GA BILLS FAN

Good memory -- we only sold 75,000 seats and it was -10 degrees and people will warned to stay indoors -- come on, you can do better

Buffalo fans have consistently supported this team for over 50 years. Jacksonville fans haven't supported their team for over a decade.

I'm with WEO, it won't matter. Buy tickets and go to the games because you want to go, don't do it out of FEAR or some ill conceived concept that it will matter, IT WON'T. The league and other owners know that Buffalo supports the team. We have had 14 miserable seasons supporting the team to prove it. Fans in the seats isn't the issue. SUITE SALES and TV MARKET are.

Some sick part of me hopes the "we deserve a good product on the field" crowd actually GETS A GOOD PRODUCT ON THE FIELD !! Maybe you like losing, I hate it !!

I disagree and for two good reasons. First, Brandon's been subtly shoveling the FEAR angle with Bills fans for years and it's time this team performs and earn the support of the community and put a quality product on the field. Second, your kidding yourself if you think a prospective owner will change their minds because we fill the stadium. Prospective owners will fall into two categories, neither influenced by attendance. One, he/she is from Buffalo and want to keep the team here. In that case, they know this community supported losing teams and were rabid about winning teams. Two, he/she is set on moving the team, selling out this stadium won't change the economics of the suite sales that can be had in LA. Look, the other 31 owners, commissioner and every prospective owner knows there is a good fan base in WNY that supports the team win or lose, what Buffalo doesn't have that LA has is MONEY, and lots of it --- NONE of us can change that -- in today's NFL suite sales to rich people and corporations is the ticket to financial success --- we can't change the Buffalo economy, the size of the TV market or the number of wealthy people. Buying the $40 seat is not going to change the equation. Expect better NOW from this team and the FO, GM and coaches !!

Probably not a good argument ! Kelly has said numerous times that he has spoken to investors who have the funds to purchase team. Not to mention, Pegula, Golisano or Jacobs or others. In addition, if this was the case, I'm sure Wilson would have said something

+1 on remaining until 2020, as for after that, I'd say it's 50/50 at best Not at all -- we'll know definitively whether Wilson puts any conditions on the sale or if it's to the highest bidder -- if it's the later it means NO PLAN, simple as that.

Maybe we should rename this thread to "What happens after 7 years" -- I think it's safe to say that the Bills are relatively SAFE for the next 7.

To be clear -- in my assumptions, I'm looking at this in 7 years, when the OUT clause in the lease is available without the $400M penalty. I think prior to that, any owner looking to relocate, would "wait it out".

A responsibly high number could be $1.2 - $1.5 BILLION in Los Angeles as the NFL reopens that market -- look at the Dodger sale as a reference point. A prospective owner could EASILY justify that investment. The suite sales in a new stadium in LA would surpass what Dallas and New York did which is probably 10X what Buffalo does today. Be careful in assuming the other NFL owners will "have Buffalo's back" in ANY way shape or form when it comes to this community. If the destiny of the location of this team is on the other owners, I would kiss the Bills goodbye. The NFL's value would be increased by moving the franchise from Buffalo to LA, if the owners out that first and foremost, we are in trouble. Again, in an estate sale, the trustee is looking for the maximum value for the heirs, unless Ralph specified something else, it's their singular focus.

An NFL franchise has more value in Los Angeles than it does in Buffalo. If the terms of Ralph's will is to place the Bills "on the block" in an open auction, without any conditions in terms of location, the highest value you can extract will be from an owner that wants to move the team to Los Angeles. There are three things that could prevent this: (1) Ralph places a condition or pre-negotiated a purchase (2) the commissioner and other NFL owners prevent relocation OR (3) the highest bidder chooses to keep the team in Buffalo and overpay in order to do it. I'm hoping and praying one of those 3 scenarios plays out.

I'm with Mango on this. If Ralph created a plan prior to his death to keep the Bills in Buffalo after he died, he will be crowned King. If he didn't, and the Bills do indeed move, it will tarnish his image. Why ? Because he COULD HAVE created such a plan and for whatever reason did not.

