What happens when Ralph Wilson passes on?
by RIP058 on Oct 14, 2009 8:15 PM EDT
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Today on ESPN Radio of the Lehigh Valley, I live in Allentown, PA, they interviewed a sports radio personality from Sacramento since the Eagles play the Raiders this week...she said everyone in Oakland is waiting for the day Al Davis dies so that Oakland may become a contender once again. This just got me thinking, what will happen when Ralph dies?...if there is no buyer by then, who determines the fate of the Bills in WNY?
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Easy
who determines the fate of the Bills in WNY?
The highest bidder.
Poor ball security leads to very painful outcomes
by Joe P. on Oct 14, 2009 8:22 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Yup. There will not be a sale before Ralph passes. He’s been very clear that he’s never selling the team. The highest bidding group that is approved by the NFL will buy the team.
The other big factor for the Bills is whether the owner can get money out of the state and WNY counties to build a new stadium or pay towards some renovations at the Ralph.
I signed up for Second Life about a year ago. Back then my life was so great that I literally wanted a second one. In my Second Life I was also a paper salesman and I was also named Dwight. Absolutely everything was the same. Except I could fly. - Dwight Schrute
by kaisertown on Oct 14, 2009 9:29 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
what “highest bidder” scenario are you talking about? Ownership of the Bills would transfer to the estate of Ralph Wilson. Upon settlement of the estate, the team ownership would be granted as detailed in Ralph’s will. I know his currently surviving children have expressed no interest in owning the team, but I still think the auction scenario is a bit of a reach, without anybody knowing how Ralph’s will reads.
most of my posts get deleted :(
by dzil on Oct 15, 2009 8:55 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
That’s what he has said in the past.
Playing Realistic Optimist at Buffalo Rumblings since 2008. Ignoring the grumblings on Rumblings.
by MattRichWarren on Oct 15, 2009 9:00 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Ralph has been very clear that he’s leaving the team to his kids and his kids have been very clear that they won’t keep the team. If they do end up selling the team (which seems like a certainty), then how do we not end up in a higest bidder scenario? I think therewill probably be at least one competitive bid from a group that wants to keep the team in Buffalo and Ralph’s kids/the NFL is likely accept and approve that bid. I think they will stay (especially with Rogers out of the picture), but it’s very possible somebody overpays to move the team to LA or that nobody wants to keep the team here. So it’s not exactly an auction type scenario, but whoever puts in the best offer to Ralph’s kids will probably control the fate of the Bills.
I signed up for Second Life about a year ago. Back then my life was so great that I literally wanted a second one. In my Second Life I was also a paper salesman and I was also named Dwight. Absolutely everything was the same. Except I could fly. - Dwight Schrute
by kaisertown on Oct 15, 2009 10:25 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
To bad Buffalo is in an economic nightmare… Otherwise they could be the next Green Bay – Publicly owned.
"You play to win the game, you don't play to just play it" - Herm Edwards
by Jason from OH-IO on Oct 15, 2009 10:32 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Official ledge-talker-offer of the Buffalo Bills.
by WhyBillsWhy on Oct 15, 2009 12:56 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Blood stops flowing and he no longer cares...
oooops, that describes DJ’s current state. I really doubt that NY allows a multi-billion dollar business to leave and go else where w/o a fight. The highest bidder will look at what the yearly revenue is here and decide if it’s worth the gamble to relocate to an unproven market (Toronto-which most Kanucks don’t want ‘cause they can’t drink on Sunday) or a market that’s proven it can’t support an NFL team (several times- LA), then they will threaten to move- reap the rewards as the state and local government give tax breaks and incentives for them to stay and then “decide” to stay right here. California is broke and considering legalizing cannibis, they won’t be much help landing a franchize – even the super concession sales won’t help. Bank on it.
Defend the Herd
by TatonkaDonk on Oct 14, 2009 10:36 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Really?
