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Something fishy at One Bills Drive

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Contributed by: Joe Kirchmyer on 10/24/2007

Truth be told, I enjoy a good conspiracy theory as much as the next guy. That being said, I can't help but think there's something fishy going on at One Bills Drive -- or is it One Ralph Wilson Way yet? -- and it has nothing to do with our game against the Dolphins in a couple of weeks.

While I don't profess to know all the details about Toronto-gate, I do have a few questions:

1. Why now? When Ralph passes over to that big tailgate party in the sky, I believe the team goes to the highest bidder in his estate settlement. Chances are pretty good that the highest bidder won't be from Buffalo. Ralph is also 89 years old. He could be here for another 10 years, or another 10 days. So in the relatively short time he has left, why take the team away from the WNY community two times a year?

2. Why so fast? The NFL typically moves at a snail's pace. For example, we all know that revenue sharing is a hot topic in small market cities such as Buffalo, yet I believe the league's revenue-sharing committee doesn't meet again until November ... of 2008! Yet the announcement to move Bills games to Toronto was made just last week and already the county has given its blessing and a presentation has been made to NFL owners who, we're led to believe, will overwhelmingly vote in favor of the TO deal.

3. How could our elected leaders approve the move so quickly? Where are the economic impact studies and obligatory lawsuits? If the county would have moved this fast in other avenues, we'd not only have a new zoo by now but also a new Peace Bridge and casino, the Skyway would be a tunnel and we'd all be shopping for Christmas presents at Bass Pro. What does our lame duck county executive have up his sleeve? Will his next job be within the Bills organization in some capacity, or is he just hoping to score some tickets and make a killing on e-Bay?

4. Why move to a smaller football facility? The seating capacity at Ralph Wilson Stadium is around 73,000, I believe. The capacity for football games at Rogers Centre? Approximately 50,000. Sorry, but that's what the politicians like to call "fuzzy math."

Maybe if I had more time to think about it I could figure out how this makes sense. In the meantime, I don't like being force-fed an idea while being told it's for my own good.

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