Trader Posted July 13, 2012 Posted July 13, 2012 I know this is a difficult subject I have been a Bills fan as long as there was an AFC. Looking at the demographics of Western New York I do not believe the franchise is viable post Ralph Wilson without successful regionalization into the Toronto market. The Bills will need to sell more tickets at higher prices to stay here. What name and or other tactics would you give to a team that would be inclusive to the Ontario market and not lose the Rochester and Syracuse markets? I would like to see a Shoulder patch on a new uniform or a helmet decal that uses the crossed U.S. and Canadian Flags similar to the one we use on youth hockey garb. Using the word "Niagara" certainly is a possiblity the "Niagara Power" is a start but I would like to see some other ideas especially from Canadians who will need to embrace this team if it is to stay here. I know this is heresy to many fans who are attached to the Bills as am I and I certainly understand your issues with it but I do not think the status quo is really an option post Ralph.
Optometric Insight Posted July 13, 2012 Posted July 13, 2012 If you don't get involved over there, you don't have to move there. But unfortunately, we got involved over there so here's what I say to that: Canadians. Giving us Beiber and saying "A" at the end of every sentence. Just because it's the first letter of the alphabet doesn't mean that you have to end every sentence with it! And then you guys have the balls to steal our football!?!?! you guys, you.
SageAgainstTheMachine Posted July 13, 2012 Posted July 13, 2012 (edited) I personally wouldn't stop rooting for the Bills in such a case, especially if it's just the name that's changing. What's in a name? I haven't actually lived there for 6 years and my interest hasn't exactly waned. A relocation to Toronto or beyond, though, and I might have to shift the focus of my masochism to Cleveland. EDIT: I still don't think it's going to happen, though. I've yet to see something more substantial than "Based on my limited understanding of the markets involved, it seems sorta logical." Edited July 13, 2012 by SageAgainstTheMachine
BillnutinHouston Posted July 13, 2012 Posted July 13, 2012 (edited) Not regionalizing is not an option for this franchise. Because of Buffalo's small size, its version of regionalizing into Canada is pretty much equivalent to other NFL cities just now starting to market to their own northwest suburbs. The "Buffalo Bills" is a 50+ year, storied, iconic brand name, steeped in history and tradition. You don't casually mess with that unless/until your fanbase has already gone 60-70% Canadian as a result of other, organic means. I don't think you rebrand in an effort to gain fans, as that would backfire. It's more appropriate to gain Canadian fans then rebrand (way, way down the road, if ever) to better capture the essence of the fanbase. I believe a Niagara Falls stadium would do far more to attract Canadian fans than a name change would. Edited July 14, 2012 by BillnutinHouston
Chandler#81 Posted July 14, 2012 Posted July 14, 2012 I have to check TSW by-laws, but I'm pretty sure heresy rates a lifetime ban.. Jk. I don't want to think about that future possibility, but like Sage, I'd adapt if they stayed in Western NY. They'd HAVE to keep the buffalo logo though, so it could be the team name.. The Erie Buffalo?
Dirtbag Posted July 14, 2012 Posted July 14, 2012 (edited) i've always believed that money would be the deciding factor as to whether the bills stay or go. now that i see it's just a matter of adding a few shoulder patches and helmet decals, i'm much more optimistic. patch away, ralphie! Edited July 14, 2012 by Dirtbag
BillnutinHouston Posted July 14, 2012 Posted July 14, 2012 i've always believed that money would be the deciding factor as to whether the bills stay or go. now that i see it's just a matter of adding a few shoulder patches and helmet decals, i'm much more optimistic. patch away, ralphie!
Hapless Bills Fan Posted July 14, 2012 Posted July 14, 2012 dafuq did i just read? The TSW equivalent of Lady Gaga in a steak bikini.
You herd it hear last Posted July 14, 2012 Posted July 14, 2012 But you see, I think the Bills single value to the NFL is it's short but interesting history and it's loveable-loser-like, small town charm and brand. It's the WNY / state politicians' lack of vision that has driven people (such as myself) from the area. It's not the Bills fault, WNY hasn't reinvented itself. As soon as the vitality of the AREA is returned, the pride and confidence of its' people will lag shortly behind. The seats and club boxes will be teeming with smiling, boisterous fans as the FO hangs banner upon banner in honor of it's championship squads. But why should we care about those things when we can vent our frustrations through our local, PRIVATELY OWNED, football club?
sir andrew Posted July 14, 2012 Posted July 14, 2012 This has the potential to be a really really good thread or a really really bad one.
BRAWNDO Posted July 14, 2012 Posted July 14, 2012 If you don't get involved over there, you don't have to move there. But unfortunately, we got involved over there so here's what I say to that: Canadians. Giving us Beiber and saying "A" at the end of every sentence. Just because it's the first letter of the alphabet doesn't mean that you have to end every sentence with it! And then you guys have the balls to steal our football!?!?! you guys, you. The "eh" at the end of every sentence isn't as bad as pronouncing Z as Zed. Not regionalizing is not an option for this franchise. Because of Buffalo's small size, its version of regionalizing into Canada is pretty much equivalent to other NFL cities just now starting to market to their own northwest suburbs. The "Buffalo Bills" is a 50+ year, storied, iconic brand name, steeped in history and tradition. You don't casually mess with that unless/until your fanbase has already gone 60-70% Canadian as a result of other, organic means. I don't think you rebrand in an effort to gain fans, as that would backfire. It's more appropriate to gain Canadian fans then rebrand (way, way down the road, if ever) to better capture the essence of the fanbase. I believe a Niagara Falls stadium would do far more to attract Canadian fans than a name change would. This.
