K D Posted July 21, 2014 Posted July 21, 2014 (edited) This is the 2nd part of my multi poll questionairre... Fellow Bills faithful, these are trying times. We are under attack by a threat from the North. Our normally docile neighbors are hatching a plan to steal our team. http://www.foxsports...uy-bills-071814 They plan to come over the Peace Bridge with their bags of cash and take our Bills back to their country. They will lie to us and tell us what we want to hear but they are not to be trusted. As soon as the lease is up then they are outta here. It's a certainty as sure as the sky is blue. Do not fall victim to their deceit. The face of this evil organization is this man: He has offended our eardrums for years but we put up with it because our wife liked his CD back in high school. But no more! I for one do not want to see this nancy-boy in leather tights take our team from us. But the threat is real and the worry on a lot of ours minds is just. This is a very real possibility and things seem to be heating up. The question I'd like to ask today is: DO YOU BELIEVE THAT THE TORONTO GROUP WILL KEEP THE TEAM IN BUFFALO LONG TERM? They are working hard to spread their propaganda, enlisting the likes of Buffalo-native Ron Jaworski (former business partner with Bon Jovi in the arena league). They are trying to get us to believe that they have no intentions on leaving Buffalo. http://profootballta...out-of-buffalo/ They must think we are pretty dumb. But hey, maybe I am the only one who feels this way. Maybe I have trust issues because my high school girlfriend cheated on me with that one guy with a motorcycle in the next town over and I never fully got over that (f*** you Steve, she was mine first). Or maybe as a Bills fan I'm just eternally pessimistic. Can you blame me? What are your thoughts? Do you trust the Toronto group to stay? Edited July 25, 2014 by kdiggz
RyanC883 Posted July 21, 2014 Posted July 21, 2014 Bon Jovi gives the Bills future in Buffalo, a Bad Chance.
K D Posted July 21, 2014 Author Posted July 21, 2014 http://www.montrealgazette.com/opinion/editorials/Editorial+interest+Bills+stay+Buffalo/10049450/story.html Interesting article. Says that we shouldn't trust the Toronto group and that many Canadians are rooting against them winning the bid because an NFL team in Toronto would be a bust and it would also hurt the tradition rich CFL
ET1062 Posted July 21, 2014 Posted July 21, 2014 Sal on WGR just said, well Bon Jovi will be majority owner. Well, yes but let's do some math. Jovi 40% MLSE 30% Rogers 30% = Toronto Billionaires with 60%. So while Bon Jon may be majority owner and the NFL figurehead for their group, money talks and 60% is still greater than 40%.
Bob in Mich Posted July 21, 2014 Posted July 21, 2014 Ask the Toronto Group to structure an ironclad, bulletproof, legal agreement not to move the team until 2035, involving ridiculous monetary penalties for doing so.. Then I will believe they won't move. About half a billion penalty would convince me.
Mark Vader Posted July 21, 2014 Posted July 21, 2014 Bon Jovi doesn't want to be just another NFL owner, he wants to be known as: "The Man Who Brought NFL Football To Canada!"
thebandit27 Posted July 21, 2014 Posted July 21, 2014 So this "poll" is basically you calling anyone that disagrees with you an idiot? Nice work.
Kirby Jackson Posted July 21, 2014 Posted July 21, 2014 (edited) I voted yes but I don't believe in the tooth fairy. I don't know if that is how I am supposed to vote? I tried to base my vote on information and not conjecture and fear. It will all play out soon enough. I do not think that the JBJ group will win the bid but if they do I expect the team to remain in WNY. Edited July 21, 2014 by Kirby Jackson
Augie Posted July 21, 2014 Posted July 21, 2014 Ask the Toronto Group to structure an ironclad, bulletproof, legal agreement not to move the team until 2035, involving ridiculous monetary penalties for doing so.. Then I will believe they won't move. About half a billion penalty would convince me. Honestly, I'd want to structure it with MY attorneys as I wouldn't want to give them the benefit of the doubt anywhere (your attorney will always protect you more than their attorney will) and I'd make it way more than half a billion. Look at the Clippers sale, or the sale of the Buc's value pre and post new stadium. They could pay a half a billion and still come out a half a billion ahead by moving to Toronto. But I agree it should be done in the contract and done right.
jumbalaya Posted July 21, 2014 Posted July 21, 2014 that Ron Jaws is acting as Bon Jovi's shill is remarkable. Ron is bought and paid for with 30 pieces of silver.
