Buffalo might be the team moving to LA after all

[124]

I saw on ESPN earlier today that Ralph Wilson had an interview saying he could only gurantee the Bills being in Buffalo for the 2006 season with the new revenue sharing agreement. Beyond that he's uncertaing. Could be interesting. Would Buffalo remain in the AFC or even the AFC East? How would the divisions shake up if they would at all? Here's an article from ESPN.com:

Bills owner Wilson questions NFL's new-guard owners

Associated Press

ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. -- Bills owner Ralph Wilson is questioning whether the NFL's high-revenue owners have the best interest of the league at heart, stepping up concerns that small-market franchises like his face an uncertain future under the new labor agreement.

"I just don't think they're as interested in the game as the old owners, I really don't," Wilson said Friday.

Singling out Jerry Jones of the Dallas Cowboys, Daniel Snyder of the Washington Redskins and Robert Kraft of the New England Patriots, Wilson said: "They, to me, and this is just my opinion, don't have the same values about the league as the old guard did."

The Bills' sole owner since founding the team in 1960, Wilson also suggested the league's wealthier owners played too big a role when the league extended its collective bargaining agreement last month. The Bills and the Cincinnati Bengals cast the only votes against the agreement.

Wilson spoke after meeting with Erie County executive Joel Giambra, who implored Bills fans "to get active, to get angry" and write to Tagliabue, the league and elected officials on the team's behalf.

He first raised his concerns earlier this week in a meeting with New York Gov. George Pataki. Wilson told Pataki that he's committed to keep the Bills in Buffalo, but, "the long-term viability of our franchise may be in serious doubt."

The series of meetings were an attempt by Wilson to explain his concerns and generate political pressure on the NFL to ensure the viability of small-market teams.

Wilson, long one of the NFL's most outspoken owners, believes the new labor deal establishes an unequal playing field between large- and small-market teams because it produces an equal allocation of player costs with an unequal allocation of revenues.

While reiterating he has no intention to move or sell the team, Wilson said he's not sure how long the Bills can survive under the new deal.

"How long can it stay here? I don't know," Wilson said. "But I can tell you we're going to fight very, very hard to keep the team here to try to be competitive with the rest of the league."

Under the new deal, Wilson said it wouldn't make much difference whether the Bills built a new stadium because the team would unlikely be able to generate much more revenue in an economically troubled region such as western New York.

Wilson's concerns have been noted by the league, which is still determining how the newly expanded portion of revenue sharing will work.

"That has not been fleshed out yet," Indianapolis Colts president Bill Polian told The Associated Press while visiting Buffalo this week. "The future is uncharted at this point, but having said that, we've always found a way to make it work and hopefully we will in the future."

Polian is a former Bills executive and member of the NFL's competition committee.

Bills cornerback Troy Vincent, president of the NFL Players Association, shares Wilson's concerns, but noted it's up to the owners to make revenue-sharing work.

"There has to be something in place," Vincent said. "But what we may think is enough or not enough, likewise the men and women running those organizations may say it's enough or not enough. ... Where's that happy balance?"

Any question of the Bills future sparks significant concerns in Buffalo and western New York, a rust-belt region with a fragile economy. Losing the Bills would be a major blow to the region's economy and psyche.

"The Bills are a very integral part of this community's fabric, socially, emotionally and economically," Giambra said.

Giambra added he was rooting for Roger Goodell, the NFL's chief operating officer and a western New York native, to succeed commissioner Paul Tagliabue.

"He is a person who understands football and he understands the importance of football to small markets like Buffalo and western New York," Giambra said.

In 1999, the Buffalo Niagara Partnership estimated the team's annual net economic impact to the region at $33 million.

