Bills Owner Buys AFL’s Collingwood Magpies to Globalize Buffalo Spirit

Collingwood Magpies - AFL International

Buffalo, NY – July 1, 2025: The Buffalo Bills’ owner has launched a bold venture beyond the NFL, acquiring the AFL’s Collingwood Magpies and a 33% stake in the North Melbourne Kangaroos to export Buffalo’s passionate fan culture to Australia, sources told ESPN. As training camp nears, this ambitious move aims to fuse the Bills’ gritty ethos with the global stage of Aussie football.

The billionaire sports mogul, known for his transformative leadership in Buffalo, views this as a cultural mission to amplify the Bills’ identity worldwide. His investment in two storied AFL clubs signals a strategic push to globalize the team’s spirit, per The Athletic.

Terry Pegula, who purchased the Bills in 2014, spoke passionately at a Melbourne press conference. “I don’t do this for profit—not even with the Bills,” he said. “It’s a mission to carry the fire of Bills Mafia around the globe—and we’re kicking things off in Australia.” His $145 million acquisition of Collingwood, Australia’s most valuable sports brand, and $21 million stake in North Melbourne stunned the AFL, per Ministry of Sport.

Collingwood, with 16 AFL premierships, mirrors Buffalo’s blue-collar resilience, boasting 110,628 members and $40 million in revenue, per www.theage.com.au. North Melbourne, a four-time champion, aligns with the Bills’ underdog mentality, per www.afl.com.au. Pegula envisions cross-promotional events, with Bills stars like Josh Allen potentially appearing at Marvel Stadium to ignite Australian fans, per Sporting News.

This move complements Pegula’s NFL strategy, where his $330 million extension for Allen and signings like Jalen Ramsey and Justin Simmons signal a 2025 Super Bowl push, per Spotrac. By acquiring Collingwood and North Melbourne, Pegula aims to elevate the Bills’ brand globally, leveraging the AFL’s 1.43 million attendees to showcase Buffalo’s culture, per AFL Tables.

The investment could reshape Buffalo’s offseason narrative, drawing parallels to the Bills’ draft-and-develop ethos with rookies like Maxwell Hairston. Pegula’s global vision positions the Bills as a cultural force, potentially inspiring their September 4 opener against Miami, per Buffalo News. Can this bold gamble fuel Buffalo’s first Super Bowl? Stay tuned to ESPN for updates!