tombstone56 Posted January 16, 2007 Posted January 16, 2007 And how do we build that Super Bowl contender if we dont have enough money to hire good coaches, sign FA's etc? Or is it your opinion that you don't need money to build a winner? PTR lets roll with that idea ,, hmm lap dancers at your seat cold canadains and now you can even smoke a joint there so i guess it ll be a real family atmosphere ,, where do i renew my seats?
silvermike Posted January 16, 2007 Posted January 16, 2007 The Bills should play a preseason home game every year in Toronto - I think that's a given. I also wouldn't mind if the other home preseason game went to the Carrier Dome every year as well - that'd save the season ticket holders a solid $50 per year and also increase the regionalization of the team. As for moving regular season games away...
soco Posted January 16, 2007 Posted January 16, 2007 So your plan to save the Buffalo Bills is to kill the Buffalo Bills? How is this any different then moving them to LA or Anaheim, because I really don't think Western New York fans are going to want have the difficulties of going to Canada any more than they would want the difficulties of going to Southern California.
Fan in San Diego Posted January 16, 2007 Posted January 16, 2007 I like the idea. I would call the team some variant of Niagara. Maybe ' Niagara Rushers' or something like that.
buffalobillsfootball Posted January 16, 2007 Posted January 16, 2007 I like the idea. I would call the team some variant of Niagara. Maybe ' Niagara Rushers' or something like that. So much for tradition and history...
apuszczalowski Posted January 16, 2007 Posted January 16, 2007 You do. By spending the money up to the salary cap. By having excellent drafts. By having coaches who will use the talent correctly and put the team in a position to win games... But how do you spend to the cap without having the revenue to back it up. Just because the cap space is there, it doesn't mean the team has the cash to pay it. Promo, I agree with you, and not because your stadium idea would mean its only a 15 minute drive to a game (although theres no room in St. Catharines for it) Would you rather have the team in a location in the area of Buffalo, or in LA? As for passports, bridges, etc. what do you think us Canadian fans that pack the Peace bridge every Sunday to come join in and support your team think about those same issues. Do you think we enjoy the long lines on the bridge, having to exchange our money into american, and now having to show a passport to get over the border? Its an idea, but something that would take a bit of tweaking to iron out the details.
apuszczalowski Posted January 16, 2007 Posted January 16, 2007 So your plan to save the Buffalo Bills is to kill the Buffalo Bills? How is this any different then moving them to LA or Anaheim, because I really don't think Western New York fans are going to want have the difficulties of going to Canada any more than they would want the difficulties of going to Southern California. Because Buffalo fans can still attend games without a cross country flight and its still relatively local
apuszczalowski Posted January 16, 2007 Posted January 16, 2007 So much for tradition and history... Yes because the LA Bills would keep the traditions and History alive
buffalobillsfootball Posted January 16, 2007 Posted January 16, 2007 Yes because the LA Bills would keep the traditions and History alive Bills aren't going anywhere man; relax. I know. Way too much political support and pressure for the NFL to encourage this. Besides, Ralph will never move the team.
apuszczalowski Posted January 16, 2007 Posted January 16, 2007 Bills aren't going anywhere man; relax. I know. Way too much political support and pressure for the NFL to encourage this. Besides, Ralph will never move the team. I'm sure Ralph won't while he's still around, afterwards, who knows
inkman Posted January 16, 2007 Posted January 16, 2007 Bills aren't going anywhere man; relax. I know. Way too much political support and pressure for the NFL to encourage this. Besides, Ralph will never move the team. Except Ralph is 142 years old...
buffalobillsfootball Posted January 16, 2007 Posted January 16, 2007 I'm sure Ralph won't while he's still around, afterwards, who knows But, I know and just leave it at that.
keepthefaith Posted January 16, 2007 Posted January 16, 2007 Go Bills Go, eh? or maybe Lets Go TOR-ON-TO! Willis speaks highly of Toronto. Make him the GM.
Dan Posted January 16, 2007 Posted January 16, 2007 I can appreciate the attempt here, but I have to say, IMO, its about as wrong as wrong can be. I see this plan as more of giving up, rather than finding solutions. The economy is down and in 10 years it'll be tough to be here. So what's the solution: pick up and move that way we ensure the economy is completely ruined. Why not come up with a plan to help the Bills stay in Buffalo because that will also help the local economy and in 10 years make talk of moving seem silly? I can agree with selling the naming rights. As much as I despise the over the top advertising in today's world, it is money the franchise could use right now. I'm sorry, but moving the team and changing the name may bring you (as the owner) more money and it may eventually win you (the owner) a Superbowl, but it'll do nothing for the City of Buffalo or the loyal fans that live and breath for this franchise. You think Los Angeles was happy when the St. Louis Rams won the Superbowl? What would the Niagra Bills (or Niagra Viagras) do for Buffalo if they finally win? Next to nothing. I'm sorry but I see this plan as more of an admission of defeat rather than a plan for success.
