PromoTheRobot Posted February 4, 2006 Posted February 4, 2006 The post about playing a neutral site game in Toronto got me thinking. I want to paint a scenario for you. Tell me what you think. We all worry about losing the Bills to L.A. and being a small market team revenue-wise. If you could share the Bills with Toronto as a way of ensuring they will always be the BUFFALO Bills, would you do it? WHAT IF: The Bills train in Canada and play 2 regular season games in Toronto. Further, the Bills bid for the Super Bowl to be played in Toronto. WHAT BUFFALO GETS OUT OF IT: Ensure the Bills never move completely. Gain access to sponsor money that could put the Bills at a par with Dallas, New England and Washington. A chance to be competitive, pay more for coaches, have more scouting, and be a more attractive destination for free agents. If you're a Bills fan worried about the Bills moving, or at least staying competitve in a free-spending NFL, you have to be realistic and know that things can't last forever. They used to let you into War Memorial with kegs, for heaven sake! So there are many things about cheering for the Bills that have changed over time. If sharing the Bills meant keeping them the Bills forever, I would be in favor of that. Buffalonians have many great qualities, but a glaring fault is self-pity, having a loser's mentality, and always feeling victimized. For a change, why not go on the offensive? Why not find a way to make the game work in our favor for once? Jones and Kraft don't want to subsidize teams like Buffalo? Fine, we'll get creative and start generating more revenue than you. Then you can cry about us. PTR
Chalkie Gerzowski Posted February 4, 2006 Posted February 4, 2006 No. If the Bills can't play 8 regular season games in OP, let them play 8 regular season games in some new fly-by-night city 2000 miles away.
gmanbfan Posted February 4, 2006 Posted February 4, 2006 The post about playing a neutral site game in Toronto got me thinking. I want to paint a scenario for you. Tell me what you think. We all worry about losing the Bills to L.A. and being a small market team revenue-wise. If you could share the Bills with Toronto as a way of ensuring the will always be the BUFFALO Bills, would you do it? WHAT IF: The Bills train in Canada and play 2 regular season games in Toronto. Further, the Bills bid for the Super Bowl to be played in Toronto. WHAT BUFFALO GETS OUT OF IT: Ensure the Bills never move completely. Gain access to sponsor money that could put the Bills at a par with Dallas, New England and Washington. A chance to be competitive, pay more for coaches, have more scouting, and be a more attractive destination for free agents. If you're a Bills fan worried about the Bills moving, or at least staying competitve in a free-spending NFL, you have to be realistic and know that things can't last forever. They used to let you into War Memorial with kegs, for heaven sake! So there are many things about cheering for the Bills that have changed over time. If sharing the Bills meant keeping them the Bills forever, I would be in favor of that. Buffalonians have many great qualities, but a glaring fault is self-pity, having a loser's mentality, and always feeling victimized. For a change, why not go on the offensive? Why not find a way to make the game work in our favor for once? Jones and Kraft don't want to subsidize teams like Buffalo? Fine, we'll get creative and start generating more revenue than you. Then you can cry about us. PTR 594328[/snapback] Didn't Green Bay used to play a couple of games somewhere else in the past? Just curious if there is a precedent for this. The one thing that I think would suck about this is the game atmosphere in Toronto. I am a Canadian and I really love coming down to Buffalo. I don't think that Toronto would have the same feel. Although the beer would be stronger...
gmanbfan Posted February 4, 2006 Posted February 4, 2006 I wouldn't share herpes with Toronto..... 594333[/snapback] That's about the nicest thing somebody has said about Toronto on this board in a while!
ajzepp Posted February 4, 2006 Posted February 4, 2006 I think I posted this before, but back in like '92 I went to see a psychic that a few of my friends swore by. One of the things she said was that the Bills would one day combine in some way with Toronto and be called the Toronto-Buffalo Bills. She said the vision she had was like a newspaper where they use abbreviations for teams in the standings, and she saw "Tor/Buf" listed for the Bills. Take it for what you will......I'm just the messenger
Rico Posted February 4, 2006 Posted February 4, 2006 I think I posted this before, but back in like '92 I went to see a psychic that a few of my friends swore by. One of the things she said was that the Bills would one day combine in some way with Toronto and be called the Toronto-Buffalo Bills. She said the vision she had was like a newspaper where they use abbreviations for teams in the standings, and she saw "Tor/Buf" listed for the Bills. Take it for what you will......I'm just the messenger 594338[/snapback] Were they the Argobills?
Simon Posted February 4, 2006 Posted February 4, 2006 That's about the nicest thing somebody has said about Toronto on this board in a while! 594336[/snapback] I must be one of them there compassionate conservatives. Of course if I could figure out a way to share it w/o actually having to touch anybody, well then I might reconsider.
PromoTheRobot Posted February 4, 2006 Author Posted February 4, 2006 Didn't Green Bay used to play a couple of games somewhere else in the past? Just curious if there is a precedent for this. The one thing that I think would suck about this is the game atmosphere in Toronto. I am a Canadian and I really love coming down to Buffalo. I don't think that Toronto would have the same feel. Although the beer would be stronger... 594334[/snapback] Green Bay played 4 games in Milwaukee. They stopped doing that a few years ago. Not sure why. But I guess they felt that they going to get Milwaukee $$ wherever they played. The truth is that's where the sponsor bucks are. And a virgin market for the NFL. And being Toronto, that will influence a big chunk of Canada. We B word about not paying coaches enough? Well, this is how you pay them. I'm surprised by some of the negative reactions. To me, they're like a rich cousin. If you don't like Toronto, look at it as taking advantage of them to get what we want. PTR
Arkady Renko Posted February 4, 2006 Posted February 4, 2006 Green Bay played 4 games in Milwaukee. They stopped doing that a few years ago. Not sure why. But I guess they felt that they going to get Milwaukee $$ wherever they played. The truth is that's where the sponsor bucks are. And a virgin market for the NFL. And being Toronto, that will influence a big chunk of Canada. We B word about not paying coaches enough? Well, this is how you pay them. I'm surprised by some of the negative reactions. To me, they're like a rich cousin. If you don't like Toronto, look at it as taking advantage of them to get what we want. PTR 594341[/snapback] I'd rather share the team with LA.
