Goodell tries to allay Bills fans' fears
CHAUTAUQUA -- NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell did his best today to allay fears of Buffalo Bills fans over the team's foray into Canada.
Goodell, speaking to reporters before taking part in a question-and-answer forum at Chautauqua Institution, offered full support to the team's plan to play eight games in Toronto over the next five years.
"The efforts going on to regionalize the team I think are strengthening the team and making the team more successful in Buffalo," Goodell said. "I think that's what's positive, and I think that's what the fans should understand. It's good for the Bills and I believe it will be good for the fans overall."
Goodell said he does not agree with the perception that the move could be the first step toward the team's relocation to Toronto.
"I don't accept that, from the standpoint that it's strengthening the team here in Buffalo, and it has made the team more successful. It's regionalizing it, just as we did in the 1990s when we started selling tickets more aggressively in the Southern Tier, the Rochester area and out to Syracuse."
Goodell also downplayed the thought that the series eventually may expand to more than one regular-season game moving to Toronto per year.
"It's too early to speculate on that," he said. "I think if it goes well and it does what we hope it's going to achieve, then there would be no reason to expand it necessarily."
While Goodell said he sees the Bills "being in Western New York for a long time," he acknowledged he does not have direct control over what happens when the estate of Bills owner Ralph C. Wilson Jr. eventually sells the team.
"As far as the long-term future of the team, those are not issues we deal with, with respect to how an owner wants to pass a team on," Goodell said. "Mr. Wilson has made it clear he would like to see the team stay in Buffalo, and I will work very hard to make sure that it does."
