Bills are staying in Buffalo
http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap100...wilson-stadium
Quote:
Buffalo Bills agree to lease for Ralph Wilson Stadium
Buffalo Bills fans haven't had enough to cheer about over the last decade, but we have great news for them this morning: The team is staying in Buffalo.
The team has reached an agreement with the state on a 10-year lease deal for Ralph Wilson Stadium. The new lease, first reported by The Buffalo News, was announced at a press conference Friday morning. The agreement includes a prohibitive relocation penalty. The Bills would have to pay $400 million if they leave during the first seven years of the lease. The penalty drops to $29 million for the remainder of the lease. That will quiet any talks about the franchise leaving until at least 2020. The agreement also provides $130 million to renovate Ralph Wilson Stadium. The Bills will pay $35 million of that sum, with the state and Erie County sharing the rest. Bills CEO Russ Brandon had previously dismissed discussions of the Bills' need for a new stadium, saying the team was committed to continuing to play at its current home. But now he's open to the possibility of a new venue. "We're going to look at the potential of a new stadium in the next decade or so, and see if it makes sense for our community," Brandon said, The Associated Press reported. With the Los Angeles market still open and the Bills' foray into Toronto having mixed results at best, this news should quell any anxiety from Bills fans that the franchise is leaving town. Buffalo has one of the most knowledgable, passionate fan bases in the NFL. They deserve a team. Now they just need a winner again.
The Bills need to now "just say no" to the renewal of the Toronto Series debacle. It is a disgusting travesty that is unfair to the Bills, the true fans of the Bills, and anyone who is an NFL fan. Toronto is a vacuum which is sucking the life out of NFL football. Let them continue to revel in their CFL glory and do not sign a new deal to play games in Toronto. It is a neutral site game at best, and a road game at worst for the Bills.