[afosomf]

I saw on ESPN earlier today that Ralph Wilson had an interview saying he could only gurantee the Bills being in Buffalo for the 2006 season with the new revenue sharing agreement. Beyond that he's uncertaing. Could be interesting. Would Buffalo remain in the AFC or even the AFC East? How would the divisions shake up if they would at all? Here's an article from ESPN.com:

Bills owner Wilson questions NFL's new-guard owners

Associated Press

ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. -- Bills owner Ralph Wilson is questioning whether the NFL's high-revenue owners have the best interest of the league at heart, stepping up concerns that small-market franchises like his face an uncertain future under the new labor agreement.

F the Bills, the worst place ever to watch a game as a visiting fan, yes even worse than Oakland!!!!!!!!

"I just don't think they're as interested in the game as the old owners, I really don't," Wilson said Friday.

Singling out Jerry Jones of the Dallas Cowboys, Daniel Snyder of the Washington Redskins and Robert Kraft of the New England Patriots, Wilson said: "They, to me, and this is just my opinion, don't have the same values about the league as the old guard did."

The Bills' sole owner since founding the team in 1960, Wilson also suggested the league's wealthier owners played too big a role when the league extended its collective bargaining agreement last month. The Bills and the Cincinnati Bengals cast the only votes against the agreement.

Wilson spoke after meeting with Erie County executive Joel Giambra, who implored Bills fans "to get active, to get angry" and write to Tagliabue, the league and elected officials on the team's behalf.

He first raised his concerns earlier this week in a meeting with New York Gov. George Pataki. Wilson told Pataki that he's committed to keep the Bills in Buffalo, but, "the long-term viability of our franchise may be in serious doubt."

The series of meetings were an attempt by Wilson to explain his concerns and generate political pressure on the NFL to ensure the viability of small-market teams.

Wilson, long one of the NFL's most outspoken owners, believes the new labor deal establishes an unequal playing field between large- and small-market teams because it produces an equal allocation of player costs with an unequal allocation of revenues.

While reiterating he has no intention to move or sell the team, Wilson said he's not sure how long the Bills can survive under the new deal.

"How long can it stay here? I don't know," Wilson said. "But I can tell you we're going to fight very, very hard to keep the team here to try to be competitive with the rest of the league."

Under the new deal, Wilson said it wouldn't make much difference whether the Bills built a new stadium because the team would unlikely be able to generate much more revenue in an economically troubled region such as western New York.

Wilson's concerns have been noted by the league, which is still determining how the newly expanded portion of revenue sharing will work.

"That has not been fleshed out yet," Indianapolis Colts president Bill Polian told The Associated Press while visiting Buffalo this week. "The future is uncharted at this point, but having said that, we've always found a way to make it work and hopefully we will in the future."

Polian is a former Bills executive and member of the NFL's competition committee.

Bills cornerback Troy Vincent, president of the NFL Players Association, shares Wilson's concerns, but noted it's up to the owners to make revenue-sharing work.

"There has to be something in place," Vincent said. "But what we may think is enough or not enough, likewise the men and women running those organizations may say it's enough or not enough. ... Where's that happy balance?"

Any question of the Bills future sparks significant concerns in Buffalo and western New York, a rust-belt region with a fragile economy. Losing the Bills would be a major blow to the region's economy and psyche.

"The Bills are a very integral part of this community's fabric, socially, emotionally and economically," Giambra said.

Giambra added he was rooting for Roger Goodell, the NFL's chief operating officer and a western New York native, to succeed commissioner Paul Tagliabue.

"He is a person who understands football and he understands the importance of football to small markets like Buffalo and western New York," Giambra said.

In 1999, the Buffalo Niagara Partnership estimated the team's annual net economic impact to the region at $33 million.

F the Bills, the worst place ever to watch a game as a visiting fan, yes even worse than Oakland!!!!!!!!

[PatsFanTX]

F the Bills, the worst place ever to watch a game as a visiting fan, yes even worse than Oakland!!!!!!!!

You gotta be kidding assmop.

I've been to Pats/Bills games in Buffalo 6 or 7 times and it's a great atmosphere for a football game.

[NorthCoastJetsFan]

You gotta be kidding assmop.

I've been to Pats/Bills games in Buffalo 6 or 7 times and it's a great atmosphere for a football game.

