Selling of Bills Could Happen Even Sooner

[Kellyto83TD]

Makes me think that Ralph had someone lined up.

I felt that the minute Russ Brandon took over. I think he and the Sr. Staff have known the plan all along and who the new buyer was. I also believe they were on board with Brandon, Whaley etal. Staying the course and being the front office/ Staff for the new owners as well.

 

I just want Jeffery Litman's ass kicked to the curb. Again, I pray new owner will spend what he needs to and his #1 Goal is winning period

[Kellyto83TD]

One other possible owner

Oh God I hate you so much right now.... or myself for letting myself forget about said link...

[Razor1919]

And an election year for Cuomo. No way the team is sold to an out of town group on his watch.

[boyst]

It's started a while ago for me.

oh, I've grown tired of them for a while. The Tebow thing didn't bother me. The nonsense they run in the day is what does. Around the horn used to be the worst show they had. Now its the second best to PTI.

 

They removed original content and creative artistry, eroded all other content to quips, quotes and storylines and now make me feel as if their take on sports is a soap opera.

 

To make me hate something takes a lot. I don't like to work that hard. But seeing their site use bloggers to take credit for other journalists work gets me. Especially when cherry picked and ill informed.

[ICanSleepWhenI'mDead]

I hope the Bills stay in Buffalo, but as usual everybody reads into the article what they want to believe. The article mainly says that the sale might take place quicker than many previously anticipated, so the state wants to be ready to push for that new owner to stay in WNY. The article specifically states that Duffy said that he doesn't know who the new owner may be or what that new owner's goals may be:

 

We're just being prepared because we don't know who the next owner will be. We're not sure what the goals and the objectives of the next ownership team will be."

 

If the fix is in for the new owner to be a local person that will definitely keep the Bills in WNY, why would the state be in a rush to prepare a report about possible new WNY stadium options in 90 days or so (immediately after any early sale), rather than in 6 months or so when the "New Stadium Working Group" committee has prepared its own report?

 

While it can't hurt to have potential bidders tour possible sites for a new WNY stadium, a quick new owner decision doesn't necessarily mean it will be someone local - - it could still go either way.

 

Just my opinion - - flame it if you want.

Edited May 3, 2014 by ICanSleepWhenI'mDead

[Mike in Horseheads]

God I hope so. Not only just to get stability but for the press, and all of us to finally SHUT UP about it. LOL.

 

I have felt there was a person/ Group already ordained to take the reigns. And people keep talking about 'bidding' who says there has to be bids? Mary Wilson owns this team, if she says ' Its Donald Trumps if he wants it' then all she needs is league approval.

 

Maybe its worth 1.1 Billion, but maybe she just wants 700 mill and GTFO? See there are many things that have been missing in reports, #1 is this is Mary Wilsons, not Buffalo's, Not the States, Not Erie Counties, Not some trust....Mary Wilsons to sell.

 

My only fear is there are buzzards out there that see Buffalo fans flock to the stadium year, after year, after decade and fill the stands even though Ralph Wilson fielded a **** team. Now a pure money man sees nothing but lemmings willing to line his pockets. I pray and I suggest you do too even if you don't believe in God or Buda or whatever, we find a guy that wants to put WINNING as #1 and financially be ok with the purchase of the team being a tax write off for 20 years or so. Put ALL the money back into this team.

 

Also an ownership group also worries me. Groups tend to worry more about the ROI of the investment, not the product of the team.

 

That said, yeah I can see it sold by July and approved in October, its best for the Team, League, and fans.

Mary may be acting owner but I'm guessing it's how the trust was structured on the final outcome of the sale. The Ralph ain't cheap in me hopes he set it up with WNY interests having exclusive rights to bid.

[TSNBDSC]

This can only mean one thing (if true): this had been in the works for some time.

 

yup

 

Would make for an entertaining press conference.

 

LMAO Love to see the Bills roll him out first at the presser ! I'd die laughing !

[ICanSleepWhenI'mDead]

Mary may be acting owner but I'm guessing it's how the trust was structured on the final outcome of the sale. The Ralph ain't cheap in me hopes he set it up with WNY interests having exclusive rights to bid.

FWIW, from an article based on an interview Ralph gave in 2005:

 

http://www.sportsbusinessdaily.com/Journal/Issues/2005/05/20050516/Other-News/In-Profile-Bills-Owner-Ralph-Wilson.aspx?hl=SFX&sc=0

 

Wilson asked his lawyer if his estate could require a buyer to keep the team in Buffalo but was informed that would be illegal. So he is left hoping that a future acquirer will be as committed as he to the region.

