TORONTO and BUFFALO – The much-hyped ‘Bills in Toronto’ series may be in jeopardy after an announcement Wednesday postponed the 2014 Buffalo Bills regular season game for at least a year, allowing the communications behemoth and struggling NFL team time to ponder how to “deliver a better fan experience”.
Rogers Media president Keith Pelley and Buffalo Bills president and CEO Russ Brandon issued a joint statement saying that game will return to the Bills’ Ralph Wilson Stadium in Buffalo, and that the two organizations “will use this time to collectively evaluate opportunities to enhance future games”.
“We are committed to continuing our partnership and have secured a robust sponsorship agreement for the 2014 season that will bring Canadian NFL fans visibility and access to the Bills”, the statement reads. “The sponsorship includes ticketing, merchandising, media exposure, and a newly created Canada House, near Ralph Wilson Stadium, that will serve as the official pre-game Canadian tailgate zone for all Bills home games.”
The series in Toronto was announced in 2008, with Rogers reportedly paying $80 million for eight games over five years (five regular-season and three pre-season). Rogers and the Bills subsequently extended the series to run through 2017.
