Pegulas Approved As New Bills Owners

((HT: WIVB-TV))

To the tune of $1.4-billion...

The Pegulas needed three-quarters majority approval from the other NFL 31 owners plus the Wilson Family Trust. Ralph Wilson Jr. died back in late March and bids were taken in July.

Bidders included Rogers Communications with Jon Bon Jovi as front man, Donald Trump, and the Pegulas.

On September 8, they submitted their final bid. It turned out to be the highest sale price for a team in league history.

The Pegulas also own the Buffalo Sabres and are looking to build a new lakefront development to incorporate a Bills arena, entertainment complex, and hopefully a new football stadium.

Here's part of the wait from New York City


The Pegulas will be using a wire transfer to take care of the sale price.

The funny part is that there is a $25 fee that goes with the money attachment and the Trust can't take checks...

Wilson Family Gets 3 Bids Under $900M

((HT: WGRZ-TV))

It looks like the Buffalo Bills might be Terry Pegula's to lose...

After the review of a few of the opposing bids for the franchise, all three of them were under a billion dollars- and the Bon Jovi bid is on, according to the Toronto Sun, "life support..."

Pegula's bid is listed, by Forbes Magazine, at $890-million. The Bon Jovi/Toronto bid is $820-million, and Donald Trump's is listed only at $809-million. Tom Golisano is thinking about submitting a bid, but it will be up to the Ralph Wilson Trust as to whether or not they will accept any bids.

Here's the latest on the sale

The final bids are set for the next two weeks...

Until the deadline is shifted again...

Donald Trump First Up For Bills Bid Discussions

((HT: WGRZ-TV))

The bidding process is now moving to the meet-and-greet phase for the groups that want to have the Buffalo Bills as a part of the corporate portfolio.

There are concerns that both the Trump and Bon Jovi groups may have violated the rules in negotiations by going public in disclosing the bid numbers publicly.

Trump's first bid was in the neighborhood of a billion dollars- and, according to Al Michaels, is all cash
The Bon Jovi/Toronto bid was a little north of that and they may not be able to go any higher
Terry Pegula is rumored to be in the neighborhood of $1.3-billion and he could go higher if he thinks he needs to

And, now, it appears Tom Golisano may add his name to the pile after all

Here's the latest out of Buffalo

We're just getting started and don't be surprised if another name is added to the mix for the purchase before we're done.

Three Bidders Meet First Bills Deadline

((HT: WGRZ-TV))

However, former Buffalo Sabres owner Tom Golisano didn't meet the first deadline. He still could throw his name into the hat if the trust overseeing the estate of Ralph Wilson extends the deadline.

The three are:

Donald Trump

Jon Bon Jovi in concert (pun unintentional) with Ed Rogers of Rogers Communications and Larry Tanenbaum of MLSE- they would keep the team in western New York, but obviously, would want games at SkyDome

Terry Pegula- current owner of the Sabres

Here's a look at the Pegula bid
John Kryk of the Toronto Sun has a look at those who came close, but didn't do anything by yesterday's deadline: "...bond investor Jeffrey Gundlach explored placing a bid, as had C. Dean Metropoulos, owner of the Pabst brewing company. And Western New York developer Scott Congel had mulled bidding either alone or with someone else, merely to aid his objective to build a new Bills stadium as part of an immense, multi-pronged redevelopment of a large property his family controls in West Seneca, just south of Buffalo."
Look for the trust overseers to start vetting the ownership groups over the next week or so.

Trump Still Serious About Bills Investment

((HT: WIVB-TV))

And Donald Trump has even said that he will divest himself of his casino interests if he is considered to be a substantial partner or principal owner of the Buffalo Bills.

Trump claims that the Bills are vital to the fabric to western New York and he would keep them there.

Here's a peek at how serious he may be... despite the appropriate skepticism


And here...
((HT: WGRZ-TV))

A Trump attorney has said that, even with a twelve-figure pricetag, the Donald could afford it...

That would be an interesting divestiture...

Bills Looking At Niagara Falls, Bon Jovi Group May Bid

((HT: WIVB-TV))

There seem to be, now, two sites that may be trying to attract the Buffalo Bills outside of Orchard Park...

The idea of a waterfront stadium is out there gaining steam and, now, we can add Niagara Falls to the mix. Niagara Falls mayor Paul Dyster admitted that his town is in the mix as the task force that gets to think about a new home for the NFL Franchise that might be nearer the fans on Ontario province.

You can also add the notion of going to the University of Buffalo campus for a new practice facility to help the MAC-based football program as well.

Here's the look on the Falls


Now, the Wilson family is trying to figure out what to do as owners of the franchise. The team can't leave western New York until after the 2019 season without a huge penalty. Toronto, Los Angeles, and everyone else who wants a franchise are looking at this situation. And the group tied to Jon Bon Jovi may be putting in their bid soon. There is talk that any deal could be locked in by October of this year.

John Kryk, over at The Toronto Sun newspaper, is trying to connect dots between Bon Jovi and Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment:

Tim Leiweke, CEO of MLSE, told the Toronto Star last November — after an initial report from CBS Sports’ Jason La Canfora — that Bon Jovi was part of a Toronto bid group seeking an NFL team, with MLSE’s backing.

