NFL Rules, Number of Owners, and Golisano

CitySportsBuffalo notes, in my other blog, the following great point:

I wish you the best of luck. I am huge fan of Buffalo AND the Bills and would contribute funds as a shareholder. However, I would like to point out one issue with the shareholder approach:

“Green Bay is the only team with this form of ownership structure in the NFL; such ownership is technically in direct violation of league rules, which stipulate a limit of 32 owners of one team and one of those owners having a minimum 30% stake. However, the Packers corporation was grandfathered when the NFL’s current ownership policy was established, and are thus exempt.”

Many of us would be curious to know how you hope to get around that significant detail. (Perhaps getting Washington involved ~ Anti-trust laws, etc.).

This is a very good point and one we must contend with. One possibility is, one we have developed a coherent strategy and plan, petition the league. I do not think the Washington approach is the best one. Doing things within the NFL is better and going around them should only be a last resort.

Of course, CitySportsBuffalo recognizes that this entire plan might not even be necessary due to the following possibility:

Also, according to this website, there is a rumor going around just today that Tom Golisano is in talks to buy the Bills from Ralph Wilson – check it out!

http://www.kffl.com/forums/showthread.php?t=223065

Anyhow, good luck and Go Bills!

Thanks CitySportsBuffalo and, everyone, please keep the information and advice coming!