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Toronto Groups Keeping Close Eye On Bills As Long-Term Future Remains Uncertain

There are many obstacles Rogers Communications and MLSE "would face in their campaign to bring an NFL team to Toronto," including the fact that the sale of the Bills "is not expected for a couple of years, since the club will be put into a family trust," according to David Shoalts of the GLOBE & MAIL. The Bills' stadium lease with Erie County and New York State also "practically guarantees the only time the club can be easily moved" is in '20. However, MLSE Chair Larry Tanenbaum has been "pressing the flesh among NFL owners for years in hopes of landing a franchise." MLSE President & CEO Tim Leiweke also has "built relationships with NFL owners" during his time with AEG. But in the end, it will "be the size of the cheque that matters, not the size of the friendships." The timing "also works for the Toronto group." If the Wilson family "holds the sale within two years, and the NFL approves a move to Toronto, it will give the group enough time to get a stadium in place when the Bills' lease option comes up" in '19 (GLOBE & MAIL, 3/27). New York State Lt. Gov. Robert Duffy said that the lease agreement "'buys us seven years' to work out an agreement to ensure that whoever ends up owning the teams does not move" out of Western New York (BUFFALONEWS.com, 3/26). ESPN.com's Mike Rodak noted the "most significant stumbling block to a new owner moving the franchise is the Bills' lease with Erie County, which owns Ralph Wilson Stadium." There is a $400M "buyout from the lease" until '20. But for a wealthy group of investors, $400M "isn't an insurmountable amount, even when added to the purchase cost of the team, the cost of a new stadium and a potential NFL relocation fee." An outside buyer "could have less incentive to work with the committee to build a new stadium" (ESPN.com, 3/26).

HOLD THAT THOUGHT: In Rochester, Roth & Maiorana note NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell, whose "family roots in western New York are deep, understands well the depth of concern fans and business leaders share regarding the future" of the Bills. Late Bills Owner Ralph Wilson Jr. "kept his promise to keep the Bills in Buffalo as long as he was alive," but he "made no promises beyond his death." Estates can "remain open for years and trusts can control an entity indefinitely, although other NFL owners will want a voting member in place in Buffalo sooner rather than later." Bills CFO Jeffrey Littmann is "said to be one of the executors of Wilson's estate." Fans for the immediate future "have nothing to fear" (ROCHESTER DEMOCRAT & CHRONICLE, 3/27).

WHO WILL STEP UP AS A BUYER? Roth & Maiorana also note potential local owners that could emerge include Pro Football HOFer Jim Kelly, who has "spoken openly for years of a partnership of businessmen he has assembled to purchase the team, but his battle with cancer lessens the prospect of that happening." The NFL would "prefer one majority owner with deep pockets." Former Sabres Owner Tom Golisano and current Owner Terry Pegula are "on record as saying they would explore stepping in to help keep the Bills in Buffalo if they were in danger of leaving." The "same is said" of former President of the Seneca Nation of Indians Barry Snyder. Other "Buffalo billionaires who could emerge as players" are AAA Int'l League Buffalo Bisons Owner Robert Rich Jr. and Bruins Owner Jeremy Jacobs, who also owns Buffalo-based Delaware North Cos. (ROCHESTER DEMOCRAT & CHRONICLE, 3/27). In Buffalo, James Fink noted Jacobs has "repeatedly been coy about any interest in acquiring the Bills, most out of respect and deference to Wilson." Current NFL ownership regulations "allow team owners to control more than one sports franchise -- as long as both are in the same city or region." Jacobs "has repeatedly said he will not sell" the Bruins, so one possibility is that he "could set up a partnership or limited liability company with one of his sons listed as the general partner if he wanted to buy the Bills" (BIZJOURNALS.com, 3/25).

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