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Toronto to Host Buffalo Bills Home Game in 2009?

Posted by Tim / October 18, 2007

8 Comments

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On Wednesday, the Buffalo Bills began the process of filing for approval to play a regular-season home game at the Rogers Centre in 2009. Since the Bills' lease at Ralph Wilson Stadium doesn't expire until 2012, it's highly unlikely the team will be moved before then, but this step could be interpreted as a "testing of the waters" to see if the relocation of the team to Toronto is realistic.

Of course, we all know that Toronto has long sought an NFL franchise but moving a team with as much history (um, OJ Simpson, Four Super Bowl losses) as the Bills won't be an easy hurdle. Ultimately, the decision will likely be shaped by whether local Buffalo businesses are willing to shell out big bucks to purchase corporate boxes at Ralph Wilson Stadium.

Convicted murderers (in civil court anyway) and corporate money aside, the real issue just might end up being what to call a relocated Bills franchise. With the Canadian dollar so high, money lingo doesn't seem like a bad option. But perhaps we can inject a little CFL nostalgia and go with a name that already exists. The Toronto Cowboys anyone?

Photo from flyingdutchee on Flickr

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Vin / October 18, 2007 at 06:58 pm
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The Bills/NFL has already tested the waters here. In the early 90's the Bill and Browns played a preseason game here, a couple years later the Browns then in Cleveland moved to Baltimore and became the Ravens. Yeah times are different but the Bills (and their great history) will not be making Toronto their home, read last weeks article in the Globe and Mail, pretty insightful.
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Sean Galbraith / October 18, 2007 at 08:13 pm
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Isn't one of the reasons why the NFL hasn't expanded to Toronto is that we don't have a big enough stadium? I thought NFL stadiums had to sit a minimum of 80,000 people?
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A / October 18, 2007 at 08:34 pm
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But what about the Argos? They play "football", even if they're not in the NFL, they still play at the Rogers Centre.
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Chris Orbz / October 18, 2007 at 09:54 pm
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If there's anything that screams Toronto, it's "Cowboys."
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Sameer Vasta / October 18, 2007 at 10:34 pm
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Bringing the NFL to Toronto is my dream (so I don't have to travel to Buffalo to watch 4-5 games a season) but it seems as though Roger Goodel is much more interested in expanding to Europe than Canada. Stupid of him, I know, but I don't think we'll see a team in Canada during the Goodell era.
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uSkyscraper / October 19, 2007 at 09:38 am
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I actually don't have a problem with this, provided that:

1) a relocated team is renamed the Toronto Argonauts in order to preserve their unmatched history, and

2) the CFL gets some serious NFL cash as part of the deal to become their primary development league (something that was split before between NFL Europe, CFL and AFL).

It's not like the Argos haven't changed leagues in the past -- Canadian Rugby Football Union, Canadian Rugby Union, Interprovincial Rugby Football Union, Canadian Football League... The important thing is to keep a great name and a great history (an offshoot of an 1872 rowing club) intact, and not be stuck with some generic "Toronto Wildcats" or similar.
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pat b / November 25, 2007 at 08:21 pm
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i think it's awesome that buffalo is coming into toronto for NFL games, for one thing, the NFL is all about marketing, there are no CFL video games, it's very hard to find CFL jerseys to. if the NfL comes into Toronto, some of that merchandise will come from the CFL, and even though it's only 2 games a season, they might even add the argos in the next edition of Madden NFL.
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usetuanny / March 2, 2010 at 02:22 am
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OMG! - How do animals similar to Bernaldo Bicoy - who is a twice convicted child sex offender get bail?

This guy forged himself as a lawyer and business investor consultant to win trust of kids. Out of all people, the gov released him home?

It's sad but the streets of Lake Forest are hazardous. Is it possible to appeal?
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