 

Article doesn't specify WHY that would be illegal, and maybe he got different legal advice or changed his mind later. People in their 80's or 90's change their minds about stuff all the time, right?

[Kellyto83TD]

Mary may be acting owner but I'm guessing it's how the trust was structured on the final outcome of the sale. The Ralph ain't cheap in me hopes he set it up with WNY interests having exclusive rights to bid.

 

I have to say I disagree. It was clear a couple years back, this belongs to the family not the trust. The trust is inplace to help the team keep going until a new owner is found. This is 100% Mary Wilsons team now

[thewildrabbit]

I felt that the minute Russ Brandon took over. I think he and the Sr. Staff have known the plan all along and who the new buyer was. I also believe they were on board with Brandon, Whaley etal. Staying the course and being the front office/ Staff for the new owners as well.

 

I just want Jeffery Litman's ass kicked to the curb. Again, I pray new owner will spend what he needs to and his #1 Goal is winning period

The way this team has had so many lost seasons for so many years I'm hoping that the entire front office gets the boot. Brandon became director of non football operations when Marv Levy was hired, and more then likely took over the football operations side when Marv retired.

 

I'd rather the new owners rid themselves of this losing culture, and start anew with "football" people in the top job. Rather then a marketing guy with a baseball background..which is probably a big reason why the team has been at the bottom of the division for so many years.

 

Yea, to me winning before profits. So we fans need a billionaire owner that wants to win as badly as we all want to win.

[GunnerBill]

I have to say I disagree. It was clear a couple years back, this belongs to the family not the trust. The trust is inplace to help the team keep going until a new owner is found. This is 100% Mary Wilsons team now

 

Having a bit of experience in this area of law and having dealt with a couple of cross jurisdictional cases where US trust law was relevant I can say pretty confidently it will depend on the terms on which the trust was established and the contractual obligations thereby placed upon it. I agree with your assertion that the team belongs to the Wilson family and not the trust, however, the trust are in operational control until such time as the team is sold and therefore are the de facto sellers. For that reason I think it's very likely that the trust's obligations in respect of the sale are obligations to the Wilson family and not to WNY. I find it almost impossible to believe that there is anything that gives WNY interests exclusive rights to bid. I think much more likely the trust is obligated to act in the best interests of the Wilson family 1st and Buffalo 2nd. Therefore a WNY bidder will not get favoured treatment if their bid is less than what Mary Wilson would get on the open market selling the team to someone who might well have designs on moving the team. It's likely that what is best for Buffalo and / or WNY is only a secondary factor where two rival bids both satisfy the obligations to Mary Wilson and the Wilson family.

Edited May 3, 2014 by GunnerBill

[RuntheDamnBall]

One other possible owner

That dude can't possibly fit a billion dollars in those pants.

[K-9]

FWIW, from an article based on an interview Ralph gave in 2005:

 

http://www.sportsbus...spx?hl=SFX&sc=0

 

 

 

Article doesn't specify WHY that would be illegal, and maybe he got different legal advice or changed his mind later. People in their 80's or 90's change their minds about stuff all the time, right?

 

Interesting. When he sold the Sabres, a condition of the sale was that they couldn't be moved out of Buffalo. Wonder why the NFL is different.

 

GO BILLS!!!

[RuntheDamnBall]

The way this team has had so many lost seasons for so many years I'm hoping that the entire front office gets the boot. Brandon became director of non football operations when Marv Levy was hired, and more then likely took over the football operations side when Marv retired.

 

I'd rather the new owners rid themselves of this losing culture, and start anew with "football" people in the top job. Rather then a marketing guy with a baseball background..which is probably a big reason why the team has been at the bottom of the division for so many years.

 

Yea, to me winning before profits. So we fans need a billionaire owner that wants to win as badly as we all want to win.

Sure. Because, you know, starting over is something that needs to be done again and again. Why not re-rebuild once more amirite?

 

Football people are in the football jobs. Whaley is the top football man. Brandon is the team President, which is not always and not necessarily a football person.

 

I understand that 14+ years of no playoffs sucks. But the people in charge at the moment are not responsible for 14 years without playoffs.

[voodoo poonani]

One other possible owner

 

Son of a b!!!!

[purple haze]

Are there reports of Mary Wilson being stupid?

 

I agree she'll most likely "pick" the party to whom she feels most comfortable with, but she's not leaving 400mil on the table. Either way, this is good news all around.

 

Whoever she picks still needs to be approved by the league. So the highest bidder might work for her, but not the league, in which case she has to sell to someone who will fulfill both needs.

