Prospective Bills owners Terry Pegula and Kim Pegula received unanimous approval from the NFL’s finance committee, the league’s executive VP Eric Grubman announced today, according to Tim Graham of the Buffalo News (via Twitter). The Pegulas and the Bills reached an agreement last week for the owners of the NHL’s Buffalo Sabres to become the new owners of the city’s NFL franchise.
Being approved by the league’s finance committee was the next step for the Pegulas in the process of formally becoming the new owners of the Bills. After receiving approval today, Terry Pegula delivered a brief statement indicating that until the NFL’s 31 other owners give final approval next month, he doesn’t consider himself an NFL owner, according to Graham (via Twitter).
Still, while the other owners will be tasked with taking that vote at the league meetings on October 8, it’s viewed as a mere formality at this point. The Pegulas have been considered the best choice for the Bills throughout the process, and it would take a drastic development at this point to derail them from officially taking over ownership of the franchise next month.