A plea for Ralph Wilson to leave the Bills to his wife
Today's column urges Bills owner Ralph Wilson, 89, to reconsider his decision not to leave the team to his wife, Mary, upon his passing. Read my column here.
Leaving the team to his wife ensures that the Bills stay in Buffalo for the foreseeable future. She would not ⦠unlike if Wilson left the team to his daughters ⦠have to pay an estate tax bill of some $270 million, which would necessitate selling the team in order to get the money to pay the bill.
Wilson recently said that the team would be sold upon his passing. There is talk of a local ownership group bidding for the team. But odds are slim that a local entity could financially compete with prospective owners from more prosperous parts of the country. With Los Angeles and other large markets lacking an NFL team, odds are that the Bills would leave Buffalo if the team was put on the open market.
Buffalo has backed the team during its 47 years with its fan loyalty, game attendance and taxpayer subsidies of more than $125 million. Western New York has been the team's extended family. I think we have the right to at least ask Ralph Wilson to reconsider a decision which would likely cause the Bills to leave Buffalo after his passing. Agree or disagree?
--Donn Esmonde
