The Athletic Kim Pegula Q&A: The arrival of brighter days with the Sabres & Bills and a growing sports empire

[slip]

No owners no what they are doing when they start, until they stumble into some success and stick with it.

The best sports owners are detached from their operations. They just own, and let the professionals run the show.

The Pegula's are bored billionaires who bought teams but inserted themselves deep into the organizational structure of each. The results speak for themselves.

 

[5 Minute Major]

The best sports owners are detached from their operations. They just own, and let the professionals run the show.

The Pegula's are bored billionaires who bought teams but inserted themselves deep into the organizational structure of each. The results speak for themselves.

Are you speaking of the Bills as well?

Because, like it or not, the last 5 years with the Pegula’s at the helm of that team were a lot better than Ralph Wilson’s last 5 years.

In fact, the Bills have a very promising future, as do the Sabres.

 

[Doug Prishpreed]

Are you speaking of the Bills as well?

Because, like it or not, the last 5 years with the Pegula’s at the helm of that team were a lot better than Ralph Wilson’s last 5 years.

In fact, the Bills have a very promising future, as do the Sabres.

They only have a promising future to blind homers. Besides Eichel and Dahlin, what makes this team any different than the Oilers?

 

[Yatzhee]

The best sports owners are detached from their operations. They just own, and let the professionals run the show.

The Pegula's are bored billionaires who bought teams but inserted themselves deep into the organizational structure of each. The results speak for themselves.

Kim is definitely vested in the region. Terry, well, he was a French Connection Fan like myself. Both want the best for the clubs, both want the best they can offer (and they've ponied up a great deal regionally in offering). It doesn't make them bad owners or owners who dabble in day to day decisions. Although, admittedly, it appears early on Terry did some of that.

I have faith in them, not because of their investments regionally alone either. For example, after throwing money at the 2011 post season roster to try and boost it, Terry realized the following season that wasn't the answer, then began in earnest on a plan to tear it down. For all of our grips and moans about Regier, one thing is true, when asked what it would take to get Buffalo to Cup contention, he did indeed answer "Suffering". Well, here we are, 5 yrs later, with a whole lot of suffering under our belts but the team is improving. Murray was a disaster, meh, new owner, 180 degree switch on plan, mistakes will be made.

I have faith, as I said, and now, with the team slowly progressing, some hope to go with that faith. We'll see in the next 6 months just how good of a decision Botterill was, because it's crunch time for him and Phil. The team must maintain a close presence to the playoffs without giving up any of the young assets, and at the same time, prepare for a draft with no less currently than three 1st round selections. Whether or not fans like to admit it, it wasn't the 14 and 15 draft class and position that will determine the future of this franchise, but it's this draft class, in 2019 that will...………………...as of now.

 

[GellMann]

Are you speaking of the Bills as well?

Because, like it or not, the last 5 years with the Pegula’s at the helm of that team were a lot better than Ralph Wilson’s last 5 years.

In fact, the Bills have a very promising future, as do the Sabres.

I did the math before this past season (which obviously hurts it a little bit) but the Bills were something like tied for 15th in the previous five seasons' win totals, right next to franchises like the Ravens and Falcons. Of course, those teams had higher highs and lower lows in that stretch, and playoff action we never saw. But the Bills have been a far better NFL franchise since the Sabres tanked than the Sabres have been an NHL one.

 

[ZZamboni]

That was a good read