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- gerbe75pts
Kim Pegula Q & A: On the arrival of better days for the Bills and Sabres and a rapidly frowning sports empire
-John Vogl
PITTSFORD, N.Y. — Through smiles, jokes and laughs, Kim Pegula showed how comfortable she is as one of the most powerful women in sports. And she has good reasons to be in a great mood.
Her teams crushed the offseason.
The Buffalo Bills, with shrewd moves by general manager Brandon Beane, added quarterback Josh Allen and linebacker Tremaine Edmunds in the first 16 picks of the NFL Draft. Their arrival came after the Bills finally eased fans’ anguish by ending a 17-year playoff drought.
The Buffalo Sabres won the NHL Draft Lottery and selected potential game-changing defenseman Rasmus Dahlin with the No. 1 pick. Through trades and free agency, GM Jason Botterill surrounded Dahlin and franchise center Jack Eichel with goaltending and much-needing scoring help, including three-time 30-goal man Jeff Skinner.
The Buffalo Beauts of the National Women’s Hockey League made headlines across North America by signing goalie Shannon Szabados, a three-time Canadian Olympian who previously played in men’s leagues.
Toss in control of yet another arena and significant upgrades to the others, and Pegula is riding an enviable wave.
She and husband Terry have been waiting for moments like this since buying the Sabres in 2011 and the Bills in 2014. The president of both teams sat down with The Athletic on Tuesday for a 30-minute one-on-one. It could have been a victory lap, but instead it was just a pause near the starting line on the way to something even bigger.
(The following Q&A has been edited for clarity.)
This has obviously been quite a nice run since late April. You don’t need me to go through the list, but quarterback, linebacker, defenseman, scorers and you added Shannon Szabados. I mean, how much fun has this been?
It really has been, and that’s what I love about sports. Every season, you get to hit the reset button. So good or bad, end of Stanley Cup, end of Super Bowl, I’m like, “Yes!” and then you can start carrying that excitement. And then obviously when you start making moves that you feel are really going to help your team be better and add to that hope for the upcoming season, it’s a lot of fun. It really is.
You can feel the hope around town.
Oh yeah. And it’s always nice when your GM, according to the fan base, does something right or “wins the trade.”
It’s funny you mention the GM because that was my next question. Obviously, it takes a little luck to win the lottery, but it does seem that both [Bills GM] Brandon Beane and [Sabres GM] Jason Botterill had a plan and went for that plan. What have you thought of those two?
On Brandon’s side, you always want to add your touch whether it’s [as] ownership, coach, GM, and he did have to make some difficult decisions that weren’t always favored, but he had a plan and you see that. He stuck to it. Some of his moves were really good; some of them, maybe not. But overall you know the direction that he was going, and I think that’s something the fans can appreciate, especially here in Buffalo. They’re so knowledgeable. You can’t really fool them. So Brandon’s direction aligned with the coach, and you saw that in our playoff this year.
With Jason … the same with him. I think he had — I don’t want to say a learning curve because that’s not it — but I think he really had to see the team as a whole over an entire season. I know he did some things before last season started with free agents here and there, but I think he really had to get a feel of where was our team at and what do we do. As you’ve seen since then, we were able to make some moves that I think are really going to help our team.
And we all know in sports you need a little bit of good luck, right? So we were fortunate that we got a little lucky this year in getting a player that some are saying is generational. We weren’t trying to lose, believe it or not. We weren’t trying to be the worst, but I’m very happy with the moves.
Since we’re at Bills camp, we’ll start here. The Drought’s finally over.
Yes!
What have you noticed that’s different about the staff and fans and players?
I will tell you from a football staff standpoint, there’s not a whole lot different this season, [because ultimately, last year’s playoff appearance] is not the final result that we want. We don’t want to be just making it to the playoffs. I even think they’re a little bit more focused…
I know people talked to [coach Sean McDermott] about what it would mean to end the drought and all that, but when our staff saw it happen last year and felt it in our community, I think that spurred them even more to take that to the next level.
I know “process” is a word that Sean likes to use, but I think they’re like, “OK. We’re on the right path. We need to keep it going, keep it focused, stick with that process because we want that ultimate goal. We’re not happy. Can you imagine, if this is the reaction for one playoff game, can you imagine what the next levels are going to be?” I see that in our coach.
