Ralph Wilson Has Died

[T-Bone]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>A very sad day for the NFL: <a href="https://twitter.com/buffalobills">@buffalobills</a> owner Ralph Wilson has passed away at the age of 95: <a href="http://t.co/bJZhPpTdFp">http://t.co/bJZhPpTdFp</a> <a href="http://t.co/OIiSl0qV57">pic.twitter.com/OIiSl0qV57</a></p>&mdash; NFL (@nfl) <a href="https://twitter.com/nfl/statuses/448535520743014401">March 25, 2014</a></blockquote>
<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

[mac_davy]

yes im posting on argos because it potentially affects them

http://www.tsn.ca/nfl/story/?id=447323

[Deerkeeper]

So now it begins. With due respects to the Wilson family, but how long before the MLSE and/or Rogers vultures start to gather. May not be this season, but just wait until next.

[ArgoZ]

So now it begins. With due respects to the Wilson family, but how long before the MLSE and/or Rogers vultures start to gather. May not be this season, but just wait until next.

Maybe too late by then. The Wilson family want to sell the team and not be financially involved with the taxes and requirements of owning the Bills. They should and will most likely sell before another year goes by and they are on the hook for those costs.

[ArgoRavi]

Stephen Brunt and some others in the Toronto media must be peeing their pants in excitement over this news as they have been waiting for this for a few years now.

[ArgoRavi]

Cathal Kelly of the Star has begun the speculation and the Argos are very much involved: http://www.therecord.com/sports-story/4430512-ralph-wilson-s-death-opens-door-every-so-slightly-for-nfl-in-toronto/

[jerrym]

Cathal Kelly of the Star has begun the speculation and the Argos are very much involved: http://www.therecord.com/sports-story/4430512-ralph-wilson-s-death-opens-door-every-so-slightly-for-nfl-in-toronto/


In coming to Canada, the league would announce itself as a global, rather than provincial, concern.Toronto could be the launch point for the new NFL.

Cathal Kelly's article, and especially the above quote, shrieks of the inferiority complex that makes one proclaim in the loudest possible terms the exact opposite of one's true feelings - that Toronto is not recognized as the centre of the universe and that it will be acknowledged as existing behind the scenes only in putdowns. A truly confident individual does not need to make such extremely exaggerated statements.

[zontar]

Great article , Cathal. But forgot to mention the NFL has had decades to move here and have, never, ever mentioned Canada as part of there internationalization. Other than that, well done.

[LLB997]

Kelly is on the pipe if,he thinks the Argos are the biggest hurdle.

[Neely2005]

All this might be moot now. Ralph Wilson just died, who knows where this will lead in the coming months. Would MLSE dare to back out on the Argos? Is it too late? Is Argos to BMO an official done deal, I don't think it is technically, yet.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>The real concern for the Bills staying in Buffalo is 2019, when the buyout shrinks all the way down to $28M. It goes back to $400M in 2020.</p>&mdash; Bart Hubbuch (@HubbuchNYP) <a href="https://twitter.com/HubbuchNYP/statuses/448577796689125376">March 25, 2014</a></blockquote>
<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>Ralph Wilson's passing will trigger speculation about Bills' future. But current lease means massive penalties for moving team before 2020.</p>&mdash; David William Naylor (@TSNDaveNaylor) <a href="https://twitter.com/TSNDaveNaylor/statuses/448537091324928000">March 25, 2014</a></blockquote>
<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Buffalo Bills owner Ralph Wilson dies at age 95:

http://ww2.nationalpost.com/m/wp/blog.html?b=sports.nationalpost.com/2014/03/25/buffalo-bills-owner-ralph-wilson-dies-at-age-95

[AngeloV]

I'm of the belief that if the NFL wanted to come to Toronto, they already would have. There is nothing to gain for them. They already have the market they need without having a team here, such as a Canadian TV deal (Canadian ratings have zero effect on US TV deals). I just don't believe you will ever see it happen.

[argolio]

A lot of obstacles in moving the Bills:

-New York State has declared they are willing to help fund a new stadium
-Roger Goodell is from Western New york, and it would tarnish his image if the Bills moved under his watch
-lease at Ralph Wilson Stadium is difficult to break
-NFL has shown no interest in Canadian expansion in recent years
-very expensive for a Toronto owner to buy & move the team, and build a new stadium

We also don't know if Ralph Wilson's family really doesn't want to own the team, though that's been speculated for years.

