Archives for March 2014

‘”The studies I have seen have failed to show that the Bills have a major economic impact on this region,” Kent Gardner, chief economist at the Rochester-based Center for Governmental Research, said. “But the Bills do give this region visibility on the national stage. Similarly, losing the Bills likely would have a negative effect.”‘

‘Most importantly, Mr. Wilson believed the Bills should not be reduced to profit alone. (Good thing: Even during the team’s Super Bowl run, the Bills required subsidies from his other businesses.)’

‘Bills fans bleed the deepest blues, the purest whites and the darkest reds for this team. A new owner needs to have that same passion along with the ability to bring talent to this squad, so that we, The 12th Man, can continue our love for this team and finally see a championship.’

‘A key point that should not be overlooked is the involvement of the team itself. Wilson has in the past been reluctant to discuss the future of the Bills beyond his ownership. The team’s involvement with the board should open the door for additional discussions that might prove beneficial to answering the question many diehard local fans have wanted to know for years: What happens to the Bills once Wilson no longer owns the team?’

‘Now one is gone, and the other is in a battle far greater than avoiding the pass rush of the New York Sack Exchange.’

‘”I was proud to be asked by the Bills to serve on the New Stadium Working Group, and I look forward to working with all of the committee members, the county, the state, the team and the local community to make sure fans can continue to cheer on the Bills in western New York for years to come. Keeping the Bills in western New York has always been one of my top priorities, and it will remain that way throughout this process.”‘

‘The Bills are planning to hold a public celebration and remembrance honoring Wilson at a date that has yet to be determined.’

‘The establishment of a stadium search committee was a requirement of the 10-year lease the Bills negotiated with the state and county in December 2012.’

‘”The seven individuals we have selected for the committee are passionate about the Buffalo Bills franchise and recognize its importance, both economically and socially, to the Western New York community,” Brandon said. “These individuals have a good understanding of our franchise and the National Football League. They also understand the impact of the team’s relationship with the business community and the significance to all Western New Yorkers, particularly our fans.”‘

‘Joining the committee that could be as big as 21, the team announced President and CEO Russ Brandon, team CFO Jeffrey Littman, team EVP Mary Owen, United States Senator Charles Schumer, New Era Cap Company CEO Christopher Koch, LPCiminelli Chairman Louis P. Ciminelli and SoftBank Capital Managing Partner Jordan Levy as their seven members.’

‘The Bills have announced the seven members selected by the organization to serve on the New Stadium Working Group.’

‘The challenge is that those managing the trust will have fiduciary duty to get the highest return possible for Wilson’s estate, and it’s almost certain that the highest return will be had from somewhere other than Western New York.’

‘”We normally tell people like Ralph Wilson, ‘Do not sell the team if you’re getting old because the appreciation is tremendous,'” said Daniel S. Hoops, an attorney who specializes in estate planning and is a professor at Walsh College in Michigan, where Wilson’s estate is likely to be settled.’

‘”A lot of what he did was behind the scenes,” said Candace Johnson, deputy director at Roswell Park Cancer Institute. “He has given over $11 million to medical institutions, and Roswell Park was fortunate to get $2 million to fund innovative research projects as seed money. That was parlayed into another $10 million to $12 million for those projects.”‘

‘He was a sweetheart of a man who thoroughly enjoyed a sweetheart deal. I’ve never viewed that as greed, as many others did. For me, he was like many wealthy people. They’re not hooked on money itself or what it provides them. Money is their way of keeping score. In professional sports, that doesn’t work for me. Winning does.’