Mikie2times Posted January 16, 2007 Posted January 16, 2007 It's safe to say this franchise is doomed unless we become Canada's main NFL team. How else could we survive? We pay a fraction of what other fans pay to go see a game and still barely fill it up. Sure if we win we can sell out, but how can we consistently win if we can't spend to the cap. Even then selling out won't be enough to keep the Bills in Buffalo 10 or 15 years from now. Promo's idea might be drastic but drastic is what we will eventually need. Perhaps we could lay out a strategy targeting the Canadian market but not going as far as to move the team or change the team name. Maybe stick with renaming the Ralph , and doing some sort of split for Home games between Buffalo and Canada.
yall Posted January 16, 2007 Posted January 16, 2007 I have a better idea......put a winning team on the field, make the playoffs and create a real Super Bowl mentality in WNY! It has very little to do with nudity, the Falls, Canada or name of stadium and EVERYTHING to do with having the right players and coaches!! Everything else is Forgive me for asking, but weren't the Bills playoff contenders and hadn't they been to the superbowl when they were unable to sell out the playoff game against the oilers? It's not as though we have never had blackouts before this season folks. Although I'm still not sure how moving the team to another country is saving it....
marauderswr80 Posted January 16, 2007 Posted January 16, 2007 Let's say my uncle just left me $5 billion dollars. Somehow I convince Ralph Wilson to sell me the Bills. Here's my view on what it would take to not only keep the Bills in this area, but to make them a successful franchise, at a par with Dallas, Washington, and New England. I should warn you that most folks will hate this idea, but I see the choice as this, or the L.A. Bills. 1) Sell the name of RWS Stadium: I would always keep Ralph's name somewhere on the stadium but I think it's insane not to sell naming rights. It's not just PR for Buffalo. Your name on an NFL stadium is national rep. Imagine "Gieco Stadium at Ralph Wilson Field". 2) Rename the team "The Buffalo Bills of Niagara." It's not so different from "L.A. Angels of Anaheim" Niagara is a name that means something on both sides of the border. The team would no longer be "Buffalo" in the city sense, but the "Buffalo Bills" as in William Cody. The team would become a regional franchise. 3) Play 3-4 games each year at the Rodgers Center (aka Skydome). One pre-season, and two or three regular season games. Tickets for those games would range from $100 to $250 each. (luxury seating considerably more.) That should make revenies for those games somewhat equal to what a game at RWS would earn. 4) I would work on building a new stadium...IN ONTARIO!! That's right, I said it! I'd move the frickin' team to Canada. Not all the way to Toronto. Somewhere between Niagara Falls and Hamilton. St. Catherines strikes me as a good location. Why? Because the Bills are doomed in Buffalo. It may take 5, 10, or 15 years, but Ralph is right. We only have a few years left to enjoy this team. And those few years may suck because we won't have enough revenue to compete. So if the Bills are doomed to leave, would you rather have them in California, or 20 miles from where they were born? I really believe after the initial shock, people would still follow the Bills in Canada. Especially if the team was a consitant winner. This is the price of having an NFL franchise. Old-timers will howl that it's not what they are used to. They want the Bills in Buffalo, with cheap tickets, cheap parking, and the option to stay home and let the other guy buy a ticket. After bitching and moaning for a while, these same people will be just as glad having every game on TV. I see a big opportunity for the Bills to become Canada's franchise in the NFL by playing in Ontario, thus tapping into enormous revenue. The kind of revenue that would make Bob Kraft and Jerry Jones drool. Sure, fewer current Bills fans will get to go to games. You'll have to cross a border to get there. But how many current Bills fans will pay $60-$80 for cheap seats? Not too many. And, sadly, that's what ticket prics are going to have to be. Maybe even PSL's too! There you have it. Love to hear your thoughts, but keep them constructive. No F.U's unless you have a better idea to offer. PTR Good thing the fam is poor eh.........
mead107 Posted January 16, 2007 Posted January 16, 2007 If you are going to move the bills , move them to Saratoga . right in my back yard .
Mikie2times Posted January 16, 2007 Posted January 16, 2007 Forgive me for asking, but weren't the Bills playoff contenders and hadn't they been to the superbowl when they were unable to sell out the playoff game against the oilers? It's not as though we have never had blackouts before this season folks. Although I'm still not sure how moving the team to another country is saving it.... Ever since the new CBA the idea of Buffalo being in trouble isn't for the paranoid. Politicians can talk about sell outs, but sell outs won't save us. We could sell out every game for the next 5 years and it won't save us. As each year passes the gap between what we spend on players and the salary cap will grow. It will continue happening under the rosiest attendance scenario we can come up with. How can we remain competitive under such circumstances? This isn't baseball.
BuffaloBilliever Posted January 16, 2007 Posted January 16, 2007 Good idea, but I'm not sending America's game to Canada. Although I'm over there drinking a lot, I hate Canadians, and they have their own damn football league. Sure, let's sell the naming rights, call it NBC stadium so they pla every game of ours on V.. Don't let these !@#$ers in the media tell you we're doomed here, Buffalo, if given the chance, will have a long, successful life in Buffalo.
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