The Bills have "begun listening to in-person presentations from prospective buyers, with as many as eight scheduled over the next three weeks," according to sources cited by Tim Graham of the BUFFALO NEWS. Sources said that presentations will "take place over the next three weeks in the Detroit area." Ralph Wilson Enterprises is based in suburban Grosse Point Shores, Mich. Donald Trump's jet "was spotted in Detroit" yesterday. A source said that Trump was "the first to deliver his pitch." Another undisclosed bidder "is scheduled to present today." The presentation order "could not immediately be confirmed." Sources said that Pro Football HOFer Jim Kelly is "involved with one of the undisclosed bidders and meeting with the Bills' trust today." Doubleline Capital Founder & CEO Jeffrey Gundlach "had approached Kelly about joining forces" (BUFFALONEWS.com, 8/8). QMI AGENCY's John Kryk cited sources as saying that the Toronto-based group, led by Jon Bon Jovi, "resubmitted its first-round bid" on Tuesday night. It was not known by yesterday afternoon "whether the trust running the sale and its transaction team deemed the bid satisfactory, in order to advance the group to the sale's final phase." This is seen as "the last chance" for the group that also includes MLSE Chair Larry Tanenbaum and the Rogers family. The trio was furthermore asked to "provide greater assurances it plans to keep the Bills long-term in the Buffalo area" (QMI AGENCY, 8/6).
MORE THAN MEETS THE EYE: In Buffalo, Jerry Sullivan writes Bills fans are "ready to embrace" Sabres Owner Terry Pegula as "a savior, the man who will keep their precious NFL franchise in town for the long term." If Pegula "gets his way, they'll build a statue to him some day." Sullivan: "I'm a lot more optimistic about the team staying than I was five years ago, but something tells me the process will become more complicated than it now appears and that Pegula will have to reach even deeper" (BUFFALO NEWS, 8/7).
