The Buffalo Bills will cross the border and play five regular season games in Toronto over the next five seasons, becoming the first NFL team to play annual games outside of the U.S. And for their trouble, they'll receive $78 million. Did the French and Indian War accomplish nothing?
The Toronto group is using the eight-game series to show the city can support its own NFL franchise. The Bills sought the agreement to generate additional revenues by expanding their market to Canada's largest city and financial capital, a 90-minute drive from Buffalo. Ticket prices for the games in Toronto have not yet been released, but are expected to average more than $100 at a facility with a 54,000 seating capacity for football.
That would be the Rogers Centre, of course. The Toronto group, Rogers Communications, has already made 100,000 reservations for the series, with the idea being, I suppose, that they can sell that many tickets. So what does this mean for Buffalo fans? Over at the Bills blog Buffalo Rumblings, a commenter says: "This money is also known as the 'Bill Cowher Fund' ". Maybe, but this deal could also insure that the team won't be relocating anytime soon.
Bills To Be Paid $78 Million To Play Eight Games In Toronto [CBS Sporstline]