Captain Hindsight Posted July 14, 2012 Posted July 14, 2012 I know this is a difficult subject I have been a Bills fan as long as there was an AFC. Looking at the demographics of Western New York I do not believe the franchise is viable post Ralph Wilson without successful regionalization into the Toronto market. The Bills will need to sell more tickets at higher prices to stay here. What name and or other tactics would you give to a team that would be inclusive to the Ontario market and not lose the Rochester and Syracuse markets? I would like to see a Shoulder patch on a new uniform or a helmet decal that uses the crossed U.S. and Canadian Flags similar to the one we use on youth hockey garb. Using the word "Niagara" certainly is a possiblity the "Niagara Power" is a start but I would like to see some other ideas especially from Canadians who will need to embrace this team if it is to stay here. I know this is heresy to many fans who are attached to the Bills as am I and I certainly understand your issues with it but I do not think the status quo is really an option post Ralph. To sell your product, you want to change its already all recognized label?
OCinBuffalo Posted July 14, 2012 Posted July 14, 2012 Should we change the name of Buffalo Wings...because they are now consumed by a wider market? I mean, after all, if we apply the reasoning above, wouldn't North American Wings make more sense? No. The brand....which albeit....we have gotten way far away from the last 10 years.....of the Buffalo Bills is: 1. Punishing Defense that only gets hungrier and angrier as the game goes on and the weather gets worse. 2. The weather...while bringing cold discomfort to the opponent, only adds firery wrath to our fans who can't feel the cold. Whether that is due to years of conditioning, zealotry, or inebriation, can't be known, and therefore adds to the mystique. 3. Soccer moms who are scarier to opposing teams than even the most bizarrely dressed Raiders fan...because they are LOUDER, and will keep cheering the whole game regardless of the score! 4. A city who has every reason to feel bad....refusing to...and instead feeling good about their team, thus confounding the rest of the nation. 5. And of course, the most important ingredient: when the Bills are winning, they can't be angry. They can't hate. They know that we are the good guys, whether they want to admit it or not it irrelevant. We haven't seen this brand for a while, but it is still there, in the minds of those who can remember. The best is that we seem to be headed back in that direction. That's why I don't care as much about the offense, or who the QB is. As long as they can finish what the D starts, and then, as the sheets of rain and snow come down, and the winds of FAIL swirl around the other team, run the ball to close the game, we will be back to our brand of football. A brand, that can only emanate from one place, one stadium, and one fan base.
PearlHowardman Posted July 14, 2012 Posted July 14, 2012 Batavia. With a stadium in Batavia you draw all of Buffalo, all of Rochester, and most of Syracuse (where I live). That should be enough.
bills_fan_in_raleigh Posted July 14, 2012 Posted July 14, 2012 (edited) A downtown stadium or a nfalls stadium makes it closer for fans on the north side of the border. Add in some nice regional transit from Rochester and Syracuse along with Ontario and you make it easy to get the fans in the seats. However when the product is decent there has never been an issue filling RWS. A name change to address regional aspect is just plain damn stupid Edited July 14, 2012 by bills_fan_in_raleigh
Nanker Posted July 14, 2012 Posted July 14, 2012 Yes. What a fantastic idea! Think of all the excellent naming possibilities that would trounce that tired, haggard name - The Buffalo Bills. Why, they could be renamed the Niagara Nincompoops, or the Lake Ontario Salmon, or the Erie Freezers, or the Niagara Riverwakers.
T.O. Posted July 14, 2012 Posted July 14, 2012 Should we change the name of Buffalo Wings...because they are now consumed by a wider market? I mean, after all, if we apply the reasoning above, wouldn't North American Wings make more sense? No. The brand....which albeit....we have gotten way far away from the last 10 years.....of the Buffalo Bills is: 1. Punishing Defense that only gets hungrier and angrier as the game goes on and the weather gets worse. 2. The weather...while bringing cold discomfort to the opponent, only adds firery wrath to our fans who can't feel the cold. Whether that is due to years of conditioning, zealotry, or inebriation, can't be known, and therefore adds to the mystique. 3. Soccer moms who are scarier to opposing teams than even the most bizarrely dressed Raiders fan...because they are LOUDER, and will keep cheering the whole game regardless of the score! 4. A city who has every reason to feel bad....refusing to...and instead feeling good about their team, thus confounding the rest of the nation. 5. And of course, the most important ingredient: when the Bills are winning, they can't be angry. They can't hate. They know that we are the good guys, whether they want to admit it or not it irrelevant. We haven't seen this brand for a while, but it is still there, in the minds of those who can remember. The best is that we seem to be headed back in that direction. That's why I don't care as much about the offense, or who the QB is. As long as they can finish what the D starts, and then, as the sheets of rain and snow come down, and the winds of FAIL swirl around the other team, run the ball to close the game, we will be back to our brand of football. A brand, that can only emanate from one place, one stadium, and one fan base.
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