when TP finally cuts RB loose, no one else is going to give him a comparable job.

This is a great post. As I recall, the reason for pulling out of the Toronto series was due to RW's poor health and the poor numbers. As for him apologizing, I would agree, it would've been a poor PR move to apologize. Sorry fans of Toronto, we're sorry we gave you Bills games to watch and that you suck for not showing up.

 

And can we get a link also detailing his presentations to Pegula during the sale?

 

I also doubt that he's the reason people buy tickets to Bills games. We eat, drink, and breath Buffalo Bills football here in Buffalo. Ticket sales wouldn't suffer if he wasn't here. They sell themselves.

[That Aud Smell]

Brandon was at a press conference today to announce the creation of the John Labatt House, next door to the arena: 

 

 

I'm light on facts, but I gather that it's a venture whereby Labatt USA will be able to do some small batch craft stuff.

 

I have my problems and concerns with the Pegulas as owners. And with Brandon's role and influence.

 

But it ain't all bad - that's for sure.

[Eleven]

Brandon was at a press conference today to announce the creation of the John Labatt House, next door to the arena: 

 

 

I'm light on facts, but I gather that it's a venture whereby Labatt USA will be able to do some small batch craft stuff.

 

I have my problems and concerns with the Pegulas as owners. And with Brandon's role and influence.

 

But it ain't all bad - that's for sure.

 

Labatt is moving its US HQ into the building.

[darksabre]

I hate that our official beer is Canadian. 

[That Aud Smell]

I hate that our official beer is Canadian. 

 

Take off, eh?

 

This is Buffalo. We're essentially part Canadian.

[darksabre]

Take off, eh?

 

This is Buffalo. We're essentially part Canadian.

Buffalo is supposed to be surging back from the dead. Can't we get our own damn macro? 

[That Aud Smell]

Buffalo is supposed to be surging back from the dead. Can't we get our own damn macro? 

 

Fair deuce.

 

 

We just need some of those young hipster brewers to bring this beer back. 

[darksabre]

Fair deuce.

 

 

We just need some of those young hipster brewers to bring this beer back. 

 

I forget where I read it, but I believe currently it's not possible to revive the Iroquois trademark in NYS. Someone owned it for a while but now it's abandoned and I don't think it can be re-appropriated because of its Native American content. 

[RonHextallsShoulderPads]

Brandon is considered one of the best executives in football because he's duped a city into paying for season tickets through a 17-year playoff drought. That's solid ROI.