Scrappy Posted June 19, 2011 Posted June 19, 2011 (edited) Link This is the part that chaps my ***, who has the nerve enough to hold a town hostage like this after running a financially successful business here for ~50 years? Wilson has no known succession plan. He plans to have the team auctioned to the highest bidder. It's hard to imagine the top bid coming from someone who intends to keep the Bills in this market. Edited June 19, 2011 by Scrappy
Scrappy Posted June 19, 2011 Author Posted June 19, 2011 Consider the source. Reality is not a source.
Doc Posted June 19, 2011 Posted June 19, 2011 Reality is not a source. There is no "reality" in that piece. It's starts of stupidly, claiming Bills fans don't worry about the team leaving.
Griswold Posted June 19, 2011 Posted June 19, 2011 Yes.. consider the source. Jerry's story is built on "reports" from LA, those reports amount to gossip by the water cooler. Then Jerry adds an extra layer of gossip with "Wilson has no known succession plan." (Wilson is smart, of course he has a succession plan... it's just not known to the public.. for good reason) Having critiqued Jerry's story build up, his underlying story line of "When Wilson is gone, all bets are off. If he dies, the Bills would be at or near the top of any list for possible relocation." is true. Very true. Anyone familiar with estate taxes knows the Bills are gone when Ralph passes. Even wealthy Jack Kent Cooke could not keep the Redskins in his family.. and he was substantially wealthier than Wilson. Don't get angry with Wilson when the Bills move out of town. Get angry with ourselves for creating a government that robs inheritances from families in order to pay for unproductive social programs and pork barrel projects for the politically connected.
Scrappy Posted June 19, 2011 Author Posted June 19, 2011 There is no "reality" in that piece. It's starts of stupidly, claiming Bills fans don't worry about the team leaving. Reality is that Ralph's plan for the highest bidder to buy the Bills leaves us vunerable, that's the bottom line however you want to beat the drum during the song.
Doc Posted June 19, 2011 Posted June 19, 2011 Reality is that Ralph's plan for the highest bidder to buy the Bills leaves us vunerable, that's the bottom line however you want to beat the drum during the song. That isn't the plan and Sullivan claiming it is doesn't make it "reality."
Griswold Posted June 19, 2011 Posted June 19, 2011 Reality is that Ralph's plan for the highest bidder to buy the Bills leaves us vunerable, that's the bottom line however you want to beat the drum during the song. Well.. yes you are correct. Just don't think Ralph is selling to the highest bidder because he's milking a buck. His estate (not him) would have to sell to the highest bidder because all they can afford to do. This is a similar case Redskins
Mr. WEO Posted June 19, 2011 Posted June 19, 2011 Yes.. consider the source. Jerry's story is built on "reports" from LA, those reports amount to gossip by the water cooler. Then Jerry adds an extra layer of gossip with "Wilson has no known succession plan." (Wilson is smart, of course he has a succession plan... it's just not known to the public.. for good reason) Having critiqued Jerry's story build up, his underlying story line of "When Wilson is gone, all bets are off. If he dies, the Bills would be at or near the top of any list for possible relocation." is true. Very true. Anyone familiar with estate taxes knows the Bills are gone when Ralph passes. Even wealthy Jack Kent Cooke could not keep the Redskins in his family.. and he was substantially wealthier than Wilson. Don't get angry with Wilson when the Bills move out of town. Get angry with ourselves for creating a government that robs inheritances from families in order to pay for unproductive social programs and pork barrel projects for the politically connected. Why is there a good reason? Wouldn't it be better for ticket sales (season tickets dropped by 11,000 to only 44,000) for the fans to know what the plan is? WHile we're on the subject, any one want to speculate on why Raplh doesn't just sell the team now? Why does he continue--because the thinks he's doing such a great job? He needs a little more cash to stuff into the barge for the river Styx crossing? Does he really still enjoy getting all packed up for his rare forays into Buffalo, NY? Anyway, moving the Bills will cost the next owner hundreds of millions in moving taxes and new stadium contributions. The Bills will make money for him on day one.
Griswold Posted June 19, 2011 Posted June 19, 2011 Why is there a good reason? ... I think the succession plan (whatever it is) is bad news for fans.. and would drive away fans and hit the bottom line. WHile we're on the subject, any one want to speculate on why Raplh doesn't just sell the team now? A rationale businessman on death's door step would sell now... it's better for his family in the end. Speculating on this could go on for days.
