Bills Finalize Plans To Play Regular-Season Games In Toronto

Bills Reach Deal To Play A Game In Toronto For Next Five Years

The Bills have "finalized a deal to play one regular-season football game [at Rogers Centre] in Toronto over each of the next five seasons" beginning next season, according to NFL sources cited by Gaughan & Sullivan of the BUFFALO NEWS. The deal, which has "been in the works for almost a year," is expected to be formally announced next week in Toronto. Three preseason games will also be played in Toronto during the five-year span. It is expected the game to be played in Toronto will be in December, "perhaps the last home game of the year." Gaughan & Sullivan report the Bills believe in addition to making more money, they can "spur more corporate support from Canadian businesses for some of the high-end seats" at Ralph Wilson Stadium (BUFFALO NEWS, 1/31). In Toronto, David Naylor reports season-ticket holders of the CFL Toronto Argonauts and Hamilton Tiger-Cats "will get first priority to buy tickets" for the Bills' Toronto games. NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell is expected to confirm the games during his annual State of the League address tomorrow (Toronto GLOBE & MAIL, 1/31). The Fan 590-AM reported the Bills' agreement "only ensures that the 2008 game won't conflict with the CFL schedule." Tickets, which would average $250 per game, would be distributed via lottery. Fans would have to purchase tickets for all eight games and "pay for them upfront" (CP, 1/31).