Rico Posted February 4, 2006 Posted February 4, 2006 Bad enough they play in OP, the stadium should be downtown IMO.
Chalkie Gerzowski Posted February 4, 2006 Posted February 4, 2006 Bad enough they play in OP, the stadium should be downtown IMO. 594351[/snapback] Just east of the HSBC..... No, knock down some grain elevators and put the new stadium in that swampy area......West Meadowlands.
granitestatebillsbackers Posted February 4, 2006 Posted February 4, 2006 Green Bay played 4 games in Milwaukee. They stopped doing that a few years ago. Not sure why. But I guess they felt that they going to get Milwaukee $$ wherever they played. The truth is that's where the sponsor bucks are. And a virgin market for the NFL. And being Toronto, that will influence a big chunk of Canada. We B word about not paying coaches enough? Well, this is how you pay them. I'm surprised by some of the negative reactions. To me, they're like a rich cousin. If you don't like Toronto, look at it as taking advantage of them to get what we want. PTR 594341[/snapback] Promo, I think this is a viable idea. The Patriots, while they play on a single field, have proven that they can draw fans from a large area. Worried about the "fan atmosphere" in Toronto? Fill some buses up with Buffalo fans and set aside a parking area for tailgating. The Canadians will catch on fast enough. I'm amazed at how many people aren't willing to find a solution to keep this team in Buffalo. If anyone thinks it's a slam dunk (sorry to mix my metaphors) that they are going to remain, they're delusional.
The Dean Posted February 4, 2006 Posted February 4, 2006 Green Bay played 4 games in Milwaukee. They stopped doing that a few years ago. Not sure why. But I guess they felt that they going to get Milwaukee $$ wherever they played. The truth is that's where the sponsor bucks are. And a virgin market for the NFL. And being Toronto, that will influence a big chunk of Canada. We B word about not paying coaches enough? Well, this is how you pay them. I'm surprised by some of the negative reactions. To me, they're like a rich cousin. If you don't like Toronto, look at it as taking advantage of them to get what we want. PTR 594341[/snapback] I attended a Bills/Pack game in Brewtown many years ago. The biggest problem, IMO, was the stadium in Milwaukee. It SUCKED! It was, without question, the worst football venue I've ever experienced. Not too appealing when your home field is Lambeau. I'm not saying that was the only reason the Pack stopped playing there, but it had to be a considersation. As for the crazy, team-sharing idea. (Let's just establish that this is not going to happen...k?) I'd rather share the Bils with TO than totally lose them. But, I consider that the lesser of two terrible evils.
ajzepp Posted February 4, 2006 Posted February 4, 2006 I'd rather share the Bils with TO than totally lose them. But, I consider that the lesser of two terrible evils. 594383[/snapback] I'm with ya there.....as much as I absolutely love Toronto (some of the best food in the world....very clean, friendly city), I just assume we keep our Bills to ourselves.
X. Benedict Posted February 4, 2006 Posted February 4, 2006 Were they the Argobills? 594339[/snapback] Call them the Toruffalo Billgonaughts
Kelly the Dog Posted February 4, 2006 Posted February 4, 2006 At first glance it seems like an interesting hypothetical. On second glance it's a no-brainer and non-issue where I would imagine that 99% of the fans (outside of Canadians) think the same way. The answer is no, and of course. No, I don't want to share the team with Toronto. Yes, if the Bills were going to move to another city OR play a couple games in Toronto, of course I would want them to stay here.
Olaf Fub Posted February 4, 2006 Posted February 4, 2006 If the choice was lose the team or share them with Toronto, of course I'd share. However, I think it's completely unecessary. I rarely worry about the team moving. I really doubt it's going to happen. They fan base is too strong and the money is too significant. Irregardless of who owns the team, he'll be hard pressed to recreate the football market that is WNY and Southern Ontario. It takes generations to create the kind of loyalty the Bills presently enjoy. You can't create a customer base like that overnight. Cities that gave out sweetheart deals like Baltimore and Oakland have been burned by them. I think non-NFL cities are now doing a cost-benefit analysis of a pro sports team and realizing that they might not be worth it. Larger cities don't guarantee a larger fan base. LA is much larger but if people don't give a damn about the NFL, then they are not going to support the team.
The Dean Posted February 4, 2006 Posted February 4, 2006 I'm with ya there.....as much as I absolutely love Toronto (some of the best food in the world....very clean, friendly city), I just assume we keep our Bills to ourselves. 594387[/snapback] For the record, i always thought Toronto had the worst food of any major city i've ever had the opportunity to spend real time. Chinese was always good there. italian, perhaps the worst ever. A few years ago I was there and it seemed as though the restuarant scene was experiencing an upgrade. Ate in a few of the nicer new places not too far from the Custerdome (steely dan reference) and I wasn't all that impressed. It is a very nice clean city, though. With very nice, clean, dull people.
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