Tops to Be Presenting Sponsor for Buffalo Bills' 50th Season

Tops Markets, LLC will be the presenting sponsor for the Buffalo Bills' 50th season, the football team said yesterday. To mark the historic occasion, the Bills introduced a classic 50th Season logo incorporating the number 50 in a dark navy blue with the red standing Buffalo logo, the charging Buffalo logo, the years 1960 and 2009 and the Tops logo, all outlined in gold, and fan voting for the Bills 50th Season All-Time Team presented by Tops at buffalobills.com, where visitors may vote for their own personal Bills All-Time teams from a select list of former Bills legends.

Additionally, fans may register and enter the Tops All-Time Team contest to win a Tops five-minute shopping spree with a Bills player, 50th Season autographed merchandise, $50 Bills Store gift certificates and other prizes. An exclusive line of 50th Season merchandise is available at Tops Markets; The Bills Store locations in Orchard Park, N.Y. and Eastview Mall in Rochester; and as online at buffalobills.com.

"We were looking for a local company that could help us create awareness for this milestone, and Tops simply touches more people than any company in Buffalo," explained Pete Guelli, Bills SVP of business ventures. "Tops is the perfect partner to title the Bills 50th season. [The grocer] clearly understands the value that our brand brings to their consumer marketing."

"Tops Markets and the Buffalo Bills are two hometown teams that share a long, proud history in the western New York area," added Tops president and CEO Frank Curci. “We are excited to celebrate this once-in-a-lifetime 50th season with the Bills, bring two strong, local brands together and share what promises to be a memorable year for everyone in our community." The locally owned and managed grocer strives to collaboraate as often as possible with regional businesses.

The Bills also revealed 50th season partnerships with Perry's Ice Cream and Labatt Blue. Perry's Ice Cream will roll out a new ice cream flavor with special Bills 50th season packaging, along with some soon-to-be announced promotions leading up to the start of the Bills regular season, while Labatt Blue will launch new packaging around the Bills 50th season and offer mail-in All-Time Team balloting through Tops and other local participating retailers.

Williamsville, N.Y.-based Tops Markets, LLC operates 71 full-service supermarkets and five franchise supermarkets and employs over 10,000 associates.