Do the Bills have a future in Buffalo?
The Buffalo Bills are likely at the top of the list of teams most likely to relocate to Los Angeles for several reasons. They operate in a smaller market, they have an aging owner, and they are nearing the end of the lease on their home stadium. While I think Buffalo is a good sports market I do not think it is a good enough sports market to support the Bills long term, especially with what is going to happen with the new collective bargaining agreement. That being said I think there is a way to keep the Bills in Buffalo at least part time.
The trick here is going to be making the Bills not just a Buffalo team, but also an attractive team to that entire region of the world and yes I am talking specifically about Toronto, Canada. Currently the Bills already play one pre season and one regular season in Toronto. The games are attended very well, even at the Rogers Center, which was built for baseball. If the Bills could get into a football venue in Toronto I could see playing half the season there as the best way to keep the Bills where they are long term.
The problem with that is trying to finance and maintain two separate facilities, and in the case of Toronto likely getting a completely new facility constructed. Maybe this team could get creative and find a way to package a new stadium with the Toronto Argonauts of the Canadian Football League and get a facility up there built where they are a part time tenant.
The wild card here is 92 year old owner Ralph Wilson and how he will set up the coming transition of his team when he is no longer with us. The word is selling the team to the highest bidder is the way he wants to go and that could mean the Los Angeles Bills is a real possibility.
Related Links:
- Buffalo Bills news and notes
- The Business of the NFL
- Joshua Lobdell.com
