Quote:If I were a Bills fan I would be extremely worried. What's to stop the AEG group who is pushing hard for an LA franchise to come in and win the auction? At least here in Jax, Wayne Weaver was able to pick the person he wanted to sell to. The Bills franchise will belong to the highest bidder.
Do we know the highest bidder automatically gets the team? Has the family no say? Why can't the Wison family stipulate what conditions they want?
Now, if the family simply wants top dollar and doesn't care ...
One of the things that limits who can buy an NFL Franchise, if I'm remembering correctly that is, is that "groups" of people are not allowed to own nor buy a Franchise. You have to foot a large portion of the bill yourself and then you still have to pass the vetting process where the other owners make sure that you are financially stable enough to operate the team. I believe that the rule states that one person must own at least 30% of the team, and then no one else can own 30%. In other words, you're either the principal owner at 30% or greater, or you're a minority owner.
Quote:Do we know the highest bidder automatically gets the team? Has the family no say? Why can't the Wison family stipulate what conditions they want?
Now, if the family simply wants top dollar and doesn't care ...
Supposedly, when the Jaguars were quietly put on the market by Weaver, he had inquiries from potential buyers. Khan was the only guy who agreed he would keep the team in Jacksonville for a predetermined period as part of the sale.
It really depends on what the family is looking for here. If the goal is to unload the franchise, it's the top bidder. But, if they are willing to do it the way Weaver did the deal, they can put all sorts of stipulations into the contract. The problem is finding that one buyer who is willing to go along. We got lucky in Jacksonville.
Quote:One of the things that limits who can buy an NFL Franchise, if I'm remembering correctly that is, is that "groups" of people are not allowed to own nor buy a Franchise. You have to foot a large portion of the bill yourself and then you still have to pass the vetting process where the other owners make sure that you are financially stable enough to operate the team. I believe that the rule states that one person must own at least 30% of the team, and then no one else can own 30%. In other words, you're either the principal owner at 30% or greater, or you're a minority owner.
Correct. There has to be a managing partner if it's a group similar to how the ownership was configured for the Jaguars. Weaver was the one stroking the check to get into the league. Weaver was the one who had to go through the vetting process. He was the guy who represented the team as the majority owner.
I think your % breakdown is correct. Weaver actually owned controlling interest in the team at 51%. When he sold the team to Khan, Shad had no interest in partners. He bought 'em all out.
Trump speaks again:
Quote:On Tuesday, Trump once again said he plans to try to buy the Buffalo Bills.
“We are going to put in a bid,” Trump said after a speech at the National Press Club, according to Jerry Zremski of the Buffalo News. “I don’t know what’s going to happen in Buffalo. If the price isn’t the right price, then I won’t get it, and I won’t be ashamed of it. . . . But if I get it, I think I’ll probably do a good job.”
<a class="bbc_url" href='http://m.nbcsports.com/content/trump-reiterates-he-plans-bid-bills'>http://m.nbcsports.com/content/trump-reiterates-he-plans-bid-bills</a>
Quote:Trump speaks again:
<a class="bbc_url" href='http://m.nbcsports.com/content/trump-reiterates-he-plans-bid-bills'>http://m.nbcsports.com/content/trump-reiterates-he-plans-bid-bills</a>
Trump is already crafting his out for not buying the team. It's not about owning an NFL franchise. It's about the publicity he can generate just hinting he'll pursue it.
Quote:http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/201...-nfl-team/
http://www.xnsports.com/2014/05/27/nfl-r...s-angeles/
I've been thinking that the LA angle was starting to lose some steam. These articles tend to support that notion. There's been no real movement to put a team in the city. Just a lot of lip service.
I did find it interesting how the articles talk about Buffalo not relocating. As small market fans, we should be rooting for them to remain right where they are with a new owner and a revitalized base. It sounds like Buffalo actually has some leverage there, but it really comes down to securing the right owner who is willing to remain a part of that community.
I could care less if Buffalo relocates.. As long as it isn't the Jags.. Just being honest..
Quote:I could care less if Buffalo relocates.. As long as it isn't the Jags.. Just being honest..
I'd rather it be them than us that relocates, but to be honest, the traditionalist in me would prefer franchises stand pat. Were it up to me, the Browns would have stayed in Cleveland, the Colts would have stayed in Baltimore, the Oilers would still be in Houston, the Cards would be in St. Louis, and the Rams would still be in Los Angeles.
