Bills Toronto Series extension approved; report says five-year agreement forthcoming

News has been bubbling about an extension for the Bills Toronto Series recently. According to a report from John Kryk of Sun Media in Toronto, the NFL's International Committee approved an extension on the series - and while no agreement has yet been reached between the Bills and Rogers Communications, we now have a little more information on what the extension might entail.

Kryk reports, citing "a source in the position to know," that the current deal would be extended by five years, with one regular season game per year in Toronto (and only one pre-season game over the length of the deal, as opposed to three). Tickets would be significantly cheaper, according to Kryk's source, and the deal is "'significantly' less lucrative" (the adjective is the source's word, not Kryk's) for the Bills than the previous agreement.

The previous eight-game series (eventually shortened to seven thanks to a re-located pre-season game) was worth a reported $78 million. The roughly $11 million average take from one Toronto game is more than double what the Bills make on a game in Orchard Park, per Kryk citing a Buffalo News report. Kryk does not report potential financial details, nor is there any speculation, but clearly, the Bills aren't going to be doubling their money anymore by exporting a game north of the border.

The series has been plagued by high ticket prices, lackluster enthusiasm for the "home" team, and bad play from the Bills. Buffalo is currently just 1-3 in their four regular season games in Canada, with the lone win coming in 2011.