Home sweet home
NFL commissioner returns to Chautauqua InstitutionBy CRAIG HARVEY
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CHAUTAUQUA- National Football League commissioner Roger Goodell returned to where he considered home on Friday to speak at the Chautauqua Institution Amphitheater.
In a question and answer session with WIVB Channel 4 sports director John Murphy, titled "Leading 'America's Passion' - A Conversation with NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell," Goodell touched on several topics ranging from his childhood growing up at Chautauqua Institution, to player conduct, to the Collective Bargaining Agreement to the Buffalo Bills' possible relocation to Toronto.
Goodell began working in the NFL in 1982 as an intern and took over as commissioner in September 2006.
In 2007, he was named "The most powerful man in sports."
Goodell has said he believes the Bills will remain in Western New York as long as the Bills are successful financially and competitively.
He sees the joint venture between the Bills and Toronto as a positive for Buffalo and the NFL.
"I think Bills fans should continue to do what they've been doing which is provide tremendous support to the Bills in Buffalo," he said. "I think this move to Toronto for a limited number of games has actually strengthened the Buffalo Bills and Western New York. It's allowed them to generate additional revenue. It has regionalized it just like we did in the 1990s when we started selling tickets more aggressively in the southern tier and the Rochester area and Syracuse. It's broadening our region so we can bring more people into Buffalo. I think people will go from Buffalo up to Toronto to see those games, but I also think people are going to come from Toronto to Buffalo. Not only to see those games but hopefully participate in other things in that community."
Goodell also believes Bills fans are getting too anxious and nervous about the team moving to Los Angeles or Toronto - two venues that are believed to be interested in acquiring a football team.
"First off, Mr. Wilson hasn't passed away," he assured everyone. "He is alive and well. I know how important Buffalo is to him. As commissioner of the NFL, having all of our teams is critical. Also, being from Western New York, having the Bills be a successful franchise is important to me. ... It's an important decision whenever a franchise is struggling in its current market. The Bills are not right now. The Buffalo Bills are doing terrific. I think their step to Toronto has helped strengthen that. I see the Buffalo Bills being in Western New York for a long time."
See GOODELL, Page B2
The Rogers Center, where the game will take place, is also home of the Toronto Argonauts of the Canadian Football League. There has been speculation that bringing a NFL game to Canada will intrude on the CFL.
However, Goodell sees it differently.
"I speak to the CFL commissioner," he said. "We stay in good contact. Having the CFL stay strong is good for all of us. It's good for football. I don't see any reason why one regular season game will impact negatively on the CFL. I don't believe that. We worked hard at the NFL to make sure we have a good relationship with the CFL."
