The AP's John Wawrow reported at least three groups, including one led by Sabres Owners Terry and Kim Pegula, "have entered final negotiations" to buy the Bills. Sources said that a group headed by Donald Trump and a Toronto-based group led by Jon Bon Jovi "also have received formal documents in advance of a deadline for bids to be submitted by Monday." Former Sabres Owner Tom Golisano "is not prepared to submit a bid." The bidding process "will remain open for groups to increase their bids until a candidate is selected" (AP, 9/2).
BUC-ING THE TREND: In Tampa, Greg Auman reports the Buccaneers are "working to move back up" the NFL standings in a "key area: attendance." Bucs CMO Brian Ford said, "From a business model standpoint, everything we're trying to do is to add value outside of wins and losses." The team in the past month has "opened ticket offices in Orlando and Sarasota." Group-sales programs "reach in every direction -- discounts offered to military personnel, Crossfit enthusiasts and the LGBT community." More than 10,000 tickets "were sold last year through an ongoing fundraising program that gives area schools $5 from every ticket their students sell." Despite a 4-12 record in '13, the Bucs' average attendance rose 7% to 58,818, "sliding up two spots in the league rankings" (TAMPA BAY TIMES, 9/3).
ON A WING AND AN AD: The Eagles' new anthemic campaign for the start of the NFL season is up and "Silver Linings Playbook" star Bradley Cooper does the voice-over. A two-minute version of the work from the team and agency 160over90 is up on the team’s flyeaglesfly.com website. Eagles Senior VP/Business Ari Roitman said the long-form ad will be cut into three 30-second spots, the first of which will break on TV in the Philadelphia market during Thursday's Packers-Seahawks NFL opener. The ad also includes music from John Legend and The Roots (Terry Lefton, Editor-at-Large).
NEW YORK STATE OF WALLET: In New Jersey, John Brennan cited TiqIQ data as showing that the Giants tickets on average this season are "going for $317.11" -- down 8.5% from this time last season. As for the Jets, the number "is up" 2.4% from last season -- but "only to $190.83." The Giants currently rank 6th in the NFL, while the Jets rank 16th "in terms of highest average ticket price" (NORTHJERSEY.com, 9/2).