Finally something I can agree with TX on. I've been to a lot worse places than Buffalo. And personally, I agree with Wilson. Jones and Snyder will be two big reasons why the NFL declines (if it does).

[faba]

As an old AFL fan growing up it would be a travesty to move the Bills- even worse if they actually think about moving them to California the land of disinterested fans

[PFSIKH]

Sounds like Ralph is posturing to make a money grab.

I think Los angeles Jills is not as good as the Los angeles Jets, but I digress. He sounds like a dumbass especially when Green Bay and other small markets approved it. Being associated with the famously cheap Bengals is not going to give you credibility.

[vanDoug]

I think the best solution for LA and I didn't make this up, somebody else did, is to put TWO expansion teams there. One AFC, one NFC. Let the fans choose the conference they want. It's bizarre enough that it could work. There ARE enough football fans there, just needs to be done right.

[PFSIKH]

I think the best solution for LA and I didn't make this up, somebody else did, is to put TWO expansion teams there. One AFC, one NFC. Let the fans choose the conference they want. It's bizarre enough that it could work. There ARE enough football fans there, just needs to be done right.

I do not buy the going to 34 teams.

The schedule is too easy for them now. 34 teams will create a mess like it was with 28 and 30 and 31.

[Bob]

F the Bills, the worst place ever to watch a game as a visiting fan, yes even worse than Oakland!!!!!!!!

F you, Assmop. Bills fans are some of the best, most committed fans anywhere.

I hope they don't get screwed by the league.

[Bugg]

LA isn't getting a team. The franchises need somebody to point to to get local pols like in Buffalo to pay up. LA is good for business empty in this scam in that way and a proven bad market twice. Only word of caution-expecting a do-nothing lame duck like Pataki to do a damn thing is a waste of time. Look at how long it's taken to do ANYTHING and the WTC site.

[mr nyjet]

it's not a major league city in terms of income or population.

at least green bay has milwaukee nearby.

the sooner they leave, the better!

better to have indy or the ravens in the east anyways.

move them to la, and kc can move to the central.

[PFSIKH]

LA isn't getting a team. The franchises need somebody to point to to get local pols like in Buffalo to pay up. LA is good for business empty in this scam in that way and a proven bad market twice. Only word of caution-expecting a do-nothing lame duck like Pataki to do a damn thing is a waste of time. Look at how long it's taken to do ANYTHING and the WTC site.

There is an article on Boston.com today where Kraft mentions that one of the things the new commish will need to work on is new revenue.

Mr. Jet is right. Buffalo is barely a major league sports city. They have great passionate fans, but they have limited additional revenue streams. If they were expansion candidates today, do you think they would get a team? No.

Wilson did not complain for all these years when he got a nice fat check from the NFL TV contract. If the 100M salary cap threshold is the limit to Buffalo's viability as an NFL franchise, the NFL needs to come to a decision. Will a new stadium were the owner pockets mad cash make the Bills competitive with the big revenue teams? If the answer is Yes, fine build them a new stadium. Reward the people of Buffalo for being dedicated fans. If the answer is no, move the team to LA. Has the salary cap every gone down? No.

Revenue sharing is only viable solutuion for keeping small cities competitive with large cities to a certain point. Eventually, team revenue minus player salary cost is going to come up negative for small cities. The consensus is that few owners like this labor agreement. The high revenue owners feel they are giving up too much. The low revenue owners feel they are not being subsidized enough. Obviously, it is perfect.

The Buffalo's and Green Bay's competing with the NY's of a sports league make great tales. There is a reason why Providence no longer has a football or baseball team, eventually the city became too small to support one. Maybe a publicly owned team like Green Bay is the answer, but eventually I think they will start to feel a pinch. Especially, when #4 retires.

Mr Jet and vanDoug

No way KC moves. If Buffalo moved, here is my guess for realignment:

LA Bills to NFC West

St Louis to the NFC South.

Carolina to AFC SOuth

One of those teams to the Central and Baltimore to the East.