JÂy RÛßeÒ Posted September 28, 2008 Share Posted September 28, 2008 http://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/28/sports/f.../28buffalo.html - story on Buffalo/Toronto The Bills sold more than 56,000 season tickets this year, the most since 1992, and Commissioner Roger Goodell, who grew up in western New York, has indicated he would prefer the team remain in Buffalo. Fans have become somewhat hardened to periodic talk of relocation since the 1970s, said Scott Sarama, who grew up in western New York and founded the Web site twobillsdrive.com (the Bills’ address is One Bills Drive) in 1996. He and almost everyone else count on the idea that, with Wilson committed to not selling or moving the team while he is alive, and the difficulties of relocation within the N.F.L., Buffalo will probably not have to face the worst for years, if ever. When the Bills played a preseason game against the Pittsburgh Steelers in Toronto, The Toronto Star reported that before kickoff, tickets were being sold for one-tenth of face value. The atmosphere was unusual: because of an open container law, tailgating — a revered tradition even in the most bitter Buffalo winter — was not allowed at the Rogers Centre. A better read on the N.F.L.’s popularity in Toronto will come in December when the Bills play a regular-season game against the Miami Dolphins at the Rogers Centre. Then, Sarama said, “It will be, ‘This is what it’s really going to be like, to watch our team play in another city.’ ” Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lets_go_bills Posted September 28, 2008 Share Posted September 28, 2008 Thanks for that. Good stuff. Long live the BUFFALO Bills! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steely Dan Posted September 28, 2008 Share Posted September 28, 2008 Like that they supplied a linky here. Look for a whole new flood of clueless people to be joining the board. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Just Jack Posted September 28, 2008 Share Posted September 28, 2008 There goes Scott again, always trying to get media time. I think he's just jealous of your son, Jay. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JÂy RÛßeÒ Posted September 28, 2008 Author Share Posted September 28, 2008 There goes Scott again, always trying to get media time. I think he's just jealous of your son, Jay. Didja see us on the Jumbotron during the opener? We were up there... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Just Jack Posted September 28, 2008 Share Posted September 28, 2008 Didja see us on the Jumbotron during the opener? We were up there... I think I did, was it just a brief moment, or Ben's usual several minutes? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dean Posted September 28, 2008 Share Posted September 28, 2008 I just caught that. (Must have missed it earlier.) Outstanding! Congrats, Fearless Leader. And, the article, while superficial, at least discussed two of the sides of the Tronoto gambit. At least the reporter (Judy Battista) attempted to understand the issue, to a degree. That's better than 90% of the out-of-town reports I read on the situation. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lori Posted September 28, 2008 Share Posted September 28, 2008 Neat. Our quest to take over the world continues ... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steely Dan Posted September 28, 2008 Share Posted September 28, 2008 Neat. Our quest to take over the world continues ... Is this one of your operatives? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CTBillsGuy Posted September 28, 2008 Share Posted September 28, 2008 Boy I hate the NY Times, but that was somewhat fair. What he didn't say was that in the Super Bowl years run we played a season and a half for every team that didn't make the playoffs. Takes a toll on the bodies. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Miyagi-Do Karate Posted September 28, 2008 Share Posted September 28, 2008 That is unbelievably impressive. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bleed Bills Blue Posted September 28, 2008 Share Posted September 28, 2008 A better read on the N.F.L.’s popularity in Toronto will come in December when the Bills play a regular-season game against the Miami Dolphins at the Rogers Centre. Then, Sarama said, “It will be, ‘This is what it’s really going to be like, to watch our team play in another city.’ ” Ouch. For some reason that really hit home hard for the first time when I read that last sentence. Yeah, I've known the day was coming, but it's been down the road and below my radar. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beerball Posted September 28, 2008 Share Posted September 28, 2008 Feerless leader! topic Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SDS Posted September 28, 2008 Share Posted September 28, 2008 I haven't read the article yet, but I wanted to give a bug thank you to Judy for allowing me to chime in on the subject. What was supposed to be 5 minutes, turned into 35 minutes of me yapping about the subject. She took the time to go to Buffalo and speak with people in the community - this was not researched and written in a NYC coffee shop. I'll read it tomorrow, but for now I have some MySQL tuning to do, since game days have been shakey recently. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rafter Posted September 28, 2008 Share Posted September 28, 2008 Neat. Our quest to take over the world continues ... Im with you. I have converted countless numbers into bills fans! ... they can see the light! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rafter Posted September 28, 2008 Share Posted September 28, 2008 A better read on the N.F.L.’s popularity in Toronto will come in December when the Bills play a regular-season game against the Miami Dolphins at the Rogers Centre. Then, Sarama said, “It will be, ‘This is what it’s really going to be like, to watch our team play in another city.’ ” Ouch. For some reason that really hit home hard for the first time when I read that last sentence. Yeah, I've known the day was coming, but it's been down the road and below my radar. I have been to all the games this year.. and your right, this will really hit home when I know going to this "home" game is not an option =( Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete Posted September 28, 2008 Share Posted September 28, 2008 Thanks for that. Good stuff. Long live the BUFFALO Bills! Amen Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lori Posted September 28, 2008 Share Posted September 28, 2008 I have been to all the games this year.. and your right, this will really hit home when I know going to this "home" game is not an option =( I'll be there, but I refuse to call it a home game no matter what the schedule says. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nanker Posted September 28, 2008 Share Posted September 28, 2008 I'll be there, but I refuse to call it a home game no matter what the schedule says. That's why I'm for a 17 game schedule. Let a rubber match between division rivals be the one game each team has to play outside the country. If they did it right, the League could have a full division go out of the country each week for eight weeks to play two games. Think about it - The NFL should promote the natural rivalries that exist within the conferences and divisions. International games should always be a third game between a pair of division opponents. Oh, one more thing. Each team that travels abroad has a bye week following their International game. The T. game wouldn't sting so much if we always played the 3 division opponents at The Ralph and away. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dean Posted September 28, 2008 Share Posted September 28, 2008 I'll be there, but I refuse to call it a home game no matter what the schedule says. Fair enough. It won't be a home game. But, let's not forget that NFL teams have been playing the occasional game outside of the US for a few years now. Somebody loses a home game for those events. At least, this time, the Bills make a s#it load of needed cash, and get to implement an element of THEIR marketing strategy, and not simply the NFL's. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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