Even from our fan base here, I feel like they’re just enjoying it, whereas before there was a little bit of hesitation heading into the season. We’ve had more people at this camp this year than we’ve had previously, and I think it’s because people are having fun, whereas maybe in the past there was always this little asterisk of, “Is this going to be the year?” Now I think we’re just going to enjoy football and see where this team is going to go. So it’s little more relaxed, I guess.
Speaking of that passionate fan base, as the games near for the Bills, how amazing would it be for all these clips of them to not involve tables from now on?
Oh, yes, yes, I know. I don’t think people realize how smart our fans are, you know? You can’t fool them. I remember going to another arena — I won’t name which one it is — and the game presentation was great because they were all cheering and everything. Well, how come they’re not cheering in our arena? Because our fans are too smart. I was like, “These [other fans] don’t even know what they’re cheering about! They’re just yelling “Shoot, shoot!’” Our fans understand. They’ll cheer and they’ll support when there’s a good play, when there’s effort.
So the jumping on tables, setting themselves on fire, [most of] that stuff happens outside of our lots, but obviously that’s the viral things. Wherever we go, I hear, “Oh my gosh, you guys have such a great fan base,” and the fact that they’re knowledgeable about football, about hockey, hopefully that will overshadow some of those things that go viral sometimes. And I don’t even know who started that, but that’s sports for you, right?
[Note: The Bills, in an attempt to curb the rowdy behavior in their lots, recently increased the price of bus parking from $60 to $100 and are requiring fans to purchase permits in advance and pay an additional $100 for a security deposit. The deposit is forfeited if fans violate the Code of Conduct or engage in unsafe behavior in the parking area. Arrested or ejected fans will be banned from the stadium until they successfully complete the NFL and Bills Online Fan Conduct Class.]
“I don’t think people realize how smart our fans are, you know? You can’t fool them.”
One of the fans I could tell it meant a lot for you to meet was Pancho Billa [real name: Ezra Castro, the cancer-battling fan from Texas who visited training camp after announcing the Bills’ third-round pick at the NFL Draft alongside retired team greats Andre Reed and Fred Jackson].
Oh my gosh, so I did meet him, and then the next day someone tapped me on the shoulder and said, “Hi,” and fans constantly do that. But he didn’t have his gear on, so I didn’t recognize him. He’s like, “It’s me, Pancho.” I was like, “OK, now I get it.” It was great. And he had just had chemo, and he’s like, “My doctor doesn’t know I’m here.” I go, “Pancho, you’re on like every social media. I think he’s going to know you’re here. [Laughs] You’re not going to hide it.”
But yeah, that was so great meeting him. What happened with him at the draft with Fred and Andre inviting him up and reading that pick, that to me really showed the rest of the world, the league and whoever was watching what Bills fans are about. You get enough bad press, you know, just that draft moment of what it meant to him and how it was done and how it represented our organization, I think was wonderful. Of course, meeting him in person here was also great.
As great as things have been at camp here, there was one incident before it started with LeSean McCoy. I know he said he talked to you about everything.
Yup, he did. Whenever something happens with one of our players, we are always quick to make sure that we talk to them first. Like we’ve said, it’s an investigation that’s going to be ongoing. Actually, I’m surprised we really haven’t heard anything more from it, but it’s kind of out of our hands right now. I know LeSean was happy to get back to camp, get back to focusing on football and having a great year. And we need him. He’s an important part of our team. I’m happy that he’s here, and we’ll find out what happens. We’ll let them do their job and see what happens there, and we’re glad to have him back.
You mention talking to the players. I know just from being around how good the relationship between you, Terry and the players has been. I think it was another level at the NHL Draft. I watched you and the whole Dahlin family. What was it like getting to know both him and the family?
Every kid is different. Especially coming from Sweden and their language, you just don’t know what to expect. It’s a different country, he’s such a young kid, but that family was tremendous. A lot of times you could see, I guess, the stock that a player comes from, and it just was in line with everything else we’ve seen from him. Whether it’s on the ice, off the ice, even at a young age, with his family, you could see where he came from. They were just so excited and proud of him.
It takes a whole family and a whole community or some type of support system that you need to make it to any level and to sustain that level. That was really fun in Dallas.
How much of a needed morale boost was that for the franchise, just to win the lottery and to get Dahlin and now add even more pieces?