I say this even though I know the Rams actually moved from Cleveland and the Cards actually moved from Chicago.
Quote:Trump is already crafting his out for not buying the team. It's not about owning an NFL franchise. It's about the publicity he can generate just hinting he'll pursue it.
I've been thinking that the LA angle was starting to lose some steam. These articles tend to support that notion. There's been no real movement to put a team in the city. Just a lot of lip service.
I did find it interesting how the articles talk about Buffalo not relocating. As small market fans, we should be rooting for them to remain right where they are with a new owner and a revitalized base. It sounds like Buffalo actually has some leverage there, but it really comes down to securing the right owner who is willing to remain a part of that community.
If Buffalo can remain a viable NFL market, so can Jacksonville.
Quote:Well, its an opinion, not a statement of fact...
And furthermore, given the proximity of Toronto to Buffalo as well as the market size and potential ownership groups that have stated the desire to move the team to Toronto, including Bon Jovi gearing up to make a purchase of the team, I'd say your calling my opinion on the issue ignorant is quite comical.
First of all, Bon Jovi will not buy the Bills. As a matter of fact, I'd be willing to bet anyone who has relocation ideasin their hhead won't get anywhere near the team.
Second of all, if you knew anything about the Bills games in Toronto you would know they don't draw much interest from Canadians; not nearly as much as in Buffalo anyway. The people of Western New York are die hard fans. Also, Buffalonians have a inferiority complex when it comes to sports. If the team moves to Toronto, the people of Buffalo will not continue to support it out of spite alone. Not to mention the ridiculousness of crossing the border every other Sunday. It can take hours to get through on a normal day, nevermind a potential 40,000 + if the fans decided to stick with the team.
Lastly, the market size is plenty large enough. If I am not mistaken (anyone correct me if I'm wrong) Jacksonville has a smaller market size than Buffalo.
It just doesn't make sense to move to Toronto.
I don't see any team moving any time soon. Especially to LA, fickle fans won't support through the bad times and they'd just relocate again when the crowds continuously caused blackouts.
Now another expansion on the other hand...
Quote:If Buffalo can remain a viable NFL market, so can Jacksonville.
Agreed.
What makes this more relevant is Buffalo is a shrinking market in comparison to Jacksonville, which is still growing. It bodes well for us.
Moving to Toronto seems highly unlikely. They had less than 40k in attendance at a game against the Colts last year. I think the billionaire who has proposed a plan to build a new stasium next to the existing one has the inside track (name escapes me, but I just read the article this week.)
Quote:First of all, Bon Jovi will not buy the Bills. As a matter of fact, I'd be willing to bet anyone who has relocation ideasin their hhead won't get anywhere near the team.
Second of all, if you knew anything about the Bills games in Toronto you would know they don't draw much interest from Canadians; not nearly as much as in Buffalo anyway. The people of Western New York are die hard fans. Also, Buffalonians have a inferiority complex when it comes to sports. If the team moves to Toronto, the people of Buffalo will not continue to support it out of spite alone. Not to mention the ridiculousness of crossing the border every other Sunday. It can take hours to get through on a normal day, nevermind a potential 40,000 + if the fans decided to stick with the team.
Lastly, the market size is plenty large enough. If I am not mistaken (anyone correct me if I'm wrong) Jacksonville has a smaller market size than Buffalo.
It just doesn't make sense to move to Toronto.
I'm not sure if Toronto would be supportive enough if they had their own NFL franchise. Yet, considering that most sports fans in Toronto aren't Bills fans, it's not surprising that Toronto fans aren't coming to Bills games in Toronto.
I agree with you that most Bills fans in Western NY wouldn't support the franchise if relocates to Toronto. However, for the Bills to remain viable in the Buffalo area, they need support from Southern Ontario. At mimimum, around 15 to 20 % of people that attend Bills games at Ralph Wilson Stadium are from Southern Ontario. With most being from areas in Ontario much closer to Buffalo than Toronto is.
The market size of Jacksonville and Buffalo is relatively close. Like what was mentioned by FBT, Jacksonville is a growing market, where as Buffalo is a shrinking market.