Funkerstation » a concern with four goals conceded,

ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. -- Following years of discussions, Chris Koch will never forget the moment the Buffalo Bills sold him on the idea of transforming Ralph Wilson Stadium into what became New Era Field on Thursday.It happened near dusk on June 15, when the New Era Cap Co. president and CEO was whisked by police escort to the Bills headquarters and ushered to midfield where he was greeted by team owners Terry and Kim Pegula. Thats when the west-end scoreboard began displaying a three-minute video highlighting the legacies of Kochs late father, David, and Bills late Hall-of-Fame owner Ralph Wilson, and emphasizing what both meant to Buffalo.Ive got to tell you, I had tears rolling down my face, Koch said during an interview with The Associated Press. And Terry came up to me and said, `Look, we wont do this with anyone else. We want you.Walking off the field, Koch recalled how New Era executive Paul McAdam leaned over and, in his thick Scottish accent, said: You must do this deal.Seven weeks later, a naming rights agreement with the Buffalo-based sports headwear and apparel company was reached in a deal worth more than $35 million and spanning the remaining seven years of the stadiums lease. New Era also has the rights of first refusal to extend the deal under a new lease or if the Bills build a new stadium.For me, this partnership is personal on so many levels, said Koch during a news conference to unveil the new name. To have New Era associated with the Buffalo Bills, who are incredibly well-respected brand, with a rich history with the NFL and our community, is a significant honor and a privilege that I dont take lightly.For the Bills, the deal generates revenue to a small-market franchise that has at times struggled to remain competitive, and forced to regionalize east into Rochester and north into Toronto to broaden its base.For New Era, the agreement marks a coming-out party for a company established in 1920 by Kochs great grandfather, Ehrhardt, and has become a world leader in sports-related headwear in large part because of the inroads David Koch made during his 30-year tenure as president.The company has gone from producing 50,000 caps in 1920 to 50 million last year, which were sold in more than 80 countries. New Era also has more than 500 licensing deals, including Major League Baseball, the NFL, NBA, NHL, Manchester United and the Australian Football League.Ralph Wilsons name went up on the stadium during the 1998 season, after a 25-year agreement expired with Buffalo-based Rich Products.In 2012, Wilson gave approval for the team to pursue a naming rights agreement. That plan was put on hold when he died in March 2014. The Pegulas, who bought the Bills seven months later, elected to wait at least a year to secure a deal out of respect to the former owner.Today we look to the future, and today we turn a page in Bills history, Terry Pegula said. Ive been told by people who knew Ralph -- I never met Ralph -- that Ralph would be proud to turn this page with us.Wilsons widow, Mary Wilson, supports the name change.I love Buffalo, and with all of the resurgence that its enjoying right now, its fitting that the new naming rights agreement is with New Era, Wilson said in a statement released by the Bills. Naturally, theres an element of sadness for me personally, that I hope fans would understand. But Im excited for the Bills organization and for New Era with their successes. Its so great that a local company of this magnitude will be on this stadium.Jim Grinstead, publisher of the industry newsletter Revenues from Sports Venues, considers the naming rights agreement an ideal fit for Buffalo and for the NFL, because of New Eras ties to the league.Buffalo is probably not going to attract a Pepsi or Coke or Nike or anyone like that, Grinstead said. But a local one is going to feel good because the local folks in Buffalo do care about the local community and the ties with that.The company will get an immediate boost in prime-time exposure during the Bills home opener, a Thursday night game against the New York Jets on Sept. 15.The New Era logo will be featured on the back of the scoreboard facing the main parking lots and throughout the stadium. Because the agreement was reached so late in the summer, some of the signage wont be ready until next season.The agreement is exciting to Koch because he grew up a Bills fan and attended each of the teams four Super Bowl losses in the 1990s.I have goosebumps talking about it, Koch said. Its my hope that New Era, quite frankly, can match up to the legacy and the standards that Ralph had.And hes pleased to build Wilsons legacy by partnering with the Pegulas, who also own the NHL Buffalo Sabres.I admire the Pegulas for not going out and finding a big bank to give them a lot of money to slap a name on the stadium, Koch said.He cant help but wonder what his father might think of how far New Era has come since he died in 2002.When he died, we were a very small, U.S.