Pozitive51 Posted July 21, 2014 Posted July 21, 2014 The 400 million penalty or any other monetary number written into a contract isn't the obstacle. It's getting the votes from other owners and knowing you will get them before you overpay.
chaccof Posted July 21, 2014 Posted July 21, 2014 Unfortunately it doesn't matter what the fans believe....and like I told my 19 year old son who has basically only known pain from rooting for the Bills - if they go another 7 seasons without making the playoff's we'd be darn lucky to be rid of them....
FLFan Posted July 21, 2014 Posted July 21, 2014 The 400 million penalty or any other monetary number written into a contract isn't the obstacle. It's getting the votes from other owners and knowing you will get them before you overpay. The penalty is not an obstacle because this is a game that is played for the long term, not the short term. Any ownership group with determination to move the team could easily manipulate the situation toward relocation over the next 6 or 7 years. As for the owners, I would guess there is a fairly large contingent who would be willing to be led to the conclusion that Bills are not viable in WNY in the long term, and that much more money could be made in Toronto. The Bon Jovi Group is the major threat to the long term future of the Bills in WNY at this point and people should not be fooled by the current propaganda they are putting out.
Augie Posted July 21, 2014 Posted July 21, 2014 (edited) The 400 million penalty or any other monetary number written into a contract isn't the obstacle. It's getting the votes from other owners and knowing you will get them before you overpay. I agree, being allowed to move is a critical factor. Given strictly objective considerations, where would a pure financial analysis put the team? Be honest. Imagine you were starting from scratch. Where would the owners like to see the team given the emphasis on market and financial growth? I'd rather put my faith in Ralph (and subsequently Mary) to save our team in WNY. I try to be positive, but I don't trust the other owners to be too sentimental. I get moving a team has some negative implications, but if you're looking at it from a purely financial perspective... hmmm (Yes, I do believe the larger Toronto market would become attached if it was truly theirs - the beaches of Lake Ontario do not resemble LA.) Edited July 22, 2014 by Augie
Tyrod's Tailor Posted July 22, 2014 Posted July 22, 2014 Buffalo? No Niagara Falls or some other WNY site closer to Toronto? Yeah.
kasper13 Posted July 22, 2014 Posted July 22, 2014 I do not believe at all the Bon Jovi/Toronto group will be the winning bidder but if for some reason they are, just sign a new lease to go along with the new stadium by 2019 that states the Bills can't leave Buffalo/WNY for any reason whatsoever and they can't play in Canada at all for the next 35 years . I don't see how someone who has a net worth of $300 million can be the lead owner of a franchise that costs a billion dollars. He has to put down 30%. He is going to be selling his guitars and gold records at the flea market? Rogers is the one with the money. MLSE should stick to their crap hockey franchise. I believe this is just a publicity stunt by Bon Jovi which will lead to his being part owner of a Los Angeles expansion franchise someday.
Augie Posted July 22, 2014 Posted July 22, 2014 Buffalo? No Niagara Falls or some other WNY site closer to Toronto? Yeah. I think this is the best possible compromise.
K D Posted July 22, 2014 Author Posted July 22, 2014 I voted yes but I don't believe in the tooth fairy. I don't know if that is how I am supposed to vote? Fixed
Augie Posted July 22, 2014 Posted July 22, 2014 I agree a strict contract helps, but Crazy Al Davis was allowed to move the team - because they couldn't stop him legally. Either way, it's critical that it's a viable business plan. If they are easily accessible to as much of the broader market as possible in a competitive stadium, we stand a chance. If we're winning, it's a no-brainer!
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