Scrappy Posted June 19, 2011 Author Posted June 19, 2011 (edited) That isn't the plan and Sullivan claiming it is doesn't make it "reality." Well.. yes you are correct. Just don't think Ralph is selling to the highest bidder because he's milking a buck. His estate (not him) would have to sell to the highest bidder because all they can afford to do. This is a similar case Redskins How do you figure anything different from the last statement we heard from Ralph about it ?? Ralph is complaining about the new 90% to be paid to players on the table, I see him looking for every dime after he is gone. If he sells it before he is gone, long term capital gains (~15%) apply versus estate taxes (50% or more). If you think that Ralph is thinking of the future right now, you're nuts. I see a guy holding on for as long as he can (including keeping his name on the stadium door). Edited June 19, 2011 by Scrappy
Ghost of Rob Johnson Posted June 19, 2011 Posted June 19, 2011 (edited) Wilson has no known succession plan. He plans to have the team auctioned to the highest bidder. It's hard to imagine the top bid coming from someone who intends to keep the Bills in this market. The key word is "known." He plans to have the team auctioned to the highest bidder. It's hard to imagine the top bid coming from someone who intends to keep the Bills in this market. When has Ralph said this is his plan publicly? I thought he didn't have a known succession plan. Did Jerry even speak with him for this article? Wawrow commented in October after actually meeting with Ralph this: "From what I've heard in the background, and seen happening - without saying anything definitively, because I can't, because no one's actually told me anything - I have a better feeling that this team might be here longer, beyond Ralph Wilson, for a long time," Wawrow said. "I can't say that with certainty, but I get the sense there's work going on in the background that will make the transition easier. I can't really get into specifics, because I can't pin down the facts." "Given the fact that Ralph Wilson is in the Hall of Fame, and built a legacy on voting against relocation, and the fact that I know the NFL wants a market in this region - and I'm speaking to the Toronto/Buffalo corridor - I can't foresee a team moving out of this region just because it's so valuable as far as its proximity goes," Wawrow said. "I think the history is also there with the number of people from the Bills organization who are in Canton." http://www.buffalorumblings.com/2010/10/12/1746725/wawrow-speculates-on-possible-bills-succession-plan Edited June 19, 2011 by Ghost of Rob Johnson
Doc Posted June 19, 2011 Posted June 19, 2011 Ockham's razor says that the succession plan is to leave the team to his wife upon his death, thereby avoiding the issue of a fire sale due to the death tax. Selling something in haste rarely brings the highest price, if that's the true plan. But that's not sensible/controversial enough for Sully. But as I've said, given that Ralph has voted "no" to every franchise relocation and he hasn't moved the team from a market that has been declining for decades, the goal isn't to ultimately screw the Bills fans. And there are several individuals with the money to buy the team and keep it in Buffalo (Pegs, Golisano, Kelly's group, etc.). But again, that's not sensible/controversial enough for Sully.
Pirate Angel Posted June 19, 2011 Posted June 19, 2011 There doesnt seem to be any real evidence about the Bills being considered. It makes sense that if LA wants a team it will target a West Coast team like Oakland and San Diego, being that those teams already have a fan base there and are close enough to keep there already existing fan base. However it also makes sense that the Bills may be vulnerable seeing how there is a decline in the population of upstate New York and the team hasnt won enough to gereate any income from bandwagoners, making them look for a larger fan base in Toronto. Im not sure if Buffalo has a whole lot of major companies throwing major money at box seats and investments with the teams. Tops and Wegmans can only do so much.
Scrappy Posted June 19, 2011 Author Posted June 19, 2011 There doesnt seem to be any real evidence about the Bills being considered. It makes sense that if LA wants a team it will target a West Coast team like Oakland and San Diego, being that those teams already have a fan base there and are close enough to keep there already existing fan base. However it also makes sense that the Bills may be vulnerable seeing how there is a decline in the population of upstate New York and the team hasnt won enough to gereate any income from bandwagoners, making them look for a larger fan base in Toronto. Im not sure if Buffalo has a whole lot of major companies throwing major money at box seats and investments with the teams. Tops and Wegmans can only do so much. All the more reason to centralize the team closer to a majority of the fanbase with a new stadium in Niagara Falls, one of the seven wonders of the world. How many other stadiums / teams have one of the 7 in their backyard ??
Arkady Renko Posted June 19, 2011 Posted June 19, 2011 The NFL could -- I DON'T KNOW -- just expand to LA and end all of this. But they don't. They love having some cities serving as a threat to other cities to force through publicly-financed billion dollar playpens for billionaire owners.
PromoTheRobot Posted June 19, 2011 Posted June 19, 2011 (edited) We all love to blame Ralph for something he has no control over: the state of the economy in WNY. We all feel like Ralph Wilson and the NFL owe us something but in the Wall Street world no one does anyone any favors. What I find ironic is how the same people who preach free markets are the same ones upset when the free market says L.A. is a better home for the Bills. PTR Edited June 19, 2011 by PromoTheRobot
nucci Posted June 19, 2011 Posted June 19, 2011 All the more reason to centralize the team closer to a majority of the fanbase with a new stadium in Niagara Falls, one of the seven wonders of the world. How many other stadiums / teams have one of the 7 in their backyard ?? Majority of Bills fans live in Niagara Falls?
Scrappy Posted June 19, 2011 Author Posted June 19, 2011 (edited) Majority of Bills fans live in Niagara Falls Centrally located is a difficult concept but I assume that all the Rochester, Canadian & Central NY fans deserve nothing short of Orchard Park. It's this exact type of thinking that have jeopardized the Bills as industries have left. Where exactly is the most centrally located place to reach the largest market in the area ?? We have One of the Seven Wonders, I personally would think it would be good to utilize that & many of the Highways throughout NY can get you there. Map from Rochester to Niagara Falls - ~2 Hours Map from Toronto to Niagara Falls - ~2 Hours Map from Orchard Park to Niagara Falls ~47 Minutes Edited June 19, 2011 by Scrappy
PromoTheRobot Posted June 19, 2011 Posted June 19, 2011 (edited) Centrally located is a difficult concept but I assume that all the Rochester, Canadian & Central NY fans deserve nothing short of Orchard Park. It's this exact type of thinking that have jeopardized the Bills as industries have left. Where exactly is the most centrally located place to reach the largest market in the area ?? We have One of the Seven Wonders, I personally would think it would be good to utilize that & many of the Highways throughout NY can get you there. Map from Rochester to Niagara Falls - ~2 Hours Map from Toronto to Niagara Falls - ~2 Hours Map from Orchard Park to Niagara Falls ~47 Minutes The Bills best hope for the future is selling the regional fan base, from Toronto to Syracuse. Add all those metros up and you have a very major market. But prices will have to go up and a new stadium will need to be built eventually. The NFL is an expensive club to belong to. Until another Pete Rozelle becomes the commissioner Buffalo will have to keep up with the (Jerruh) Joneses. PTR Edited June 19, 2011 by PromoTheRobot
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