Vince Carter, Tracy McGrady and Jozy Altidore don't have specific examples yet on how they hope to use their Toronto connections to expand the reach of the Buffalo Bills brand.
However, the former star Toronto athletes made it clear Friday that a big part of their goal in being limited partners is to help the Bills have a greater presence across the border.
"To be honest, I think it's going to be a real fun part. Reintroducing ourselves in that market because we all have wonderful memories there. And now with a different end game, which will be the Buffalo Bills," Altidore said on a conference call on Friday as the Bills introduced three of their newest part-owners to the media.
"From living there, I can already tell you there's a ton of Buffalo Bills fans that come to Toronto FC games, a ton that go to Raptors games. I think we're going to have a lot of fun tying it into one. I think the Buffalo Bills and the Buffalo Bills Mafia are going to expand into the northeast in a big way."
Carter recalled how former Bills stars Thurman Thomas and Bruce Smith used to come to Toronto and sit courtside at Raptors games.
"Like I mentioned to the Pegula family (the majority owners of the Bills), if you just get those fans to feel wanted, and make them aware of the Bills, you now pique the interest of more people to pay more attention," Carter said. "There always has been Bills fans there. We're just trying to get the masses now."
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.
"Part of the market is our Canadian friends in Toronto," Terry Pegula said on Good Morning Football on the NFL Network on Friday. "These three gentlemen are superstars in the Southern Ontario region. I think it's nice to bring people like that into our organization that can help us get some more respect (from) our friends to the north."
The Bills (11-3) are second in the AFC heading into a Sunday home game against the New England Patriots.
1:11