Ralph Wilson to Comment on Bills Future

I grew up in the Buffalo area and have been a fan of the Bills since their inception in 1960. Even though I live in the southwest now, I will always remain a die hard Bills fan. However, it has been rumored for years that the Bills may leave the area due to the economic conditions of it. This may be the opportunity for the Bills to leave and re-locate to the Los Angeles,CA area. It would not surprise me to see him sell the team. His age being a factor and his family not really being interested in the team. (as reports have suggested.) It would be a sad day for the
western New York area if this is the case. To draw the amount of fans to the games that they do is remarkable when you consider everything. Plus the size of the stadium being one of the larger one's in the league.

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A day late but this is worrying me. I echo Ward's comments. It does seem like the Bills could be up for sale but I wouldn't automatically assume they go to LA.

It's no secret that Ted Rogers and Larry Tannenbaum of Maple Leafs Sports and Entertainment have joined forces to put an NFL team in Toronto. There's enough money in those two comglomerations to outbid any LA suitor if they absolutely believe they can maintain an NFL franchise.

I'd hate to see the Bills move but if Wilson is putting the team up for sale because his kids would screw the pooch then this might be the best thing to happen. Also let's not forget that Jim Kelly and Bruins owner Jeremy Jacobs have expressed interest in buying the team to keep it in WNY.

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I am a long-time football fan, but I am sick of the NFL's unchecked and overreaching greed. If they want to move the Buffalo Bills to Toronto, Canada, shouldn't it then be called the International Football League?? Besides, Toronto has enough tourist attractions and isn't a guaranteed money-making city. Do the Blue Jays and Maple Leafs sell out all of their games? I am also tired of Ralph Wilson's constant threats to move the team because the working poor in WNY can no longer afford to support these overpaid egomaniacs. If they would put a team on the field that's worthy of the ticket price, they would sell out every game to those fans foolish enough to open their wallets. I personally prefer it when the home games get blacked out--that way I don't waste 3 hours on a Sunday glued to the TV just shaking my head and wistfully remembering the wonderful team of the 1990's--before free agency, salary caps and "parity" destroyed the game.

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"Besides, Toronto has enough tourist attractions and isn't a guaranteed money-making city. Do the Blue Jays and Maple Leafs sell out all of their games?"

The Leafs will always sell out mainly due to the business/corporate crowd. The Jays don't always sell out but attendance has risen in the last couple or so years, strangely enough because the product on the field is a lot better :)

Now I will agree with you that Toronto will actually devalue the NFL a bit. This is mainly because we don't have the US networks, the ad dollars come from US brands so it doesn't matter if Canadians buy the products. The thing is we have a couple guys with deep pockets who've wanted a team in Toronto for 40 years!

BTW MLB is still MLB despite having the Jays and in the past the Expos. I also don't see the NBA calling itself the IBA. Let's not be so provincial about things. In the grand scheme of things Toronto is basically in America Jr.

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To Chris F.

I wasn't putting down Toronto or Canada in any way--I love that city and wish that the so-called leaders in Western New York would take some great ideas from it and actually do something to make Buffalo a city to be proud of once again. But until they figure out how to bring in corporations which deliver decent wages for working stiffs without college degrees, I suppose it's inevitable that the Bills will follow the money when Ralph Wilson is no longer in the picture.

In my humble opinion, I just can't see that many Western New Yorkers wanting to deal with border and passport issues and a two-hour drive just to go see their former team play in Toronto. But maybe they'll get to see them on TV every Sunday. I hope there will be a lot of rich Canadian fans who will fill those seats so the home games aren't blacked out. (Don't) Go Bills!

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That's just great. The only real New York team wants to leave New York state. The Wilson family has made millions off of Western NY and now they are ready to cut and run on an area that needs further developement and some responsible corporate stewardship. If the Wilson family sells the team, WNY should find out where the money gets reinvested and find a way to undercut the Wilson fortunes. Shame on you Ralph!

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As a former WNY'r my family and I are lifetime Bills fans and fans of the greater Buffalo area. The thought of the Bills leaving WNY is terrible. We still make treks back to the old sod after 27 yrs. away to take in a game and visit friends. I guess I have to ask why, the fans have always been loyal and willing to fill the stadium, I heard no one complaining when they sold out 80,000 + during the super bowl years, if Ralph wants to sell the least he could do is sell to new owners commited to keeping the team in WNY.The interest is there whether it be Jim Kelly's group or Tom G., look what he brought to the Sabres.
Don't sell us out Ralph!!

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dear ralph wilson i am a long time fan of the bills i have lived in buffalo all of my life. i have lived through the supposed move to seattle in the 60s and the supposed move to austin in the 80s the supposed move to l.a. in the 90s and the new move to toronto in the 2000s please ralph i love the bills but your threts have become stail. if you decied to finally move the team please let me know i will drop everything and help load the semi for you free of charge. i am sick of you and the nfl yours forever mike in buffalo

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