Bills may play more than once a year in Toronto

December 6, 2008 at 12:00a.m.

Phil Lind said the Buffalo Bills could become a true two-city entity in the NFL.

TORONTO (AP) — The executive who lured the Buffalo Bills into playing in Toronto foresees having the team make more than one regular-season stop a year north of the border — especially if the NFL goes through with its proposal to lengthen the schedule.

“Depending on the arrangements, I wouldn’t mind one more game here,” Rogers Communications vice chairman Phil Lind said. “Especially if the NFL’s going to nuke two of their preseason game, I would think for certain we would have one of those games.”

Lind was referring to preliminary discussions within the NFL of adding one or two more games to the 16-game regular season by shortening the preseason. That proposal, though, is in limbo until the league negotiates a new collective bargaining agreement with the NFL Players Association.

Lind also continued to allay fears his company is intent on purchasing the Bills and relocating them to Toronto. He instead suggested the Bills could become a true two-city entity, an arrangement that would secure the team’s long-term financial viability in the region and end speculation of the franchise being a candidate for relocation.

“If we can devise a scheme whereby the Bills can get more revenue for a season, that may even mean another game or so here, I don’t know. But if we can devise that scheme and still keep the team in Buffalo and keep the whole thing in this area, I think that’s a win-win, far better than the whole darn thing moving to L.A.”

Lind spoke as the Bills (6-6) prepare for their first of five annual regular season games in Toronto on Sunday, when they play host to Miami (7-5). In securing a deal with Rogers Communications, the Bills will be paid $78 million to effectively lease eight games — including three preseason — through 2012 and become the NFL’s first franchise to play annual regular season games outside the United States.

One thing is clear: The Bills are counting on the series to help generate additional revenue and corporate sponsorships by expanding their market into Canada’s largest city and financial capital, which is a two-hour drive from Buffalo.

Toronto organizers are intent on showcasing their city as a viable host for an NFL team.