The NFL in Toronto is a long shot, but no one should forget that there's a lot of money in this city. If there's ever an opening, I have little doubt someone will take a shot at it.

[hugoagogo]

I honestly don't see an NFL franchise in Canada in my lifetime. Now, granted, I am on the back side of my existence on this planet. :)

[argofandave]

I was watching the news on one of the Buffalo stations the other night and they were talking about 4 different billionaires from Buffalo as potential owners. I don't remember any of the names but the first one is the current owner of the Sabres. The reporter stated that the NFL allows its owners to own teams in other leagues provided that they are in the same city which means that the owner of the Sabres could own the Bills as well. The same goes for the owner of the Bisons. Apparently, the owner of the Boston Bruins is from Buffalo so he would have to sell the Bruins if he wanted to own the Bills. There was one other person mentioned but I don't recall him currently owning any teams.

[Neely2005]

I was watching the news on one of the Buffalo stations the other night and they were talking about 4 different billionaires from Buffalo as potential owners. I don't remember any of the names but the first one is the current owner of the Sabres. The reporter stated that the NFL allows its owners to own teams in other leagues provided that they are in the same city which means that the owner of the Sabres could own the Bills as well. The same goes for the owner of the Bisons. Apparently, the owner of the Boston Bruins is from Buffalo so he would have to sell the Bruins if he wanted to own the Bills. There was one other person mentioned but I don't recall him currently owning any teams.

Jeremy Jacobs owns the Bruins. He could sell the team to his son as is son is already pretty involved in the Bruins.

[argofandave]

Thanks Neely. I just went online and found that the current owner of the Sabres is Terry Pegula. The owner of the Bisons is Bob Rich, Jr. The other billionaire that the reporter mentioned was the former owner of the Sabres, Thomas Golisano.

[1argoholic]

The guy has been dead for years. It's been like 'Weekend at Ralph Wilson's' for at least ten years now. This news can't be a shock to anyone. He was 92 but looked like 122.

[Ron]

The guy has been dead for years. It's been like 'Weekend at Ralph Wilson's' for at least ten years now. This news can't be a shock to anyone. He was 92 but looked like 122.

You need to come back and post more. The site's level of humanity and compassion are really different when you're not here. ;)



We also don't know if Ralph Wilson's family really doesn't want to own the team, though that's been speculated for years.

Apparently they can't afford to keep it and pay the huge estate taxes that are coming due.

[Downtownfan]

Wow. This cannot be read as anything but a sharp kick in the nuts for the Bills to Toronto delusionals:

http://www.buffalonews.com/city-region/under-lease-court-could-bar-any-new-owner-from-moving-buffalo-bills-20140412

[ArgoRavi]

Wow. This cannot be read as anything but a sharp kick in the nuts for the Bills to Toronto delusionals: http://www.buffalonews.com/city-region/under-lease-court-could-bar-any-new-owner-from-moving-buffalo-bills-20140412 As Stephen Brunt has been known to say, you can hear the crickets chirping regarding the NFL in Toronto.

[ArgoRavi]

It looks like it is almost impossible for the Bills to move to Toronto or anywhere else in the next ten years: http://www.torontosun.com/2014/04/28/clause-forbids-bills-sale-to-anyone-intent-on-relocation

[Double Dare]

The guy has been dead for years. It's been like 'Weekend at Ralph Wilson's' for at least ten years now. This news can't be a shock to anyone. He was 92 but looked like 122.


Ha, ha ... love it! Now he's picking carrots with a stepladder!

[ArgoRavi]

I have no problem with this scenario so long as the Bills stay south of the border: http://www.torontosun.com/2014/06/02/niagara-bills-group-would-be-hard-to-beat-source

[argofandave]

According to Channel 2 in Buffalo this morning, the Jacobs family will not bid on the Bills because a company they own (Delaware North) owns and operates entities in the gaming industry and the NFL prohibits owners being involved with gambling. However, the Jacobs family may become involved in keeping the Bills in Buffalo in regards to the search for a new stadium but no details were provided.

[ArgoRavi]

According to Channel 2 in Buffalo this morning, the Jacobs family will not bid on the Bills because a company they own (Delaware North) owns and operates entities in the gaming industry and the NFL prohibits owners being involved with gambling. However, the Jacobs family may become involved in keeping the Bills in Buffalo in regards to the search for a new stadium but no details were provided.

Media reports that I have seen indicate that there is no shortage of individuals with money who can and will keep that team in Buffalo. The Buffalo Bills will be around for a very long time IMO.