The family of Delaware North Cos. Chair & CEO and Bruins Owner Jeremy Jacobs Sr. "will not pursue an ownership interest" in the Bills, but is "looking at operating and owning at least part of a new stadium for the team," according to sources cited by Robert McCarthy of the BUFFALO NEWS. The Jacobs family’s decision to "not pursue purchasing the team was confirmed by six sources in government and the private sector." Sources said that the company in recent weeks has "been holding regular discussions" with members of New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo's administration. One source said, "They see this in terms of a facility they could run and manage." Among the ideas Delaware North is pursuing is "a plan for it to own and build a new stadium, possibly with other investors, as well as to run its concession operations, which the company has long experience doing around the world" (BUFFALO NEWS, 6/14). The AP's John Wawrow cited sources as saying that Delaware North execs are "to meet with at least one prospective ownership group and members of a firm hired by New York state to evaluate potential new stadium sites in Erie and Niagara counties." One source said that Delaware North execs will "meet with state officials involved in the stadium search process." Another said that there have "been initial discussions regarding the Jacobs teaming with prospective ownership groups, including one" led by former Sabres Owner Tom Golisano (AP, 6/13).
RISK VS. REWARD: In Buffalo, Bucky Gleason writes with signs pointing toward Sabres Owner Terry Pegula "making an effort to purchase the Bills, you can only hope that he learned from his mistakes during his three-year test drive in the NHL." On a "personal level, he would be [an] ideal man for the Bills." But on a "professional level, well, look at the Sabres." Pegula would keep the Bills in Buffalo, "that much is clear." Sources said that if he ever purchased the Bills, he "would run the operation like a businessman rather than some fantasy owner." Gleason writes Pegula could "solve problems for both franchises, but he is "capable of running both teams into the ground" (BUFFALO NEWS, 6/16).
