The Bills have sold 3,005 of the 6,878 club seats (44%)
for the '99 season, with "oral commitments" pushing the
number to 3,200 (47%), according to Warner & Herbeck of the
BUFFALO NEWS. Warner & Herbeck: "Three main reasons why the
new club seats are difficult to sell: Cost. Cost. Cost."
Bills Treasurer Jeffrey Littmann is "confident" the team can
get close to the 5,000-seat level, needing to sell 1,600
more by December 1 in order to qualify for state-support for
a stadium renovation which would keep the team in Buffalo
through 2003. Warner & Herbeck call the sales goal "hefty,"
considering "how long it has taken to sell 3,000." But
since early June, the Business Backs the Bills Committee has
helped the team "close deals on 51 suites in 130 days, or
one every 2 1/2 days," and is launching a "wide-ranging
marketing plan" to sell the 34 remaining luxury boxes.
Warner & Herbeck wrote that the Bills "seem committed" to
come as close as possible to the $11M goal of club/suite
sales, but they "probably won't reach it" and could leave
Buffalo after this season (BUFFALO NEWS, 10/11).
