Late Games

Wilson's 94 and doesn't even live in Buffalo (opting for Detroit of all places). He hasn't been seen in public since some sort of HOF ceremony over a year and a half ago. A theory I've heard (and makes a lot of sense) is that he has grown into worse health and probably doesn't know what goes on around him. The family is just holding out until he passes and then decide what to do with the team then. That's why there's no urgency to build a new stadium or a sign a lease on the current one.

Gailey was hired because frankly no one else wanted the job. Well no one they wanted to interview anyway. Harbaugh, Cowher (I think because of his wife) and some other big-names ran away when they announced a coach search. The GM is 70 years old and his only other football job before this was as a scout and has made cryptic statements about going out and getting a franchise QB next year but not commenting about Gailey's future. There's no guarantee anyone will be back next year except Russ Brandon, who is universally despised by Bills fans.

As for Canada: One of the guys who financed those games is now dead. They get poor attendance and a lot of Bills fans don't make the effort to attend. Ralph Wilson Stadium itself isn't in Buffalo at all. Orchard Park is a wealthy suburb but really out in the middle of the sticks and is a good drive from the City and the Northern suburbs. So basically there's no good reason to go to a Bills game these days.

quote:
Originally posted by Rusty:
As for Canada: One of the guys who financed those games is now dead. They get poor attendance and a lot of Bills fans don't make the effort to attend. Ralph Wilson Stadium itself isn't in Buffalo at all. Orchard Park is a wealthy suburb but really out in the middle of the sticks and is a good drive from the City and the Northern suburbs. So basically there's no good reason to go to a Bills game these days.

There's a lot of money up in Toronto. I'm sure they can find some group of investors that will give them a big pile of money for the team. I'd think a new stadium is more likely to be built in a bustling metropolis like Toronto than it is in the heart of the rust belt. I'd hate to see them move, but it seems like a likely scenario right now. Also, I remember reading that something like 20% of the fans at Ralph Wilson Stadium were Canadians. That probably has dropped a bit as the suck has continued, but it's certainly an interesting fact.