Oh, I mean, talk about disappointment [in finishing last overall]. People tell me that all the time, and I’m like, “You don’t understand. There’s nobody more disappointed than ownership at the end of the day when things don’t go the way that you want.” Now, obviously, we have a longer-term plan and you do the things that you need to fix it, but we feel it the same way.
Winning the lottery was also the weekend of the NFL Draft, so there was a lot of stuff going on. We were driving from Buffalo to Pittsburgh, and we were listening to it on the radio. Once we got past intermission or however they were announcing it, it was such a boost. It’s not only luck, but it almost felt like, “OK, I think the tide is turning.” With us ending the playoff drought in football and then us winning the lottery, it seemed like, “OK, you know what? Finally, we’re starting to make the turn now.” It’s still going to take some time, but just winning the lottery really does [boost morale]. Then knowing it was a player of his caliber, that was very much needed.
Now you’ve also added the Beauts to the One Buffalo family. We talked briefly about the fact that if you grow women’s hockey, you grow hockey overall, and it seems you’re intent on doing that.
We started out obviously with the teams and the Academy of Hockey growing youth-level hockey. Now just adding women’s hockey, you saw how the Olympic team was embraced and what that meant, so the level and the quality of women coming out of college and playing at an adult age is there, and the appetite is there. We thought it’s a great fit. They represent what we want in hockey and provide another level. Whether it’s women, whether it’s kids, whether it’s men, it’s just that hockey is for everyone, including women.
And you’re not Canadian, are you?
My wife is.
Your wife is. OK. The fact that we got a Canadian Olympian to come to the U.S. was a great coup. But we’ve got some exceptional players on our team this year, and I love the fact that our coaches Ric Seiling and Craig Muni are ex-players who are now coaching the Beauts. It’s a great, storied connection, and I’m real excited for that.
I noticed from the reaction to my Shannon Szabados story that there is a market there and people really want to embrace it.
We were fortunate that we already had a built-in, internal resource to help [the Beauts] take their game, organization and team to another level, to broaden their market. Obviously they’re at different levels than, say, the Sabres, but some of [the Beauts’ competitors] aren’t as lucky to have that … It’s a great stepping stone for our staff and new people coming into sports to learn and be part of that.
One other thing you’ve also added another arena [Blue Cross Arena, home of the Rochester Americans of the American Hockey League]. I saw you’re taking care of the Rochester one. What’s the plan for that?
The city has allowed us to take over the arena and is working on a new lease, but from now until at least the end of the year is having us operate and run that arena. When you have control of your building, especially with Rochester there, it will make it a better experience overall for not just fans, but for our team. It allows us to bring our expertise in all the different venues that we’ve been operating in over to Rochester. It’s an important market for us. We bought that team for a reason, and this is just another step in allowing us to make that connection with Buffalo and to help develop our team and our fan base here. So, yeah, we’re really excited about that.
I know it’s a cliché, but anything new on studies for the Bills’ or Sabres’ arenas?
We’re still working through all that stuff internally. We know that it has to be addressed, but we are working through steps on that. We’re trying to get together with different partners — you know the public, private — and are doing our work. We just want to make sure that we take the right steps to do that. We’re not ready yet to go public and say things like that, but things are being done. Eventually, we’ll get there.
I saw a lot of excitement about the addition to the training facility over in Orchard Park. [The Pegulas are funding an $18 million expansion of their training center next to the Bills’ stadium.]
Yes, yes. I was telling another agent today because I’m really excited about that. I know we’ve done team meeting rooms, we did the training room, we’ve done locker rooms, but the strength and conditioning and the sports performance — especially the sports performance — is an area we’ve really invested a lot in over the last few years, both at the Sabres and now in football, because if we can’t keep our guys on the ice or the field, that just hurts everything overall. And they’re making such big strides now in preventing injuries. And we have a great, knowledgeable staff with a lot of experience from all different sports. The players and the coaching staff are — as you know, hockey’s hard to change — but they are embracing that. For us to be able to prevent injuries, for us to prolong a player’s career, for us to make them more available on game days, there’s no other place that you’re going to want to spend the resources to do that. And this new training center will do that.
Also, it will keep Buffalo relevant from a free-agency standpoint. We always talk about that. When they come into the facility and they see that this is what we care about, we care about you as a player, we’re providing the resources and the amenities so that you can be the best player you can be, the best person you can be, I think it resonates. We’re going to be one of the few at the very top to have a facility like that. I’m really excited about that.
You mention prolonging careers. It seems to be so much more important now with so many young people on each team.
