Toronto series near renewal..

[vegasloveforthebills]

Could be worse. We could be St Louis fans. Atleast our team is playing a home game 2 hours away. Not overseas

[gadzod]

They were winning at the start of last season and it didn't matter; no one went to the last few games of the year and they were all blacked out...

You don't think a losing streak of 7 games, spanning from November 6th until December 24th has nothing to do with that?

[BEER_ME_in_CT]

PLEASE dont renew. It is NOT a home game. If they could figure out a way to make it an away game and still have 8 games at the Ralph, I'd be more receptive to it. Thats never going to happen so I say dont renew.

[gadzod]

I think what pisses me off the most is that they consider that game a "home game," yet it's not a part of my season ticket package and I have to go on Ticketmaster and hope the same area where I sit for home games are the same place I can get at Toronto, and NOT at $300-500.....

[WarriorCanuck]

this topic again eh. I thought we had all grown sick talking aboot it.

[geargo]

Can one of our Canadian posters tell us about how many NFL games are on TV per weekend in Ontario? Do they get CBS, ESPN, FOX and NBC Sunday Night games?

I think this relationship also gets more TV viewers for the NFL, thus expanding TV markets.

We get as many NFL games as we want, we get FOX, NBC and CBS as well the Networks here in Canada who broadcast NFL games pick up the feed from the U.S. networks.

That being said, the Toronto TV market does nothing for the American Networks. Any games broadcast simultaneously on a Canadian network will broadcast only Canadian commericals. For Example if the Bills and Jets are playing, we can watch it on a U.S. Network but the commericals will be Canadian content only. Which does nothing for advertisers paying for commericial time in the U.S. market.

So while Toronto may be a large market in terms of fan support, it is a small market in terms of TV revenue for the U.S. networks. In fact there is no market at all in Canada for the U.S. networks.

The Canadian networks pay the NFL for the broadcast rights and the advertisers up here pay for the commercial time. Now keep in mind that money is pocket change to the NFL when compared to the U.S. Networks.

TSN (The Canadian version of ESPN) has a larger contract with the CFL and broadcasts every game including the Grey Cup. TSN does broadcast NFL games but on a smaller scale. The ratings for the CFL are only second to the NHL for market share and even a times the ratings very close.

The NFL gets decent ratings as well and there are two networks promoting NFL games up here. My whole point is, that the NFL looks at Toronto as a great fan market, but not as a market that would benefit the league in terms of overall revenue from the Big Networks.

That is why Toronto will never ever get an NFL team; the TV market is just too small. Toronto is now Buffalo's market not the other way around.

And it is a shame, but there is a ton of apathy up here for this series. No one really seems to care about.

The 100th Grey Cup is in Toronto this year and the city and the league are dumping lots of money into promoting the game. The tickets go on sale in June to the public and there are only about 1000 left. My daughter's boy friend works at one of the largest hotels in Toronto and he told me the hotel is sold out for the whole weekend during the game. The last game in the Bills series in Dec 16th, it will be interesting to see how it will fare this year.

Myself? The only place for me to watch the Bills is in Buffalo. I went to the opening game against the Raiders and I had the time of my life.

[blobills78]

Can one of our Canadian posters tell us about how many NFL games are on TV per weekend in Ontario? Do they get CBS, ESPN, FOX and NBC Sunday Night games?

I think this relationship also gets more TV viewers for the NFL, thus expanding TV markets.

We get all the same stations and games that you do.

[jrober38]

You don't think a losing streak of 7 games, spanning from November 6th until December 24th has nothing to do with that?

At one point the team was 5-2. At that point in time, fans should have eagerly been buying tickets to see the team play what should have been meaningful games at the end of the season.

Instead, there were 12k empty seats to the Titans, 8k empty seats to our division rival Dolphins, and 23k empty seats for the Broncos and Tebow Mania.

Not being able to sell out games despite being in the playoff hunt after 11 games is why there are games in Toronto.

[B-Man]

At one point the team was 5-2. At that point in time, fans should have eagerly been buying tickets to see the team play what should have been meaningful games at the end of the season.

Instead, there were 12k empty seats to the Titans, 8k empty seats to our division rival Dolphins, and 23k empty seats for the Broncos and Tebow Mania.

Not being able to sell out games despite being in the playoff hunt after 11 games is why there are games in Toronto.

The same old arguement again, we should have sold out games months ahead based on their early winning record.


I have been following the Bills since 1969, even in theSuper Bowl years there were plenty of games that didn't sell out til right before.


Besides, you keep using last year as an example when the Toronto series was set up 5 years ago.

As I said originally, its the decade long record of ineptitude that caused difficult ticket sales......................................

A winning team will result in a full stadium !

Now that we are getting back to respectibility, lets not keep giving away a home game...........NO to Toronto Renewal !


.

[gadzod]

At one point the team was 5-2. At that point in time, fans should have eagerly been buying tickets to see the team play what should have been meaningful games at the end of the season.

