BillnutinHouston

Interesting note from the Kryk article: “Recognize something, though,” Ganis said. “The (Wilson) family and the trust can change the process any time they choose to. This is not a public bid. This is not a publicly traded company. They don’t have to follow (U.S.) Security and Exchange Commission rules, they are not going through some legal auction process, and they are not a public entity. “So they can set the ground rules, change the ground rules, halt the process or accelerate the process any time they choose to.” So if the trust prefers a certain bidder, and that bidder offers a satisfactory price at the get-go, it can end the process without notice — and choose that bidder.

Fair enough observation, but didn't he break the story, and if so shouldn't he get credit? Regardless of whether or not he broke the story, I do think that TG added to the story with his observation that Greenberg's decision to take Pegula on as a client is significant in that it signals that Greenberg sizes Pegula up to be a likely front runner. Not a TG fan by any means, but let's give props where they're due.

Pegula continues to operate the way the NFL likes - quiet, unassuming, methodical and highly liquid. You have to really like his chances.

Well, Kryk on WGR this morning said that Toronto bidders (at least Rogers) "may" be backing off because of "whispers" that the trust is only seeking bids that include long term plans in Buffalo. The audio is posted on GR's On-demand audio section, but I wasn't able to link it here. I want to take Kryk at his word, but his audio sounded to me like speculation rather than solid reporting.

Not only will Watkins start in Soldier Field on opening day, but they will have plays in especially for him. I expect at least one WR screen per half.

Who needs a Bills sale or even a season? Just keep these great threads coming and I'm fully entertained.

Link?

It all depends on EJ's development. I think Gabriel makes too much of the impact of the defensive coordinator/scheme change.

Agreed! I tried and failed tonight as well.

So EJ and Sammy not having chemistry yet is news? To me it would be news if they DID have chemistry at this stage. It's just early summer website fodder.

But he also said that if needed, the State and County will do what they have to do.

im not a statistician, but I don't believe this is true. If you flip a coin 10 times and it lands on heads all 10 times, the 11th flip is still a 50-50 chance of landing on heads.

My sense about this group is the same. They may be feeling their way, but solid.

Great info Brawndo, thanks. Hmmm now that is interesting. Something's clearly afoot. To me this group out of the gate had the appearance of a thoughtful, substantive group and the fact that they're maintaining a low profile at this juncture must be for a clear strategic purpose.

I think I agree with this. The silence and waiting is painful.

Yea good point. If he's still in campaign mode, he probably can't say much.

Don't get me wrong, I heartily applaud the BFA founders for their efforts to develop their financing concepts and build their Board of Directors with new Hall of Famers. But am I the only one who is surprised at the low profile being kept by the BFA at this critical point in time? Should they not be actively soliciting contributions, or are they quietly working in the shadows with prospective ownership groups? Have they tried pursuing these discussions and discovered that anyone known to have contact with this group would be perceived as a financial lightweight and therefore have a strike (or 2 or 3) against them? I can say that months ago I emailed the BFA to ask whether contributions would be tax deductible, and never even got a reply. If the BFA's financial contributions have been determined to be meaningless in the sale process, would it be helpful for them to at least put out an online petition of some kind to give voice to how Bills fans would react over the next several years to a sale to an out-of-town buyer? I'm not a fan of online polls but would an expression of Bills fans' reactions to such a sale, in advance, have a psychological or even deterrent effect on the workings of either the trust or the league, or even potential bidders? Sorry for all the questions, I just find the speculation fascinating.

My daughter's boyfriend grew up in Chicago and is a Bears fan, but he knows better than to talk smack. I'm still debating whether to even allow him over on week 1 to watch the game.

No. NYS paid $54 million, the county contributed $41 million and the Bills covered $35 million. http://www.buffalorumblings.com/2012/12/22/3793990/buffalo-bills-stadium-improvements

Would be fascinating to know if the NDA precludes a process that allows for give and take among bidders and the trustees. I would think that an interactive process between bidder and trustees works to the benefit of the trust. I'd also think the NDA is designed solely to protect the parties from disclosure of information outside of the main players. The question is, does it prevent the explicit or implicit sharing of proptrietary bid information of one group with another? Even if it does, there are ways... Hopefully this is when Pegula gets Golisano on the phone and asks for a little help.