And when you’re a veteran, that’s when the free-agency part comes in and you’re not that rookie under a contract anymore, you want to go to a team that you feel, “OK, what are they going to do for me?” Prolonging their career, keeping them safe, helping them in those years where they’re coming closer to an end I think is important. I think free agents and veterans look for that, and we need veterans to help with the young guys.
We’ve done some changes to hockey as well. We’ve updated our strength and conditioning room. You’ll be excited, we’re going to update the media room, so this summer we have been making some changes. But I think this new facility, I know when Jack (Eichel) had his injury, he came over to the Bills’ facility as well to use some of their stuff that we didn’t have at the Sabres. So that facility, even though it’s on the football side, I see that being used for our all players when needed.
After the president’s comments, you and Terry made a strong statement about open dialogue, love and equality, which are obviously very important things. How are you moving toward that?
On the whole anthem issue itself, it was nice to hear that the league and the players and owners are working together to find some common ground. They’re still working on that. I’m not on that committee, so we’ll wait and see what comes of that. But despite all that, we have already gone ahead. There are so many programs that we are doing related to social justice, and conversations with our players started back even in the offseason. I’ve had talks with (veteran linebacker and team leader) Lorenzo Alexander. Our community relations director Gretchen (Geitter) and her team have already talked to some of the leaders on our team to go forth with, “OK, last year happened, but how do we continue the conversation? How do we continue the work that you guys want to do?”
They have been really great about it and a lot of collaborative effort. You’re going to see some initiatives come out that are all player-driven but supported by our team and the organization. There’s grants that the league has awarded players, as well as a club and player kind of initiative, putting money toward issues that are really important to our players. So all that is a continuing dialogue. It’s continuing action, and you’ll see things being executed together as an organization and as a player, but very player-driven.
Now it’s about three months since you took over the presidency roles. How has it been?
I’ve been on vacation with the offseason [laughs]. No, you know what? It’s been great. Obviously, I was involved a lot before behind the scenes anyways. This has just kind of afforded us to, I don’t want to say take off another layer because I don’t mean that in a negative way, but it’s been able to really fast-track a lot of decisions now, you know? Because there’s not so many layers that you have to go through to get an answer, and it’s allowed me to be a little more involved with our staff at all different levels. It has helped me develop a better relationship with the leagues. At the end of the month, I’m going to the NHL and they call it a “deep dive,” and this is what I’ve wanted to do because even though we’ve owned the team for many years, you always rely on somebody else to do other things. I felt like once I got the president’s job, I felt like, “You know what? I need to do a better job of understanding and learning more about the details of the business.”
So a few of us are going to go to the league offices and meet with every single department and make sure we’re not missing anything, that we’re taking advantage of all the resources from the league to the club.
So the president position for me has just been really great to help me make better decisions and understand where those decisions are coming from at the end of the day. Before I wasn’t there. People were like, “Oh, I didn’t want to bother you,” or, “I didn’t think was something you’d want to have to deal with.” So now I get to know the whys and the whats and the whos in much more detail. I enjoy that. Not every owner wants to know all that stuff. I do.
Finally, I’m sure when you were buying the teams, all you pictured were fun and wins and stuff …
[Laughs.] Yeah, they don’t give you a book, you know? It’s not like, “Here’s the book for owners.” They don’t give you that.
It’s been an interesting 7½ years. Circling back to the first question, is this more like it? Is this what you were envisioning? Things just seem to be going well.
From Day One, honestly, I didn’t know what to envision because we were never on the inside. It was all stuff from the outside. I’m finding people are asking me, “What are the other owners like?” I’m like, “Honestly, they’re kind of like everybody else, you know?” I think that was very humbling for me. When you’re on the outside looking in, you have all these perceptions, and when you get inside, you realize we’re all dealing with the same issues. No one’s better than anyone else. We’re all just human beings. That kind of helps settle you down.
The one thing I always keep in my mind is you’re not buying a team for the short term. As fast as sports moves and as many decisions you have to make quickly on a day-to-day basis, you’re in it for the long haul. That’s the fun part of it, knowing that. It’s the agony of the up and down every season that’s not fun, but in the back of your mind you know there’s a time and a place, and you just keep trying.
Some days are good, some days are bad, just like for everybody else, but I’m really confident with where we are right now. The foundation for both organizations is really there, so I’m looking forward to seeing how it all develops.
