Terry Pegula "made a quick statement and took three questions about buying" the Bills after being unanimously approved by the NFL yesterday as the franchise's new owner, according to a front-page piece by Tim Graham of the BUFFALO NEWS. Kim Pegula "stood off to the side" with Bills President & CEO Russ Brandon. Asked whether he thought the $1.4B price for the Bills was a good deal, Terry Pegula said, "I got a hell of a deal. I own the team." Prospective owners during the approval process normally "face questions and then are asked to leave the room while the teams vote." The Pegulas "expected to outline a few team issues, including their stadium plans." But while the excited Pegulas "tried to relax in a waiting area, the owners decided among themselves they had nothing to ask." Brandon: "It took about 15 seconds, and the Pegula family came in and joined the meeting. They sat down and got right to business." Bills CFO Jeffrey Littmann "spoke for the estate" of late Bills Owner Ralph Wilson Jr., who died in March, and "delivered some of the final words associated with the family’s ownership." He then "read a letter from Wilson’s widow, Mary, to the NFL owners." Outgoing Bills Exec VP/Strategic Planning Mary Owen "said nothing." Chiefs Chair & CEO Clark Hunt said of the moment, "It was very emotional." NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell "also paid tribute to Wilson's ownership," and the execs "applauded." Littman and Owen then "exited the ballroom and gave some teary hugs." Energy for the Pegulas' ownership "was palpable" during the rest of the meeting. Terry Pegula said of his desire to buy the team, "It goes back further than you may think" (BUFFALO NEWS, 10/9).
DOTTING THE I'S: In N.Y., Ken Belson writes the Pegulas will officially take over the team "once money is exchanged this week to formally close the sale." NFL owners "gave the Pegulas a standing ovation after the sale was approved" (
N.Y. TIMES, 10/9). The QMI Agency's John Kryk noted Brandon "appeared relieved and a bit emotional when he spoke with reporters." The fate of other Bills senior execs as a result of the ownership transfer "was not immediately known." It is believed that Brandon "will remain with the club," while many speculate that Littmann, "a faithful Wilson lieutenant, will not" (
QMI AGENCY, 10/8). In Rochester, Sal Maiorana notes the Pegulas "were expected to travel back to Buffalo" either last night or this morning, and are "planning to be at First Niagara Center" tonight for the Sabres' season opener. A "large-scale press conference" tomorrow will be "the first opportunity for reporters to engage with the Pegulas in more detail" (
ROCHESTER DEMOCRAT & CHRONICLE, 10/9).
NEW DIGS NEXT? In Buffalo, Vic Carucci in a front-page piece asks, "How important is it for the Bills to have a new home to replace Ralph Wilson Stadium?" Steelers President Art Rooney II said, "It's going to be important." Texans Owner Bob McNair said, "Certainly we recognize they have a need for a new stadium there. ... We will support them any way we can." Jaguars Owner Shahid Khan said, "We played in Buffalo last year, and I got to experience the stadium firsthand. Just like anything else, to bring the fans, they need a different venue. And they will, I am sure, address it at the right time" (BUFFALO NEWS, 10/9).
FUTURE FORECAST: In Rochester, Leo Roth writes under the header, "6 Questions For Terry Pegula." Among the questions he asks, "Are they in it to win it?" Roth also asks, "What role will Kim Pegula play?" Finally, he asks, "How will the Bills front office be overhauled?" (ROCHESTER DEMOCRAT & CHRONICLE, 10/9). The BUFFALO NEWS' Carucci writes on the NFL's crossover ownership rules, and while the Pegulas' ownership of the Sabres "wasn't viewed as any sort of stumbling block" by NFL owners, it "isn't the perfect situation from the league's perspective." Chicago-based SportsCorp President Marc Ganis said, "Truth be told, it’s not optimal, even in the same market. What the league wants to avoid are things like confidential information from the NFL going to another league, wants to avoid competing with each other for resources and things like that." The situation that "mirrors the Pegulas’ ownership of the Bills and Sabres can be found in New Orleans, where Tom Benson owns" both the Saints and Pelicans. Saints and Pelicans President Dennis Lauscha said that the arrangement has "worked well" for both teams (BUFFALO NEWS, 10/9). A BUFFALO NEWS editorial states the Pegulas' rise to NFL ownership has been "amazing." They have "shown their devotion" to Western New York. They "create the kind of impact that makes a difference in any community’s life, and the HarborCenter project is a case in point." The editorial: "They have already made a huge difference and will almost certainly continue to do so" (BUFFALO NEWS, 10/9).
