The Bills kicked off their Toronto marketing blitz in
conjunction with their American Bowl game against the
Packers, according to Leo Roth of Rochester DEMOCRAT &
CHRONICLE. Bills VP/Administration Jim Miller: "This is not
just another game. This is a chance to market our product
in what may be the most fertile ground we have to operate."
Canadian Via Rail will operate two special trains from
Toronto to Buffalo for games this fall, and on Friday, the
Bills explored sites for a potential Toronto office to be
staffed by one or two people to sell suites and tickets.
The team is also considering a Canadian marketing firm to
handle the task (Rochester DEMOCRAT & CHRONICLE, 8/15).
THE GAME: In Toronto, Gary Picknell wrote that the
league-announced crowd of 53,896 for the American Bowl
"appeared more in the neighborhood of 45,000." While it was
still the biggest attendance for an event at the SkyDome
this year, "the empty seats seemed to stick out." Sun Media
Corp. CEO Paul Godfrey, co-chair of the American Bowl:
"There are some no-shows." NFL Dir of Int'l Relations Pete
Abitante said the game was sold out and that the number of
no-shows wouldn't impact any future decision to hold another
game at the SkyDome (TORONTO SUN, 8/17).
TWO SIDES: Under the header "A Bowl Full Of Boredom,
Not Fans," the STAR's Ken McKee asked, "Is the American Bowl
chapter of Toronto's courtship with the [NFL] at an end?"
He noted unconfirmed reports that TV interests "guaranteed"
the remaining 5,000 tickets in order to ensure a sellout and
lift the TV blackout. Godfrey didn't speculate on future
games but said, "To be in the NFL, and that is our goal, you
have to co-operate with the NFL. I'm prepared to do
whatever gives us the quickest route in and if they ask,
we'll do it" (TORONTO STAR, 8/17). In comparison, Robert
Benzie wrote that the NFL "stormed back into town yesterday,
delighting" the fans (TORONTO SUN, 8/17).
CFL ALL-STARS: The CFL is considering pitting its All-
Star team against the World League of American Football
champions rather than its Grey Cup champions. Ken McKee:
"The thinking is that such a matchup would be more
attractive to U.S. television" (TORONTO STAR, 8/17).