THE CANADIAN PRESS

TORONTO -- Jim Kelly has no qualms with the NFL setting up shop in southern Ontario, just not at the expense of Buffalo Bills fans.

"I could see it happening," the former Bills star quarterback said of Toronto one day landing an NFL franchise. "I just don't want it to be Buffalo.

"I want the Buffalo Bills to stay where they're at . . . stay on that side of the border. I don't think the team's going anywhere, to be honest with you. As long as I have anything to do with it, they're going to stay in Western New York."

Kelly was in town Wednesday with former Miami Dolphins star quarterback Dan Marino for the OFSAA Bills Toronto Series Football Bowls, a series of five regional high school championship contests at Rogers Centre.

On Sunday, the Bills will host the Dolphins at Rogers Centre in the first-ever NFL regular-season game played in Canada. The contest will be the second of eight Buffalo will play in Toronto through the 2012 season.

The Bills will receive US$78 million -- more than double their calculated 2006 operating income -- for the eight games. That's far more than they could've generated playing the contests in economically troubled Buffalo.

Buffalo officials have continuously promoted the series as an attempt to expand their club's regional footprint into the lucrative southern Ontario market and establish a firm presence in Canada's financial capital. But many football pundits believe the games are the first step in the Bills eventually re-locating to Toronto, which many feel would not only kill the CFL's Toronto Argonauts and Hamilton Tiger-Cats but also deliver a crippling blow to the Canadian league.

But that was before the death Tuesday of Ted Rogers, the president of Rogers Communications who was the face of efforts to bring an NFL franchise to Toronto, along with Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment chairman Larry Tanenbaum. Now, for the time being anyway, that issue is muddled.

Kelly, for one, doesn't want to see the CFL die at the expense of an NFL team in Toronto.

"I think, yeah, they can definitely handle a franchise here in Toronto," Kelly said. "But I wouldn't want to see that be the demise of the Toronto Argonauts because they've worked so very hard, there's tradition here and I wouldn't want to see anything happen with the Buffalo Bills.

"I've watched CFL games, I enjoy watching them and to see that be a big part of not having a Canadian team here would be sad."

However, miscues by Toronto event organizers helped create a definite aura of negativity heading into the series opener Aug. 14, an exhibition game against Pittsburgh.

The biggest complaint was the price of the tickets, which ranged from C$79 to as much as $575 per game for top-end ducats at a time when season tickets in the lower bowl of Ralph Wilson Stadium were available for US$500. Fanning the fire was the non-chalant attitude both Wilson and Rogers portrayed at the opening news conference when discussing what fans could afford to pay.

There was also much criticism about the length of time it took Toronto organizers to finally announce ticket prices and many interpreted the overall lack of marketing and promotion of the series as a sign of arrogance on the event organizers' behalf.

And it showed as just 48,434 spectators -- roughly 5,000 short of a sellout -- watched Pittsburgh earn an entertaining 24-21 victory. But not everyone paid to get in, as Bills officials said before the contest roughly 54,000 tickets had been "distributed."

The turnout was a huge disappointment considering Toronto organizers are paying the Bills an average of $9.75 million per game to showcase the NFL in Canada's largest city and prove it can support a franchise.

After the exhibition game, Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger dissed the Rogers Centre turf while Bills receiver Lee Evans took issue with being introduced from LSU instead of his alma mater, the University of Wisconsin.

And although Sunday's game is a key AFC East divisional contest between Buffalo (6-6) and resurgent Miami (7-5 after posting a dismal 1-15 record last season), still roughly 2,500 high-end tickets remain. Rogers Centre has a seating capacity of 54,000 for football.

Traditionally, the Bills have enjoyed much success facing Miami in Orchard Park, N.Y., after Dec. 1., compiling a 7-2 record that includes two playoff wins. But on Sunday, the Rogers Centre roof will be closed, which Kelly and Marino both agree definitely works in Miami's favour.

"I think it's more an advantage for the Dolphins, not from the standpoint of being in a dome rather not being in Buffalo in that 25 degree weather (minus-4 C).

"They're so used to that 75 (24 C) and kicking back."

Added Marino: "Weather isn't going to be a factor in here so that's why it's an advantage for the Dolphins. It's a huge game in the AFC East as the Dolphins could get into a position where they could be tied for the lead with the (New York) Jets while Buffalo has to have this game or they're going to be pretty much out of it."

So long as Wilson is alive, there is no question about the Bills' future in Buffalo. But Wilson, 90, has said his family isn't interested in taking over the franchise upon his death, which would potentially put the team on the open market.

And if that happens, Kelly plans to be ready. He says he's got a group of local investors interested in purchasing the NFL franchise and keeping it in Western New York, although he's not willing to provide specifics.

"No I can't really, to be honest with you," he said. "The only thing I can say is so long as it's Mr. Wilson's team you've got to respect that and hopefully be able to do what you can to make sure the team stays in Buffalo."

The Bills won't come cheaply. The franchise is estimated to be worth more than $850 million, a nice investment indeed for Wilson, who originally purchased the club for $25,000 in 1959.