The Sports Business Journal announced their nominees for their 2023 Sports Business Awards ceremony to be held this Wednesday, May 24th, and the Buffalo Bills are among six finalists for Team of the Year honors.
Included among the list of nominees along with the Bills are Angel City FC of the NWSL, the Florida Panthers, The Golden State Warriors, Los Angeles FC, and the San Diego Padres.
In addition to the Bills' accomplishments on the field, which included a 13-3 regular season record and third consecutive AFC East title, the club also wrapped its arms around Buffalo in the wake of the racially motivated mass shooting in which 10 lives of the East Buffalo community were lost.
The club also solidified the future of the team in Western New York by completing a $1.4 billion stadium agreement while securing a commitment from New York State and Erie County for $850 million in public funds for construction of the new Buffalo Bills Stadium.
And following Damar Hamlin's cardiac arrest during the Bills vs. Bengals, Monday Night Football game on Jan. 2nd, Bills coaching leadership demonstrated tremendous levelheadedness in fostering the best solution possible in an unprecedented NFL game postponement. That combined with the exemplary response of the club's medical and athletic training staff in saving Hamlin's life was yet another example of the team's ability to successfully meet adverse moments of crisis.
"It was a year that brought countless unexpected challenges for our organization, on and off the field," said Bills Executive Vice President and COO, Ron Raccuia. "Our staff, players and leadership rose to meet every one of those challenges with the dedication, professionalism and respect that embody the Buffalo Bills franchise.
"We're proud to be nominated for SBJ Team of the Year to honor and celebrate the achievements of the last year and are excited for what's to come, both on and off the field."
In the wake of Damar Hamlin's cardiac event, The Bills Foundation in partnership with the club's naming rights partner, Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield funded a CPR training Kit program at the Buffalo and Erie County Public Library as an initial step in a five-year partnership to educate Western New York on performing Hands-Only CPR.
The Sports Business Awards ceremony will be held Wednesday evening at the New York Marriott Marquis in Times Square.