RIP Mr. Wilson. We will always be thankful that you brought the Bills to Buffalo. I can only hope you created a plan to keep them here.

I think he has a limited trade market due to his contract and that he is more likely a #2 on a strong team and not a clear #1. The price Seattle paid for Harvin both in trade and the contract is crazy, IMHO -- no way is he worth that --- as for Stevie, I think he'd yield a 2nd round back -- but I wouldn't trade him -- the Bills have tons of cap space -- wait until the cap is an issue -- in meantime -- keep anyone we can --- we need talent on this team -- in addition, the WR draft is so deep, a lot of teams will look to add via draft on the cheap

As much as I think Graham won't cut it in the NFL, he deserves (and will get) another training camp/pre-season to establish himself as a legit NFL receiver. Worst case, he doesn't make it and we wasted the 3rd on him (and didn't take Wilson ) -- Best case, 3rd year is the charm.

What's the harm ? I'm for anything that will improve the talent on the team. I also do not want the Bills to draft a WR at #9 (unless Watkins slips) -- so, sign Britt and add a WR in 3rd round -- grab an OT at #9 and a FS or ILB in 2nd.

Pure backup to the QB they draft #1, and an ideal situation for Fitz, too bad he couldn't humble himself enough to remain in Buffalo at a significantly lower salary to be EJ's backup/mentor.

Ebron. But real vote is NEITHER. My biggest draft day fear is Evans. Bills just invested a 2nd, 3rd and another 3rd on WR's, in addition, this draft is deep and the difference between Evans and the guy they could get in 2nd or 3rd is not significant. I want one of the OT's (Matthews or Robinson), if they are not there, I'm okay with Lewan or Barr (as rush end in Schwartz D).

Not sure what else to say, compare Lambeau to RW stadium and it should be clear. Compare the websites, training camps, promotions, team products, events etc. etc. The difference is stark. Selling some games to Toronto ? reminds me of a failing company in Rochester selling off their patents to stay in business just a little longer.

Start by looking at what they've done with Lambeau Field. It is a destination with restaurants, tours, gift shops. They decided to think big. Meanwhile Russ continues to think small. Small won't work long term. Bills need a new stadium or a complete redo of the Ralph. Second, look around their website, they are constantly creating new promotional products and events, for example the "Tailgate Tour". Third, they've done a phenomenal job connecting Packer fans all over the country back to the team. Sure it helps that they win, but that's for another thread.

A couple quick comments --- Brandon is no marketing genius. To me, he's done the obvious, which is to expand the market for the team into Roch, Syr and Canada. He's fallen way short at doing what GB has done and that's what the team needs to do. On the profitability, agree 100%. A new owner can make more elsewhere. The question is whether an owner, who is inclined to keep the team in Buffalo, can be profitable. I think with the right stadium (a NEW ONE) and more creative marketing, it can.

K9 and Kirby are right. The revenue sharing model only includes certain items. There are provisions to provide small market teams extra funds if the other owners deem they have exhausted their respective markets and are maximizing their revenue generation. I don't know the specifics. However, it is quite possible as the cap increases that the Bills could lose money as a team if they spend to the cap because of this issue. At a minimum, they are significantly less profitable, especially in a small, economically depressed market. In my opinion, where Brandon gets inappropriate praise is the way he has supposedly "regionalized" the team. While, the Bills are regional, they would have gotten there naturally as the NFL became more popular. Where Brandon has failed is to think bigger and more creatively on other ways to market the team. Look no further than Green Bay for a model of what to do.

Agree -- the non-shared revenue that counts to the cap will continue to kill the lower revenue teams like the Bills. Ralph was right.

If Bills don't tag Byrd, the only plausible explanation is that they agreed with he and his agent last year not to tag him again. It's a no lose proposition for the Bills to tag and trade -- crap, they could trade him for a 7th rounder -- what am I missing ? What is downside to tag and trade vs. letting him walk ??

Bills must have given Byrd assurances he wouldn't be tagged a 2nd time to get him on the field. That is the ONLY thing that makes any sense of this move. Ugh