 

Having a bit of experience in this area of law and having dealt with a couple of cross jurisdictional cases where US trust law was relevant I can say pretty confidently it will depend on the terms on which the trust was established and the contractual obligations thereby placed upon it. I agree with your assertion that the team belongs to the Wilson family and not the trust, however, the trust are in operational control until such time as the team is sold and therefore are the de facto sellers. For that reason I think it's very likely that the trust's obligations in respect of the sale are obligations to the Wilson family and not to WNY. I find it almost impossible to believe that there is anything that gives WNY interests exclusive rights to bid. I think much more likely the trust is obligated to act in the best interests of the Wilson family 1st and Buffalo 2nd. Therefore a WNY bidder will not get favoured treatment if their bid is less than what Mary Wilson would get on the open market selling the team to someone who might well have designs on moving the team. It's likely that what is best for Buffalo and / or WNY is only a secondary factor where two rival bids both satisfy the obligations to Mary Wilson and the Wilson family.

 

That all may be true. But said owner would still have to be approved by the league. And the league is under no obligation to approve of the ownership group the trust might sell to due to concern for their own business interests. So then what? The trust/family sells to the highest bidder who can gain approval from the league. I don't see any alternative to the family and the league working hand in hand on this. If the league wants the Bills in WNY, the Bills will be in WNY. Trust or no trust.

 

I also wonder why there seems to be a sentiment that a WNY-centered bidder wouldn't be able to outbid other potential ownership groups wherever they may come from.

Edited May 4, 2014 by purple haze

[TSNBDSC]

We need Howard Simon to chime in on this ! Cmon Howard, sign up and join in ! This topic is great news and red hot !

[K-9]

Having a bit of experience in this area of law and having dealt with a couple of cross jurisdictional cases where US trust law was relevant I can say pretty confidently it will depend on the terms on which the trust was established and the contractual obligations thereby placed upon it. I agree with your assertion that the team belongs to the Wilson family and not the trust, however, the trust are in operational control until such time as the team is sold and therefore are the de facto sellers. For that reason I think it's very likely that the trust's obligations in respect of the sale are obligations to the Wilson family and not to WNY. I find it almost impossible to believe that there is anything that gives WNY interests exclusive rights to bid. I think much more likely the trust is obligated to act in the best interests of the Wilson family 1st and Buffalo 2nd. Therefore a WNY bidder will not get favoured treatment if their bid is less than what Mary Wilson would get on the open market selling the team to someone who might well have designs on moving the team. It's likely that what is best for Buffalo and / or WNY is only a secondary factor where two rival bids both satisfy the obligations to Mary Wilson and the Wilson family.

 

Appreciate the insight. Is it possible Mary Wilson has any discretion at all with regard to the sale?

 

GO BILLS!!!

[K D]

 

 

Are you close to Pegula or his family to say definitively that he has no interest? It's not out of the realm of possibility.

 

Jason LaCanfora mentioned last month at the owners meetings that Pegula's name was a topic amongst attendees. Not that that means Pegula will buy the team, but his name wasn't mentioned for no reason. I would highly doubt he hasn't considered it. It would be good business. The NFL is more profitable than the NHL. Add a new stadium into what will probably include a broader real estate development plan for whatever area it is placed in. Why is that important? Pegula is building Harbor Center so real estate development looks to be something he's interested in. Real estate can = money. Ask Milstein. Don't be so quick to discount Pegula. Although he wouldn't be my first guess.

 

I think it winds up being someone nobody has a heard a thing about in the media, but has the money, ties to WNY in some type of fashion and a desire to keep the team where it always has been.

It's common sense. Put yourself in his shoes. He strikes it rich and decides to buy his favorite hockey team from when he was growing up as well as invest in his college hockey team. Dream come true right? We all would love to be able to do that. He has vowed to bring a Stanley Cup to Buffalo and is focused on that. Then he committed to building a state of the art training facility and hotel which is now under construction. And meanwhile, while all of this is going on, the team tanks and they decide to rebuild from scratch. Not a very good start and he sure has his work cut out for him to turn things around but he is determined because that's his team.

 

Then meanwhile another sports team in town is up for sale which he has no link to whatsoever (Steelers fan growing up but not much of a football fan at all). Think about it, he's way too busy to even care. Truth be told if that team leaves then his team is the only game in town so it's of no benefit for him to be involved. You can't blame him. I think he will do what it takes to make the Sabres relevant again but he can care less about the Bills

[FluffHead]

We need Howard Simon to chime in on this ! Cmon Howard, sign up and join in ! This topic is great news and red hot !

 

I am Howard Simon?