“Jon and I are very good friends,” Leiweke told the Star. “We talk weekly about his NFL ambitions. And so we’re actively engaged, but I think it’s still a work in progress.”

And the race is on...

DEVELOPING: Bills Owner Ralph Wilson Dies

((HT: WGRZ-TV))

One of the men responsible for the growth of football as we know it passed away in hospice care in Michigan at the age of 95.

Buffalo Bills owner Ralph Wilson was one of the original AFL owners who picked up a franchise for $90,000 in 1960. He turned that faith in the sport into being an AFL champion and a contender for the NFL title with an unheard of 4-time run to the Roman Numeral Classic.

He left a mark on his adopted town and will be missed by an entire region...

He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2009- only becoming the fourth owner to be inducted at the time...

Bon Jovi To Bills: I'll Be There For You (?)

((HT: CBS Sports/LaCanfora))

So, Jon Bon Jovi, eh...???

Well, the HQ knows his relationship with owning football things- it goes back to the Philadelphia Soul arena franchise... Here's the Soul catching their 2008 indoor title...
((HT: ESPN on ABC))


No secret that Bon Jovi would be going head-to-head with Rogers Communications for the Bills (since the team already plays in SkyDome), but LaCanfora asserts that Tim Leiweke and AEG could be working with the rocker for the chase...

Here was Jason LaCanfora's appearance on "The Other Pregame Show" and talked about the idea of Toronto and the city continuing its relationship with the Buffalo Bills...
I guess there's only one more thing to say...

Wilson Cedes Control Of Bills To Brandon

((HT: WGRZ-TV))

Ralph Wilson did something he said he would never do again...

The 94-year-old owner of the Buffalo Bills decided to hand over all executive control of his football team to President/CEO Russ Brandon.

"Russ Brandon has done a tremendous job in his 16 years with our organization and is very highly respected throughout the National Football League. He has proven to be extremely successful with each new level of responsibility he has been given and has earned this opportunity. Russ is a proven leader and he will now have full authority over the entire Buffalo Bills operation. I have granted him full autonomy to run the organization as he feels is best," Wilson said in a statement released by the team.

Brandon has said that GM Buddy Nix will be there in his position for the next three seasons.

Here's how the breaker was handled in Buffalo...

Wilson had done this move once before when Tom Donohoe had been given total autonomy, but that ended after only four years.

Next moves for Brandon and Nix are finding a new head coach and, probably, a new quarterback- whether through the draft or free agency to replace Ryan Fitzpatrick.

Buffalo Bills to stay in Buffalo for awhile

((ht: buffalonews.com))

Scratch one more team from the potential "Move to L.A" theory in the NFL.

State lawmakers and the Buffalo Bills announced Friday morning they've come to an agreement that will keep the football team playing in Buffalo, for more than likely at least the next 10-years.

The deal all but locks the team in, by stipulating any relocation would trigger a $400 million relocation penalty. Except---in year 7 of the deal. (odd-but not explained)

In return, the state will spend a good chunk of money to renovate the somewhat antiquated Ralph Wilson stadium, which will add to what the team and the city/county will add.

Read the entire story from the Buffalo News RIGHT HERE

This is a pretty strong statement for a team considered high up on the potential relocation list. There was a lot of concern that when team owner Ralph Wilson passes away, his heirs would move the team to a more profitable location.

That won't happen.

It leaves some interesting speculation as to whether anyone will actually leave and move to L.A. Certainly teams like The Jaguars and The Rams will be candidates. The Jaguars have attendance and quality issues, the Rams are trying to get a major renovation in St. Louis.

Will A New Stadium Keep The Bills In Buffalo...???

((HT: WIVB-TV))

The Buffalo Bills already play a home game in Toronto. And, for some, that's a home game (or two) too many home games north of the border and away from Orchard Park and Rich Stadium.

So, with Bills owner Ralph Wilson getting closer to the day when he won't be around and his family either divided or disinterested in keeping the Bills after that event, what's the solution to keep them around...???

How about a 72,000-seat lakefront stadium as part of a renewal project...???

It's part of a proposed US$1.4-billion idea that could be part of that whole project...

Lou Raguse has the early details...

Group pitches stadium idea to council

The Bills reaction is a "Thanks, but no thanks" idea around right now... But the city is still willing to listen to ideas- especially when the matter involves, maybe 30-percent public funding... Erie County Executive Mark C. Poloncarz issued a statement: “We are pleased that there is so much interest in keeping the Buffalo Bills in our community. However, we were not contacted by the proponents of this latest plan to discuss the matter. We look forward to discussion and debate when our negotiations are complete and the proposal to keep the Bills in our community is presented to the public for consideration and to the Erie County Legislature for its approval. In regards to the proposal released today, as we have noted before, there are several problems with the proposed Outer Harbor site, such as a lack of space needed for parking, distance from the downtown core, and insufficient road infrastructure (particularly in bad weather) to accommodate the thousands of fans heading to the site. Just this morning, we witnessed the Skyway being closed due to an accident, which resulted in traffic delays of 1-2 hours from the Skyway back to Hamburg; the Skyway currently serves as the only access point to this site. As we have stated in the past, we will continue to work on negotiating a lease with the Buffalo Bills at their current home in Orchard Park, which the Bills have indicated they do not want to leave. While these ongoing negotiations have been productive, we will not be discussing their content in the media.”