The Buffalo Bills may not be for sale, but a report by CBSSports that rocker Jon Bon Jovi is "positioning himself to purchase the team" is raising concerns among some fans. Fans who want the Bills to stay in Buffalo are concerned that if Bon Jovi, a New Jersey native, buys the team, it could end up in another city. Under the terms of the Bills new ten-year lease of Ralph Wilson Stadium, Erie County is paying $41 million for stadium upgrades and New York State is kicking in $54 million for renovations.
Lt. Governor Robert Duffy told reporters in Buffalo Monday he hasn't heard anything from Bon Jovi.
"Other than I'm a big fan of his music. I did see the report. I've had the pleasure of meeting Jon Bon Jovi, with the governor, in New York City a couple years ago," Duffy said.
Aside from that, Duffy says he knows nothing more about Bon Jovi's interest.
"But, I would say whether it's real, perceived, or it's a rumor, having somebody of Jon Bon Jovi's caliber have an interest in the Bills is a good thing. But I do believe, with the agreement we made with the Buffalo Bills, to Governor Cuomo and Erie County, I am confident the Bills are going to be here for a long time," Duffy said.
Bon Jovi has strong ties to Maple Leaf Entertainment in Toronto, which is causing concerns among Bills fan who are already worried the team could, one day, move north of the border.
The lease approved by the NFL in March includes a binding non-relocation clause that would cost the Bills $400 million if they move before 2020. After that, the team could buy out the last three years of the lease for $28 million.