-based baseball company, Koch said. So to be able to have the success weve had and grow the way weve grown, it kind of hits me right in the heart.---This story has been corrected to reflect Ralph Wilsons name went up on stadium during 1998 season.---AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and AP NFL Twitter feed: http://twitter.com/AP-NFL Fake Padres Jerseys . -- The Missouri Tigers might not have a roster full of superstars. San Diego Padres Shirts . Once again Jordan Cieciwa (@FitCityJordan) and I (@LynchOnSports) go head to head in our picks. Last weekend at UFC Fight Night 32 my #TeamLynch got the best of #TeamJC by a score of 9-6. Let us know which side youre on for UFC 167 use the hashtag #TeamLynch or #TeamJC on Twitter. https://www.cheappadresjerseys.us/ . The No. 1-ranked Nadal tweaked his back warming up for the Australian Open final, which he lost almost four weeks ago in a major upset against Stanislas Wawrinka. His first stop after the layoff is the clay in Rio as he tests the back and tries to stay healthy for the French Open in three months. San Diego Padres Pro Shop . Denis Coderre, the former federal MP who was elected mayor on Nov. 3, has drawn the ire of some Montreal Canadiens. During last nights game he tweeted: "Hello? Can we get a one-way ticket to (minor-league) Hamilton for David Desharnais please. Custom San Diego Padres Jerseys . Barcelona also left injured defenders Carles Puyol, Javier Mascherano and Jordi Alba out of its squad for the trip to Glasgow. That means that Marc Bartra will probably start again in the centre of the defence alongside Gerard Pique. MARSEILLE, France -- If Cristiano Ronaldo is to send Portugal to the semifinals and match Michel Platinis all-time European Championship scoring record, hell have to find a way through a Poland defense thats among the toughest of the tournament.Ronaldo has scored eight goals from four championships, one shy of Platinis nine, though hes been on inconsistent form in Platinis home country.Frustrated and angry in Portugals opening draws with Iceland and Austria, Ronaldo has shown flashes of his true talent since then, scoring two goals in a 3-3 draw with Hungary and setting up Ricardo Quaresmas winner against Croatia in the round of 16.Polands defense looks formidable after conceding just a single goal in four games. And even that needed a stroke of genius, in the form of Xherdan Shaqiris spectacular overhead kick for Switzerland in the last 16.Despite a lack of well-known defenders -- the first-choice center-backs play for Torino and Legia Warsaw -- the Poles have made a virtue of scraping through games, with two 1-0 wins and a victory on penalties against the Swiss. They also neutralized the attacking play of World Cup champion Germany in a 0-0 draw in the group stage.Just like his great rival Lionel Messi, Ronaldo has never won a major title with his country. On what is widely considered the easier side of the draw, with a potential semifinal against Wales or Belgium, this could be his year.While Portugal beat a solid Croatia team 1-0, it didnt register a single shot on target until deep into extra time. Winning ugly is finee for center-back Jose Fonte, just as long as Portugal is winning.ddddddddddddIt doesnt matter if you play beautiful or ugly football, he said Monday. You have to win and I want to win. If we have to play badly every game and win, Ill do it.If the attack has stuttered, Portugals defense is also a concern with four goals conceded, the joint-worst of any team in the quarterfinals, along with Iceland.The chaotic 3-3 draw with Hungary in the last group game prompted a rethink by coach Fernando Santos, who brought in the Southampton duo of Fonte and right-back Cedric for the last 16, in place of Ricardo Carvalho and Vierinha, who had started all three group games.Portugal also has injury concerns, as left-back Raphael Guerreiro and midfielders Jose Moutinho and Andre Gomes are all doubtful.Polands top scorer in qualifying, Robert Lewandowski, remains scoreless in the tournament, but hes often been a sacrificial element in Polands strategy, keeping defenses occupied to create space for winger Jakub Blaszczykowski or second striker Arkadiusz Milik. However, the resulting chances have often been wasted, especially by Milik.As Poland bids to reach its first tournament semifinal since the 1982 World Cup, Lukasz Fabianski will continue to deputize for injured first-choice goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny, who has missed the last three games with a thigh injury.---James Ellingworth contributed from Nice, France. ' ' '