Schumer Gains Assurances From Bills Owner Wilson That Franchise Has Every Intention Of Remaining In Buffalo

February 7, 2008 -- Today, U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer personally spoke with Buffalo Bills owner Ralph Wilson to gain assurances that the owner has every intention of keeping the football franchise in Buffalo for the long-term. Following a press conference in Toronto yesterday where the Bills announced they’ll be playing one regular season home game a year in the Canadian city, there were fears that it was the first step towards permanently moving the team there.

This morning, Schumer spoke with Wilson, who guaranteed that there is no plan to relocate the Bills to Toronto or any other city, and that the plan to play one game a season in Toronto is simply a way to expand the team’s fan base in Ontario and strengthen the team’s future in Buffalo.

“This morning, I spoke with Ralph Wilson, who assured me that the only goal behind playing one regular season a game a year in Toronto is to strengthen the team’s future in Buffalo – not to move the team to Toronto or anywhere else. Wilson guaranteed to me that he will make every effort to keep the Bills in Buffalo – where they belong. And by luring more fans from the Ontario area, we will be able build a fan base that will support the Bills for many years to come.”

Schumer has a long history in working closely with the Bills and last year played a leading role in securing a new NFL revenue sharing deal that would protect small market teams like the Bills. Schumer personally met with NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell about the revenue sharing deal before it was approved last year. Schumer also worked to gain a better home schedule for the team so it could draw more fans and so the region wouldn’t suffer from any black outs.

Source: Senator Charles E. Schumer