The former Texans standout, selected first overall by Houston in 2006, inked a monster contract with Buffalo last week reportedly for $100 million over six years. Soon after, Buffalo had a jump in ticket sales, jersey sales and hits on both its official web site and mobile app.
Bills CEO Russ Brandon announced significant increases in ticket sales that were already faring well.
“We’ve been pacing very well going into the offseason with our season ticket renewals,” Brandon said, according to the Bills' website. “We were up about 15 percent year over year, but over the last 48 hours after the (Williams) signing we did about 1400 new season tickets and renewed about 4,000 season tickets. I think the marker there is we’re about two weeks away from our first deposit on season tickets. So it’s certainly picked up.
“The demand for season tickets increased to a point where the Bills held extended hours for ticket sales last Saturday with a steady stream of ticket buyers at One Bills Drive.”
Williams has also sparked an expected jump in jersey purchases, although his number has not yet been determined. Once Williams’ jersey is finalized, some 6,000-plus that have already been ordered will be shipped out.
Williams dominated the defensive end position since being drafted, then shifted to linebacker in Houston last season in defensive coordinator Wade Phillips’ system in his first year there. Williams probably would have dominated that position as well, as he racked up five sacks in as many games before ending his season early with an injured pectoral muscle.
Williams will provide the beef for Buffalo’s return to a 4-3 defense and should turn the Buffalo D into a leading unit in the AFC East division.
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