Buffalo Bills majority owner Terry Pegula says three new minority investors with Toronto ties will help his team create further connections to one of North America's biggest markets.
The NFL team announced Wednesday that former Raptors stars Vince Carter and Tracy McGrady and ex-Toronto FC standout Jozy Altidore are among 10 limited partners who have joined the Bills' ownership group.
Speaking to reporters at NFL ownership meetings in Irving, Texas, Pegula was asked about what it means to have three notable Toronto athletes on board.
“I just wanted to have some partners to help us grow,” Pegula said, per Tim Graham of The Athletic. “The three pro athletes are all icons in Toronto. That’s our market. We’re going to grow into that market. They know that. I’ve asked them about that, and they’re willing to help.”
The Bills, under Ralph Wilson's ownership, played home games in Toronto from 2008 to 2012 before discontinuing the plan.
Postmedia reported in 2020 that the Bills had approximately 8,000 season tickets sold in Canada.
The non-controlling, minority interests were approved Wednesday by NFL team owners at the league’s winter meetings. This is the first time in franchise history that minority owners have been added.
Terry and Kim Pegula bought the Bills for $1.4 billion from the estate of late Hall of Fame owner Wilson in 2014. Forbes most recently valued the Bills at $4.2 billion. The Pegulas will retain 79 per cent control of the team, a person with knowledge of the sale told The Associated Press.
The remaining seven partners, pending final closing of the agreements, include: Private investment firm Arctos, Rob Palumbo, co-managing partner of Accel-KKR; Sue McCollum, CEO and owner of beverage distribution companies Eagle Brand Sales and Double Eagle Distributing; Theresia Gouw, co-founder and managing partner of the venture capital firm Acrew Capital; Rob Ward, co-founder, general partner of venture capital firm Meritech Capital; Mike Joo, COO, Global Corporate and Investment Banking and Head of North America Corporate and Investment Banking at Bank of America; Tom Burger, co-founder and managing partner of the investment firm Gridiron Capital.
“I’m the kind of person that I believe two heads are better than one,” Terry Pegula said. “We can bring in Arctos with their experience worldwide and multiple sports, I think is a good thing. And I’m willing to listen on the business side to any input they may have. Our other limiteds, the individuals, most of them are Bills fans from their youth. They were Bills fans before I was a Bills fan. So I’m excited to deal with them.
"One of the things that I wanted to accomplish also was to bring in some women. We’ve got two female investors who are very successful business people. I’ve got three daughters that are involved in the team, hopefully more so in the future. And I think that’s a good thing for them to learn some business acumen from and have some female input. Because when Kim went down, that was a loss of influence on my daughters. As far as the business side goes, she’s unable to be involved.”
Kim Pegula is still recovering from a debilitating cardiac arrest suffered in June 2022.
NFL team owners approved a measure earlier this year that allows investments into franchises by private equity funds. The league’s ownership rules had been among the most restrictive in professional sports.
Other teams also are in the process of finalizing the addition of limited partners. NFL team owners also approved Wednesday the minority, noncontrolling interest sale involving the Miami Dolphins. Team owner Stephen Ross announced an investment deal with Ares Management funds and Brooklyn Nets owners Joe Tsai and Oliver Weisberg.
The transaction includes assets such as Hard Rock Stadium and the Formula 1 Crypto.com Miami Grand Prix, with the investment fueling continued growth across Ross’ diverse South Florida-based sports and entertainment portfolio. Ares will acquire a 10 per cent stake, while Tsai and Weisberg together will hold a 3 per cent interest, pending final closing of the agreements.
Seven-time Super Bowl champion Tom Brady already purchased a minority stake in the Las Vegas Raiders in a deal approved by NFL team owners in October.
— with files from AP.
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