Fo most if us who want to see the Buffalo Bills stay in town, there’s not much to do besides sit on the sidelines and wait. That is unless you’re a key figure within the Bills’ organization (past or present) looking to be proactive, rather than waiting to see what the end outcome will be. That’s why former Bills’ wide receiver Andre Reed, along with 14 members of the Buffalo Fan Alliance (BFA) advisory board are moving forward with a consolidated effort to affect change early on. In order to do that, the board has designed a fundraising mechanism that it feels will get the ball rolling.
Key players in the BFA line-up include: former Bills placekicker Steve Christie, a native of Oakville, ON; former Canisius High School and New York Giants wide receiver Phil McConkey; NBC-TV correspondent Luke Russert; Buffalo attorney Brian Cinelli; real-estate developer Matt Sabuda; MBA candidate at the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania Steve Brady.
“We’re thrilled to have fan favorites like Andre, Steve and Phil join the advisory board,” Sabuda said. “In the wake of Mr. Ralph Wilson’s passing, with all he did for this region, their involvement reinforces the great affection former players have for the Bills franchise and the Western New York and Southern Ontario fan communities.”
The BFA was formed two years ago to create ways to create and fund initiatives that would lead to The Bills staying in Buffalo (within NFL bylaws and rules without the need for league amendments or exceptions). The effort would come from a financial groundswell from devoted fans who could leverage their loyalty to the team in order to come up with total sums around the $100-$170 million mark (feasible according to a study conducted by a third party).
“The Buffalo Bills are part of the fabric of Western New York,” Reed said. “There isn’t a scenario that I can imagine that would not include the Bills franchise in Buffalo. I have no doubt that the great Bills fans locally and nationwide who have always supported our team will step up again to help the region by joining us in the BFA initiative. I’m pleased and humbled to accept the invitation to join the advisory board. Joining the BFA is an open demonstration of my desire for keeping the Bills in Buffalo and our interests are now aligned in this single goal. Football is for the fans, and Buffalo fans around the nation are the most loyal and passionate in the United States, period. I am fully committed to doing my part to keep this great team in Buffalo.”
The money raised would then be lent to a new owner, interest free, with an accompanying agreement that the team would stay in Buffalo. The money would be used as a bargaining chip to sweeten the pot. Due to financing in which any new owner would partake in, “…the arrangement would offer savings estimated at $8 million to $14 million per year on debt service costs. That’s the equivalent of doubling the team’s current luxury box income,” according to the BFA.
“Andre in particular could sit back and simply soak up the perks of his Hall of Fame induction year,” Sabuda said. “But he made a bold and admirable choice to use his platform to take a leadership role in BFA. That says a lot about his character and we couldn’t be more excited to have him and all the new members of a talented and focused board.”
More details on this initiative are scheduled to be released over the summer.
*Other members of the advisory board include, Joe Klein, CEO of Klein Steel Services Inc., of Rochester; Jason Knight Ph.D., an assistant professor of geography and planning at SUNY Buffalo State College; Steve Cohen, CEO of Salit Steel of Niagara Falls, ON; Joseph Hanna, an attorney with the Buffalo law firm Goldberg Segalla; Rick Cohen, Goldberg Segalla’s managing principal; Diane Tiveron, managing principal at Buffalo law firm HoganWillig; Corey Hogan, HoganWillig founding partner; Jimmy Goldsmith, sports agent and CEO of B.I.G., a sports management agency in Stowe, VT; Carl Forti, a Buffalo native and founder of the Black Rock Group, of Alexandria, VA, and Mike Dubke, founding partner at Black Rock and also a Western New York native. The Rochester Business Alliance (RBA) has officially endorsed the BFA’s effort.
“The Bills represent an invaluable economic development asset to Western New York,” said RBA President Sandy Parker. “As a region, it’s important for us to be innovative and proactive in protecting the team’s future in the area. We’re glad to support the work of the Buffalo Fan Alliance in being a part of this important effort.”
“The Buffalo Bills are truly a regional asset and it will take the continued support of the business leaders, fans and interested groups in Western New York and Southern Ontario to help ensure not only our initiative’s success, but also the continued viability of the team here,” added Brian Cinelli.
For more information, go to www.buffalofanalliance.org