By Mark Scott
Buffalo, NY – The Buffalo Bills want to play some of their future home games in Canada.
But before the team makes plans to hold a preseason or regular-season game in Toronto, the Bills will have to get approval from state and local officials.
Team officials announced today that they want to schedule some future games in Toronto to expand the franchise's market base outside Western New York.
"The team hopes to capitalize on the increasing interest of fans in the Canadian market by playing a regular-season game in Toronto," a statement from the Bills said.
"Beginning in 2008, the team plans to increase its focus on the northern sector of its market."
The Bills are looking to play a pre-season game in Toronto next year and a pre-season game and a regular season game in 2009.
Sources familiar with the Bills' plan say it's not the first step in an eventual move of the Bills to Toronto.