Instead, there were 12k empty seats to the Titans, 8k empty seats to our division rival Dolphins, and 23k empty seats for the Broncos and Tebow Mania.

Not being able to sell out games despite being in the playoff hunt after 11 games is why there are games in Toronto.

I'll give you a hint, buddy. Memphis Grizzlies still had tickets for sale for game 7 this past weekend up until the day prior to the game. They are more worse off than we are. The Grizzlies are the ONLY professional sports team (besides minor league) in that city. Yet, they didn't sell out Game 7 tickets before Game 1? Even when they are guaranteed a refund should it not happen? That is what happens. This isn't something new. When teams sell out season tickets, that means they have sold out allowable tickets allotted. There are still single game tickets available, because people don't want to pay $1,300 for two $75 tickets for 1 game.

[likei'vebeentherebefore]

you guys keep feeding yourselves whatever you need to to make yourselves feel snug as a rug in your NKOTB blankets at night...

fact is, if the Bills EVER leave Buffalo, or play more games in Toronto, the ONLY people that have a legitimate right to be upset are the season ticket holders.

[bilzfancy]

until the Ralph can get 60,000 season ticket holders from WNY and sell out all the suites to Americans, the Bills NEED Toronto to be viable.

[Billzfan51]

Psst! I know you're trying to be clever but since you're not aware of it, I'll point it out for you. America houses both Canada and the U.S.. Ergo Canada is in America. So is Mexico. Grab yourself an atlas and set the grammar book down professor.

Since I know you're not aware of it. I'm from America. We call it America here. Canada is not part of America. No matter how much you might wish it were so. Neither is Mexico. North America the continent? Yes. America the country? No.

Yes. I was joking around. But if you're going to try to make some knock on me about being clever you might want to at least be correct...

[burganator45]

the worst part about this is losing home game

[Billzfan51]

you guys keep feeding yourselves whatever you need to to make yourselves feel snug as a rug in your NKOTB blankets at night...

fact is, if the Bills EVER leave Buffalo, or play more games in Toronto, the ONLY people that have a legitimate right to be upset are the season ticket holders.

That's not true. I buy officially licensed Buffalo Bills gear. So I support the team and dish out my hard earned money to them. I have earned my right to gripe about their decisions, non-decisions, and be upset if the team were to ever move.

I know you probably think you're the judge on who is a true fan, who can and cannot complain about the team, and legitimacy of complaints but get over it...

[likei'vebeentherebefore]

That's not true. I buy officially licensed Buffalo Bills gear. So I support the team and dish out my hard earned money to them. I have earned my right to gripe about their decisions, non-decisions, and be upset if the team were to ever move.

I know you probably think you're the judge on who is a true fan, who can and cannot complain about the team, and legitimacy of complaints but get over it...

sorry if it hurts your little feelings, but that is true.

i myself do not own season tickets so i can't complain if they move. i didn't hold up my end of the bargain.

but if i lived in Buffalo i can GUARANTEE 100% i would buy those tickets. 100%

so, yeah, i can judge. if you're a "true fan", you live in Buffalo, and you have the money to buy the tickets and don't, you have ZERO right to complain.

also, you might want to reevaluate how much of a fan you truly are.

[Billzfan51]

sorry if it hurts your little feelings, but that is true.

i myself do not own season tickets so i can't complain if they move. i didn't hold up my end of the bargain.

but if i lived in Buffalo i can GUARANTEE 100% i would buy those tickets. 100%

so, yeah, i can judge. if you're a "true fan", you live in Buffalo, and you have the money to buy the tickets and don't, you have ZERO right to complain.

also, you might want to reevaluate how much of a fan you truly are.

Your logic is astounding. By your own definition you aren't much of a fan...

[likei'vebeentherebefore]

Your logic is astounding. By your own definition you aren't much of a fan...

i don't live in Buffalo. i'd have seasons in a heartbeat.

saw the Eagles game early in the season, and when i came home for x-mas last year, i caught the Broncos game. i was disgusted by how few people were there. it was embarrassing to be a fan of the Bills that day.

not because of the team, but to be apart of the fanbase.

but you're right, imo... neither of us will have any ground to stand on if they move. we can say nothing because we did nothing.

you live there, claim you're this big Bills fan. my logic is fine, it's your understanding of the word "fan" most would have an issue with.

[B-Man]

Who has a "right" to complain is a diversion.

I am simply saying that I disagree with the company line that "the Bills can't survive without Toronto"

Winning will fill the stadium, the lots, and sell merchandise.

.

[Billzfan51]

I will state this slowly for you. I don't live in Buffalo either. I did have Bills season tickets when I lived in Rochester. It's been a long time since then though. 1998 or something like that.

I still dish out money for officially licensed products from the Buffalo Bills. I am invested in this team. I have the right to complain.

You? Maybe not so much.