8 Bills Games Set for Toronto

by R News staff

The NFL will announce Friday that the Buffalo Bills will play one regular season game in Toronto each of the next five years.

League owners provided unanimous support for the scheduling plan, which the Bills proposed last year as a way to expand their regional reach in one of the NFL's smallest media markets.

The official word on those plans is expected to come Friday from NFL commissioner Roger Goodell during his state of the league address in Arizona.

The Bills announced last year that they'll play an annual regular-season game in Toronto starting this year. Goodell will also announce that the Bills will play three preseason games at Rogers Centre in Toronto over the same five-year span.

Team officials said the regular season games to be played in Canada's largest city will not be part of the Bills' season ticket package. The Toronto games are also expected to be scheduled for December.

Bills officials say December games at Ralph Wilson Stadium have been among the hardest games to sell over the years. A December game at Rogers Centre would also allow the facility's retractable dome to provide a comfortable environment for fans.

It's also the only month of the NFL regular season that does not conflict with the Canadian Football League's schedule. Rogers Centre is home to the CFL's Toronto Argonauts. It's run by Ted Rogers, owner of the Argos and Toronto Blue Jays, who's been reported to be an interested in buying the Bills when the franchise becomes available.