Rogers makes deal to keep the Buffalo Bills in Toronto for five more years

Rogers and the Buffalo Bills today announced that they have renewed a five-year partnership that will see the Bills continue to play a home game every year at Rogers Center in Toronto, an extension of a deal that began in 2008.Rogers (TSX:RCI.B) and the Buffalo Bills today announced that they have renewed a five-year partnership that will see the Bills continue to play a home game every year at Rogers Center in Toronto, an extension of a deal that began in 2008.

Russ Brandon, Buffalo Bills’ President and CEO said the deal extends the team’s plan to turn Ontario-residents into Bills fans.

“The Bills partnership with Rogers Media is key to our franchise’s regionalization plan and we are excited to continue it for years to come,” he said. “Our regionalization efforts have strengthened the franchise’s foothold in Western New York by supporting our efforts to further develop our fan base in Toronto and Southern Ontario. The Bills-Rogers Media partnership continues to give us tremendous exposure in the market and its success will only accelerate with a few wins on the field.”

In 2012 the Buffalo Bills ranked 21st in NFL attendance with an average of 64,950 fans per game. The average attendance for the games in Toronto, curiously, has been lower than that, averaging 51,506 before dipping to 40,770 last December 16th, when the Bill were trounced 50-17 by the Seattle Seahawks. The “Bills Toronto Series” was series was conceived Bills owner Ralph Wilson, Larry Tanenbaum of Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment, and the late Ted Rogers.

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