Bills camp mutually beneficial
By Chris Potter
Last Updated:8:02 PM EST 4/22/09 Section: Fisher through the years
Few things have changed the face of St. John Fisher College quite like the Buffalo Bills organization moving its training camp to Fisher's suburban campus.
One might have to go back to the 1971 decision to admit females to find an event that similarly altered the historic trajectory of the College. Two officials were primarily responsible for the move - former Fisher President Katherine Keough and Fisher graduate Russ Brandon, currently the Bills Chief Operating Officer.
"Dr. Keough intuitively understood the value of this potential partnership - as a means of generating awareness of the College, as an academic partnership for select academic departments and their students, and as an economic driver for Pittsford and the Rochester community," recalls Dr. Gerard Rooney, Fisher's Senior VP for Enrollment and Planning. "She requested a meeting with Bills officials immediately after hearing of their plans to move the training camp to Rochester."
Of course, it didn't hurt matters that Bills owner Ralph Wilson had charged the Fisher grad with finding a suitable location. At the time, Brandon was the Bills Vice President for Business Development and Marketing. He and Keough worked closely during the negotiation process.
The Bills presence on the Fisher campus has been a mutually beneficial relationship. Moving the training camp to Rochester allowed the Bills to expand their presence in the region, attracting more Western New York fans and business sponsors to Ralph Wilson Stadium. Fisher has also seen the tangible benefits of the partnership.
"I think it has helped our name recognition, especially throughout the northeast," said Fisher Athletic Director Bob Ward. "It has helped the recruitment of all student/athletes due to the great atmosphere it provides us during the summer months for visitations."
Since the Bills have moved their summer home to Pittsford, Fisher's enrollment has more than doubled, campus visits have markedly gone up, and more than $100 million has been invested in campus facilities. Dr. Rooney also pointed to the spotlight of attention that being associated with an NFL team provides.
"The impact of the Bills camp is most significant in terms of the visibility and awareness that it has provided the College," Rooney said. "Each day - at an otherwise quiet time of the year on campus - we have the potential to entertain 6,000 campus visitors. Additionally, coverage of the camp by local and regional media outlets insures that Fisher's name and campus images are at the top of the daily news stories covered in our region. You really can't put a value on that exposure."
One might have to go back to the 1971 decision to admit females to find an event that similarly altered the historic trajectory of the College. Two officials were primarily responsible for the move - former Fisher President Katherine Keough and Fisher graduate Russ Brandon, currently the Bills Chief Operating Officer.
"Dr. Keough intuitively understood the value of this potential partnership - as a means of generating awareness of the College, as an academic partnership for select academic departments and their students, and as an economic driver for Pittsford and the Rochester community," recalls Dr. Gerard Rooney, Fisher's Senior VP for Enrollment and Planning. "She requested a meeting with Bills officials immediately after hearing of their plans to move the training camp to Rochester."
Of course, it didn't hurt matters that Bills owner Ralph Wilson had charged the Fisher grad with finding a suitable location. At the time, Brandon was the Bills Vice President for Business Development and Marketing. He and Keough worked closely during the negotiation process.
The Bills presence on the Fisher campus has been a mutually beneficial relationship. Moving the training camp to Rochester allowed the Bills to expand their presence in the region, attracting more Western New York fans and business sponsors to Ralph Wilson Stadium. Fisher has also seen the tangible benefits of the partnership.
"I think it has helped our name recognition, especially throughout the northeast," said Fisher Athletic Director Bob Ward. "It has helped the recruitment of all student/athletes due to the great atmosphere it provides us during the summer months for visitations."
Since the Bills have moved their summer home to Pittsford, Fisher's enrollment has more than doubled, campus visits have markedly gone up, and more than $100 million has been invested in campus facilities. Dr. Rooney also pointed to the spotlight of attention that being associated with an NFL team provides.
"The impact of the Bills camp is most significant in terms of the visibility and awareness that it has provided the College," Rooney said. "Each day - at an otherwise quiet time of the year on campus - we have the potential to entertain 6,000 campus visitors. Additionally, coverage of the camp by local and regional media outlets insures that Fisher's name and campus images are at the top of the daily news stories covered in our region. You really can't put a value on that exposure."
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