Sorry that you take issue with how I read your earlier post, and yes I wrongly put words in your mouth. My bad. But saying he "didn't leave much on the table" ignores the fact that he sacrificed a lot, both over the years and in the final sales price of his asset, by staying put (even before there was such a thing as relocation fees). His refusal to seek a new stadium is additional evidence that he was very restrained in how he applied leverage to WNY & NYS. It's too easy to take Wilson's loyalty for granted and minimize what that loyalty cost him, and I suspect that Mr. Wilson's family and financial advisors would take issue with the statement that he "didn't leave much on the table".

You are free to point to the Toronto series as your best example of Wilson's fiscal approach, just as I'm free to point to his willingness to keep the team (permanently within his lifetime) in a poor market, and to do so without demanding a new stadium. My examples highlight his willingness to sacrifice the value of his asset to what he saw as his higher obligation to WNY. When looked at this way, Wilson left a LOT on the table. That gesture more than trumps the Toronto series IMO. And I think that painting Mr. Wilson as a soulless money grubber is bad juju at this stage of the game. Remember, $40 million of his money is being invested in RWS at the same time his estate is selling the team that will benefit from those investments. This is one of the most encouraging posts I've read in a long time.

You're speaking pretty generally there but it seems that it may vary depending on the specific location. This is from the Vikings' new stadium website, in a FAQ section on their "Stadium Builder's Licenses": How is the project being financed? Of the project’s $975 million upfront capital costs, $477 million, or 49% of the stadium cost, will be paid by private funds made up of a combination of Vikings private financing and equity and the MSFA’s sale of Stadium Builder’s Licenses (SBLs). The Vikings private financing and equity includes certain NFL financing in the form of a loan repaid by stadium revenues. The Stadium Builder’s Licenses program was authorized by the Minnesota legislature in the 2012 stadium legislation (for more on SBLs, click here). The remaining $498 million public contribution will be split between the City of Minneapolis ($150 million) and the State of Minnesota ($348 million). The State has issued appropriation bonds in an approximate amount of $462 million and will finance the remainder of the $498 million public contribution with available State funds. The stadium legislation provides that the City’s $150 million contribution will be advanced to the MSFA through the issuance of the appropriation bonds and will be repaid by the City to the State by redirecting a portion of the current “Convention Center Taxes.” The remaining amount of the appropriation bonds will be repaid to the bondholders from other sources available to the state, including the modernization of state-authorized charitable gaming that includes electronic pull-tabs and bingo and a one-time inventory tax on cigarettes, which raised approximately $36 million. What is a Stadium Builder’s License? A Stadium Builder’s License (SBL) is a one-time contribution that grants Season Ticket Members the right to control their seats for a defined term as long as they continue to purchase Vikings season tickets. SBLs are used to help finance construction of new stadiums; programs have been used as a finance tool for half of all stadium projects in the NFL. Why are SBLs used? SBLs are used to help finance construction of new stadiums; programs have been used as a finance tool for half of all stadium projects in the NFL. The economics of new stadium construction require a partnership between the state and local governments, the team and the fans. This new stadium cannot be accomplished without the support of fans, and in previous SBL programs around the country, fans have had a positive experience with SBLs. EDIT: Where does the money from SBLs go? All net proceeds from SBL programs are directed toward construction costs of the new stadium and stadium infrastructure. How many NFL stadiums have used SBLs? Prior to this project, 16 stadiums that serve as the homes for 17 NFL teams have used SBL programs as a project finance tool. Most recently, new stadiums for the Cowboys, 49ers, Jets and Giants were significantly funded by SBL programs. These stadiums have SBL prices that are more than three-four times higher than the program being discussed in this market. For a market comparison, click here.

What's the point of Trump saying that? How would he know? Does this in itself violate the nondisclosure agreement, and is that what he's angling for as a graceful exit?

I applaud the urgency you're projecting but I'm not sure that your statement is factually accurate. If an owner takes a leap of faith, he/she will do so knowing there's "only" a handful of years left on the lease, after which time the franchise is a free agent. So he can give Buffalo the benefit of the doubt initially but still relocate if WNY can't get it's act together. Or he can sell to yet another buyer who won't have the Erie County lease to contend with.