11 people who dislike the idea of Bon Jovi moving the Buffalo Bills to Toronto

Twitter exploded this morning with “Livin’ on a Prayer” puns over news that classic rock mainstay and hair enthusiast Jon Bon Jovi is joining forces with Larry Tanenbaum (part owner of MLSE) and Tim Leiweke (president and CEO of MLSE) to bid on the Buffalo Bills and move the team to Toronto. Rock star wattage has brought attention to the idea, but most still consider Rogers to be the primary candidate to bring American football into our Canadian backyard.

The move would complete the years-long campaign to get an NFL team into Canada, but is also fraught with snags and questions: the Bills price could be as high as $1 billion; getting them out of their current venue lease before 2020 would rack up another $400 million; and a new Toronto stadium could cost yet another $1 billion (possible locations: Downsview Park, Woodbine Racetrack). Plus, the Bills will not be available for purchase until 95-year-old owner Ralph Wilson passes away. And what about the CFL? Could the city support both the Toronto Bills and the Toronto Argos?

To add to the confusion, Bon Jovi’s improbably named publicist Ken Sunshine waded into the fray, calling the multiple reports of his boss’s interest in the Bills “preposterous.” All of this has been greeted with wildly mixed reactions, including several nay-sayers who are tempering enthusiasm with cynicism. From Tim Hudak to Jagmeet Singh, here’s a round-up of the top tweets that characterize the twitterverse’s response:

Everyone involved in this stealing-the-Bills-from-Buffalo-when-their-owner-dies scheme (MLSE, Bon Jovi) should be ashamed of themselves.

— Adam Radwanski (@aradwanski) November 25, 2013

@aradwanski Must be the same Toronto fans that have been filling Leafs games since the 60's lol. 90's bills….those were the days #kelly

— Jagmeet Singh (@jagmeetNDP) November 25, 2013

"As a lifelong Buffalo Bills fan, I'm wary of living on a prayer that the NFL will come to Toronto," @timhudak says. #onpoli

— Adrian Morrow (@AdrianMorrow) November 25, 2013

@newstalk1010 Buffalo fans are going to start burning their Bon Jovi CDs. How will Jovi like to lose 50 million in 5 years???

— Mitch Connor (@Mitch_Connor__) November 25, 2013

Bon Jovi wants to buy the Bills? Makes sense, they've been living on a prayer for 20 years… #NFL

— Joe (@corrado_19) November 25, 2013

@Emily_og thank u. Needed it. Bon Jovi has ruined my Monday

— Scooter (@HoregonTrail) November 25, 2013

Jon Bon Jovi may buy and move the Bills to Toronto? Sick, but would destroy #NFL for Canadians. http://t.co/fCw8UIAdZu #torontocurse

— Omar Chahbar (@OmarChahbar) November 25, 2013

@glayson76 @780BillsMafia @JsnDnkrs typical TO I’m sure, more bluster than substance. For the record: I would never, ever go. Not if free.

— TBek (@GuidedByTBek) November 25, 2013

"How you doing Buffalo?" *crickets* -Jon Bon Jovi First Niagara Center 2015 http://t.co/npqJdkjlGG

— Ned Graham (@nedgraham) November 25, 2013

I will hate Bon Jovi if he buys the Bills and moves them to Toronto. Eh. These HORRIBLE reports

— Ashley Dilcher (@ADilcher) November 25, 2013

Rumours of Bon Jovi bringing Buffalo Bills to Toronto. Could this be the mascott for the Toronto Bon Jovi's ?? pic.twitter.com/iXVRHwwMnf

— Gianluca Malatesta (@Gianlu_13) November 25, 2013