How many billions of dollars has Albany already forced out of New York? Businesses have steadily left New York for more friendly business climates in places like Texas and Florida. The resulting population shift dropped New York from #2 (Texas is now #2) in population to #3 and I believe that Florida is supposed to overtake New York in population soon…dropping New York to #4. Albany seems completely oblivious.
In fact, I think that many in Albany will take it as a point of pride that the Bills eventually relocate. They will thump their chests and proudly recall how they helped ensure that public money wasn’t spent (or, alternatively, some taxes weren’t collected at such high rates) for what is after all a private business.
Say hello to the LA Bills.
Of course we could make things more challenging, Lisa, but then the stupider students would be in here complaining, furrowing their brows in a vain attempt to understand the situation--Seymour Skinner
by Ron From NM on Oct 14, 2009 11:13 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Oh, and ironies of ironies, Ralph Wilson is one of a handful of owners who generously supports Democrats. In a place like New York that’s just smart politics, whatever your political leanings may be. So, when the Bills leave some number of New York state politicians—the very same ones creating the anti-business climate—will see smaller contributions to their re-election campaigns.
Of course we could make things more challenging, Lisa, but then the stupider students would be in here complaining, furrowing their brows in a vain attempt to understand the situation--Seymour Skinner
by Ron From NM on Oct 14, 2009 11:15 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
You may be right, but I hope you're wrong..
That’s probably why you’re Ron from somewhere other than NY. I’ve moved away too, but still hope that the glass is half full for some people.
Defend the Herd
by TatonkaDonk on Oct 14, 2009 11:28 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
The Bills are Cinderella without the Prince
Poor ball security leads to very painful outcomes
by Joe P. on Oct 14, 2009 11:29 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
No way we see the LA Bills
California is every bit business unfriendly as New York, The two highest taxed states are California and New York.
I am thinking LA Jaguars.
At least we can sell out our stadium.
There's not a wide receiver who is fast enough, that J.P. Losman can't overthrow him on a fly pattern.
by The Buffalo Kid on Oct 14, 2009 11:42 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
One more thing.
Chargers haven’t sold out Sunday’s game against the Broncos. Southern California is more suited to Baseball and Basketball.
There's not a wide receiver who is fast enough, that J.P. Losman can't overthrow him on a fly pattern.
by The Buffalo Kid on Oct 15, 2009 12:23 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I agree that LA isn’t a football town but that isn’t going to matter. It’s also not going to matter (in the short term) that LA is a terrible place to try to do business. A group of plutocrats is building a stadium near LA and the NFL will ensure they get a team. For a while the team will make a go of it there…and probably wander away after about a decade of gouging by the state and local governments and pitiful indifference by the ‘fans’.
I can’t understand the Jags situation. Florida is a great place to do business and has the population to support a team. I don’t know if the Jags are just miserable at marketing or if Jacksonville has some weird anti-football vibe. For whatever reason, that team just isn’t commercially successful. The owner hasn’t said a peep about moving or selling, though.
My guess is that the LA group has some eerily realistic looking Ralph Wilson voodoo doll that they’re constantly exposing to flu viruses and anthrax.
Of course we could make things more challenging, Lisa, but then the stupider students would be in here complaining, furrowing their brows in a vain attempt to understand the situation--Seymour Skinner
by Ron From NM on Oct 15, 2009 7:15 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Jacksonville is more of a college town, I’ve heard. It also doesn’t help that there were already three NFL teams within about 400 miles (Miami, Tampa, Atlanta). It was a nice thought trying to establish a smaller market, growing market, but there seem to be too many other football related factors that have caused the lukewarm support of the Jags.
~K
"As the governor of Louisiana once said, the only way Chris Kelsay can lose his job is if he got caught in bed with a dead girl or a live boy."
by Kurupt on Oct 15, 2009 10:33 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Florida doesn't give a poop about the NFL.
Their pro teams are the Gators, Seminoles, and Canes. Especially in Jacksonville.
by twoeightnine on Oct 16, 2009 5:49 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Plus USF is playing well too. There’s probably some Georgia Bulldog fans in the Jacksonville area. And the NFL fans in Jacksonville probably had a favorite team before they got a pro team in 1995. The Dolphins, Falcons and Bucs were all pro teams within a few hours drive for at least 20 years before the Jags even existed.
