Blogging the National Football League, Blogging the NFL

In an attempt to expand their fan base beyond Western New York, the Buffalo Bills announced today that they are seeking approval to play a preseason game and at least one regular season game in Toronto, Canada. The Bills hope to play a preseason game in Toronto next summer and a regular-season game there as early as 2009. The games would be played at Rogers Centre (formerly SkyDome), a downtown stadium with a retractable roof that serves as home to baseball’s Blue Jays and the CFL Argonauts.

The Bills require both county and state approval to play “home games” outside of Ralph Wilson Stadium as a condition of their lease, which runs through 2012. The lease requires the team to play half its preseason and all of its regular-season home games in Orchard Park, NY. The Bills began the process by sending a letter of request to Erie County yesterday.

While I understand the team’s interest in broadening its audience, I fear this might alienate the fan base they already have in Buffalo. Personally, it doesn’t bother me. I work at all the Bills home games. And the company I work for is based in Toronto. Heck, a couple extra trips to TO each year would suit me just fine. But if I’m a season ticket holder, if I’m the loyal fan, I want to see games in OP. I want my two preseason and eight regular season games at the Ralph, not an hour and a half north in another country.

Over the years there’s been talk of an NFL franchise in Toronto and Buffalo has certainly been rumored as a possibility to move there. This only seems to add fuel to that fire although the Bills stressed the proposed games in Toronto are part of their regionalization plans and should not be considered a first step for the franchise’s relocation. It’s an interesting situation. Toronto newspapers have published stories speculating whether the city can be a viable NFL market, and most often mention the Buffalo Bills as a prime candidate. I expect my b5media family north of the border (and worldwide) to weigh-in on the issue so check the comments on this post.

Post from: Every Morning Quarterback

Buffalo Bills Seek Approval to Play in Toronto