No Shock: Bills in Toronto likely done?

[argotom]

No surprise here as this has been a dog with flies since the get go.
Per the latest report here In the Sun.

http://www.torontosun.com/2014/01/03...t-in-two-weeks

[AngeloV]

I believe you mean "dog with fleas".

[argotom]

You are correct sir, a detention for me writing the phrase 100 times!

[Invader]

It's hard to understand why Rogers signed up for another 5 years last Jan? It was a collosall struggle to give away enough tickets each Bills game to make the crowds look respectable. I think Rogers convinced themselves that the Bills couldn't remain pitifull forever and if they became a playoff team, Toronto fans would flock to see them. Rogers probably realized after the emabarrasment of the most recent game, which made international headlines for the poor fan support, that the gig was up. Hopefully the Bills in Buffalo will put an end to this folly and let Rogers out of their misery.

[argotom]

The guy who signed up Rogers, if It wasn't the old man himself, for the horrendous $78M should have been fired a long time ago.
Never mind if it is the same person who extended this fiasco contract.

[1argoholic]

Dog with fleas? More like dog crap with tape worm.

[paulwoods13]

Although it was announced last year that a new five-year agreement had been reached, it is entirely possible that was a story that deliberately stretched the truth for public consumption. If no such announcement had been made, the game this season could have been considered a "lame duck" affair, making ticket sales even more difficult. I would not be surprised if the parties agreed last spring to say the series was being extended, but to actually defer any decision until after the fifth game had been held. Of course even if this were the case, we likely will never know the full story.

[jerrym]

The picture in the Sun article says it all.

http://www.torontosun.com/assets/i

[argotom]

And those few fans In the 500 were all freebies.

[zontar]

Soooo many people in TOR media got this thing wrong since Day 1. Lets count their mea culpas if the deal ends. I'm guessing around zero.

[Tau Ceti]

Soooo many people in TOR media got this thing wrong since Day 1. Lets count their mea culpas if the deal ends. I'm guessing around zero.

Start with John Kryk.

* Before last Bills game in Toronto: http://www.torontosun.com/2013/11/26...-to-draw-40000
* After the last game in Toronto: http://www.torontosun.com/2013/12/04...s-needs-to-end

I had pronounced cognitive dissonance encountering this man's columns before and after the last Bills game in Toronto. He was extolling a freebie free game in November but calling for the whole thing to be shut down in December (while denouncing freebies...). Huh?

[ArgoRavi]

I think that both sides are trying to find a way to save face which is probably what this upcoming meeting is about. In other words, how can they end this travesty with both sides coming out smelling like roses?

[Argo]

Hopefully the Bills in Buffalo will put an end to this folly and let Rogers out of their misery.

Well and good that the folly ends; on the other hand, it is rather fun seeing Rogers a prisoner of its own device.

[Invader]

The guy who signed up Rogers, if It wasn't the old man himself, for the horrendous $78M should have been fired a long time ago.
Never mind if it is the same person who extended this fiasco contract.

Keith Pelley is president of Rogers and was the front-man for the Bills series renewal. He has to bear some responsibility for the Bills disaster and the surprising decision to renew the series.

His specialty seems to be "papering the crowd" to give the illusion of popularity...style over substance, just like when he was running the Argos.

Pelley's claim that re-signing the Bills for another 5 years "allowed them to show Bills games on Sportsnet" was parroted by the adoring Toronto press (but in fact Sportsnet/City already had a NFL TV deal). The December Bills game in Toronto drew only 250,000 viewers across Canada.

Here is a link to the USA Today article:

http://q.usatoday.com/2013/12/01/tor...rest-in-bills/

[zontar]

Business is business but TOR media is the goat here.
They championed this from the start. Front and centre was Brunt. and at no point did the offer caveats or warnings that the scheme might not be a slam dunk like "Bills would be a poor draw", "TOR has no attachement to Bills" (which are now used as excuses)

[argotom]

The head cheerleader and number one idiot was and still is the infamous Steven Brunt who on more then one occasion said the Bills series was going to sellout in mere hours over the Ticketmaster site and also likely crash their site.

[ArgoZ]

Many people predicted the success of this venture. No need for name calling. People were wrong and we now have the proof to back it up. This thing was doomed from the very start when Billionaires Ted and Ralph went in front of the media and claimed how rich they would be getting. Ted by charging whatever they wanted and how they would line up like sheep, all the way to King St. Doomed before it even got a chance.

[zontar]

The head cheerleader and number one idiot was and still is the infamous Steven Brunt who on more then one occasion said the Bills series was going to sellout in mere hours over the Ticketmaster site and also likely crash their site.

Need a link for that.

[zontar]

Smattering of research shows from 2007-08 there was a few critics of the business side of the deal, consensus being Rogers rooked themselves in the negotiation . But cant find anywhere a column saying it might not be a success.

If deal is ended get ready for lots of TOR media stories with a told-ya-so tone about TOR sports fans are too smart to pay for a bad Bills team or there wasnt enough good visiting teams , tailgating etc....

Except they never told anyone that when deal was struck.

[mac_davy]

rogers 5 billion dollar Investment In the NHL, they no longer have the NFL rights, and thus aren't interested In the series any longer, they have a new 12 year focus, which to my delight they ridiculously over paid , they wont be bringing in huge profits on this one.