Sabres and Bills Owners Terry and Kim Pegula "repeatedly mentioned financial uncertainty stemming from the Covid-19 pandemic during a Zoom call with reporters" yesterday following the decision to fire Sabres GM Jason Botterill, but they "balked when asked whether financial considerations might similarly affect the Bills, specifically whether it would hamper their ability to offer competitive contract extensions" to coach Sean McDermott and GM Brandon Beane, according to Jason Wolf of the BUFFALO NEWS. Terry Pegula said, "There is no ‘financial situation.' I don’t know where that rumor started." Wolf notes the Bills, which have reached the playoffs in two of the last three seasons and are a "picture of stability on and off the field, are less reliant on gate receipts than the Sabres because of the NFL’s lucrative television contracts." But the Pegulas "likely anticipate a financial hit this season, with the growing possibility of far fewer, if any, football fans in attendance." Terry Pegula reiterated, "There is no financial pressure, negative, on the franchise" (BUFFALO NEWS, 6/17).
The Bills are considering models for 15%, 33% and 50% seating capacity at New Era Field this seasonGETTY IMAGES
CAPACITY AT NEW ERA: The NEWS' Wolf noted medical experts' anticipation of a second spike in coronavirus cases this fall is "prompting the Bills to consider scenarios for the upcoming season, including models for 15%, 33% and 50% seating capacity at New Era Field." These plans include "designations of where fans could sit to maintain social distancing and safety protocols, and each of the models encompasses various offshoots relating to groups or families that could potentially sit together." A county spokesperson said that the team has "yet to share its plans with local government authorities, with whom they must seek approval." The county added that "proactive steps to keep fans safe should be contained in the Bills’ plans" as it "continues to discourage large gatherings." New Era Field has a seating capacity of 73,079. Wolf noted if the stadium is "limited to one-third capacity, more than half the season-ticket holders will be left out." The Bills "declined to comment on whether they have made the full stadium’s allotment of tickets available for purchase or how the percentage of tickets available compares to previous years." Should the Bills play a game where ticket sales exceed approved stadium capacity, it is "unclear how the team will determine which fans gain admittance and which are turned away" (BUFFALO NEWS, 6/16).
