Sabres Owners Terry and Kim Pegula "have struck a tentative deal to purchase" the Bills and an official announcement "should be made today," according to sources cited by Tim Graham of the BUFFALO NEWS. Sources said that the Pegulas "have outdistanced every other suitor" that submitted a bid yesterday. One source said, "Done deal." Graham writes the news "should bring cheer and relief to Bills fans, the majority of whom regarded Team Pegula as the strongest ownership candidate and the one most likely to guarantee the Bills a long-term future in Buffalo." The bid also "had the backing" of U.S. Sen. Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.), "who contacted influential NFL owners to voice support." The Pegulas "were regarded as frontrunners all along because of their vast personal wealth and strong ties to Western New York that include ownership of the Sabres and construction of the downtown HarborCenter project." There had been "speculation two additional bids may have been on the table," with former Sabres Owner Tom Golisano and Doubleline Capital Founder & CEO Jeffrey Gundlach "among those who had expressed interest" (BUFFALONEWS.com, 9/9). NFL Network's Ian Rapaport cited sources as saying that Kim Pegula "will be heavily involved" in the Bills executive process, "making many of the decisions" (TWITTER.com, 9/9).
BEHIND THE CURTAIN: Sources said that in addition to the Pegulas, Jon Bon Jovi’s group and Donald Trump also "made formal offers." Graham reports "word spread among many involved in the sale process that at least one other bidder was out there." One source said that "more than three bids were made." Sources said that there was a "belief the Bills’ winning bid will be higher" than the $1B the Browns sold for in '12 and could "break the NFL record" of $1.1B set by the Dolphins in '09. The "timing of a Pegula victory wouldn't be bad for the NFL either," with sports headlines "dominated by video" of the Ray Rice assault (BUFFALO NEWS, 9/9). In N.Y., Josh Kosman reports despite a "slow start to the auction," the Bills are "confident they will attract a record price for the team." A source said a $1.2B price is a "reasonable guess." Trump's final bid was believed to be "at least" $1B (N.Y. POST, 9/9). Meanwhile, QMI AGENCY's John Kryk reported the "highest bidder is not necessarily going to get the team." There are two other "critical factors," as "'certainty of NFL approval' is one, and the ability to close the deal immediately is the other" (QMI AGENCY, 9/8).
