Report: Jon Bon Jovi Has Explored NFL Stadium Sites In Toronto

John Wawrow of the Associated Press reports that the prospective ownership group that includes Jon Bon Jovi has has conducted a feasibility study about the idea of relocating an NFL franchise to the city of Toronto.

This is notable, of course, given that Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment happens to be one of the groups interested in purchasing the Buffalo Bills, who has played a number of games in the city of Toronto in previous years.

According to Wawrow, the study explored three potential stadium sites with two of them being located in Toronto.

Andy Bergmann, who is slated with the task of overseeing the group’s stadium plans, confirmed that they have conducted stadium studies, but hasn’t done any work regarding a  specific site up to this point.

“We have undertaken engineering and design studies,” wrote Bergmann in an email to the AP. “All of our work has been about a generic site and whether it was more rural or urban. We are aware of potential sites in the western NY and southern Ontario region, and are in fact meeting with two Buffalo area developers next week.

“No feasibility studies have been undertaken on any site to date.”

Bon Jovi has reportedly been telling people that they have no intention of relocating the franchise out of Buffalo, but it’s hard to put a lot of stock in anything being said by prospective owners at this point in time.

The Bills’ lease includes a one-time out that reduce the penalty for moving from $400 million to $28.4 million, so we’ll have to see how talks regarding a new stadium progress after the team is sold.

ESPN’s Sal Paolantonio recently reported that the Bills could fetch at least $1.1 billion when the biding has completed.

The team is expected to be sold later this year, but there should be no shortage of suitors for the NFL franchise, even at that amount of money.

Forbes has the Bills valued at $870 million based on their figures from last year, but the Los Angeles Clippers and the Milwaukee Bucks have both exceeded their Forbes valuations in recent sales, so it wouldn’t be a shock to see the Bills do so as well.