I signed up for Second Life about a year ago. Back then my life was so great that I literally wanted a second one. In my Second Life I was also a paper salesman and I was also named Dwight. Absolutely everything was the same. Except I could fly. - Dwight Schrute
by kaisertown on Oct 16, 2009 7:10 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
i have like a couple of hundred i can spare
any rich Rumblers?
"Hold ya chin up...nuh nuh nuh...gone" -Marshawn Lynch-
by billsoferie on Oct 15, 2009 9:20 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
I'll throw in $5k!
They are hard to play but not hard to beat.
- Mike Lombardi on the Buffalo Bills
by Sluss88 on Oct 15, 2009 12:41 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
We could call the team the Buffalo Rumblers!
They are hard to play but not hard to beat.
- Mike Lombardi on the Buffalo Bills
by Sluss88 on Oct 15, 2009 12:41 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I’ve got a big jar full of coins…
Bills fan? In Colorado? It's more likely than you think.
by UZ on Oct 16, 2009 4:47 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Niagara Bills
The next owner should build a new stadium closer to Toronto. The current location is about as inconvenient from Toronto as you can get in WNY. The Erie and Niagara county population is 1.2 million. Metropolitan Toronto is over 5 million. The regional approach has proved out in New England.
by jpheff on Oct 15, 2009 1:23 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Not every fan comes from Canada
As a matter of fact a lot of us come from Rochester and the Finger Lakes and Syracuse and points south.
by twoeightnine on Oct 15, 2009 2:26 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I think Rochester should build a fast ferry that’s large enough to place a stadium on. Then, the stadium could ferry back and forth between Toronto and Rochester, picking up Bills fans along the way.
Look. He's a 3rd round draft pick from Stanford and he throws like one. He's a bumpkin. Pass.
by thatguy34 on Oct 15, 2009 5:19 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Yeah. I bet Rochester and Monroe County would love to get involved in another ferry. :-P
Playing Realistic Optimist at Buffalo Rumblings since 2008. Ignoring the grumblings on Rumblings.
by MattRichWarren on Oct 15, 2009 6:23 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
keeping team in WNY
As a 50 year Bills’ fan who hasn’t lived anywhere near Buffalo for 35 years, I still feel very strongly about keeping the team in WNY post Ralph. To facilitate that it is relevant to convince a potential buyer that WNY is not a small market. The farther north you go, the larger the market becomes. Both the NY and Toronto markets relate to “Niagara.” Oh yes, has anyone ever watched a nationally televised Bills’ game without seeing shots of Niagara Falls?
by jpheff on Oct 15, 2009 9:38 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
The answer is a Canadian, so then I will be a Giants fan I guess…
by Buff69King on Oct 15, 2009 6:36 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
What about the 7 year series in Toronto?
Can the team move during this period? If the Bills were sold, lets say, to some group in LA, would the “LA” Bills be forced to play one game a year in Canada? Perhaps there is some buy-out clause
by DCRumbler on Oct 15, 2009 7:42 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
What happens?
The team improves, that’s what happens.
I hate the fact that Ralph Wilson is looked upon as some kind of grand old man of the NFL.
Except for a brief – but glorious spell under Pollian and Levy – this team has been an afterthought in the NFL.
I guess longevity is enough to put someone into the hall of fame, but let’s get serious – if he was in his 50s, people would be hanging him in effigy.
by Pruitt on Oct 16, 2009 8:38 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
I guess longevity is enough to put someone into the hall of fame, but let’s get serious
I call B.S. There are a lot of reasons he is in the HoF and exactly zero of them are longevity. http://www.buffalorumblings.com/2009/1/10/715581/does-ralph-wilson-belong-i Not once did I mention “Old guy” as one of his accomplishments.
Playing Realistic Optimist at Buffalo Rumblings since 2008. Ignoring the grumblings on Rumblings.
by MattRichWarren on Oct 17, 2009 9:06 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
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