But the first National Football League game to be played in Canada ended up accomplishing what nobody really envisioned. It angered people in Buffalo. It angered people in Toronto. It cost Rogers Communications all kinds of money. And it entertained almost no one.
"We don't have a clue," said Buffalo receiver Lee Evans after the 16-3 win by the Dolphins yesterday at Rogers Centre.
He was talking about the Bills offence. He could have been talking about the promoters of the game, the good Rogers people who put out $78-million US for eight NFL games and then assaulted just about everybody's sensibilities with ridiculous prices and an introductory news conference that played the public for rubes.
He could have been talking about the stadium operators or those running a tailgate beer-stand who refused to serve two 50-plus Bills fans who failed to produce I.D.
Other than that, how did you like the play, Mrs. Lincoln?
The NFL should forget about playing outside of the US. If Toronto fans want to see the Bills they can go down to Buffalo.
I think there is a large market in Toronto and it could make more sense financially to move the Bills to Toronto permanantly.
ReplyDeleteThis latest fiasco really proves nothing. It was set up to fail from the start. The tickets on sale were 3 times the average price what is typical in the US. Despite that there were still decent numbers there. There's money there but this is the wrong way to go about it.
As for the negative press... I don't buy it. A lot of these sports writers have got their knickers in a knot because they're scared this will mean the end of their beloved CFL.