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April 4, 2025 10:30 am  #1


The Buffalo DJ & Station That Inspired Sabres' Owner To Buy The Team

This turned up in the New York Times' "The Athletic" section of all places. But what a great story about how radio influenced a guy who would wind up becoming a multi-millionaire. 

Many here may know the name Terry Pegula. He's the high profile and very wealthy owner of the NHL's Sabres and the NFL's Buffalo Bills. But once upon a time, he was a very young not-rich young man who grew up listening to WGR-AM in their Top 40 days. He says it was a song on that station's playlist and legendary morning jock Stan Roberts who would eventually inspire him to be more than a fan of both teams. 

And when he heard them play a distinctly Buffalo song called "We're Going To Win That Cup" by Donna McDaniel every morning, the dreams of one day taking over the NHL franchise began. 

For his part, Roberts say he had no idea of the part he played in the whole thing. 

“No one has ever talked to me about it,” Roberts said. “He credits me and WGR into brainwashing him to be a Sabres fan? And he buys the Sabres? And he buys the Bills? And he builds a hotel and rink complex downtown?“

I was there for decades and nothing happened. Things went downhill. The steel mills closed. The refineries closed. It was possible the Sabres would leave Buffalo. He saved that from happening. The Buffalo Bills could’ve left too, and he saved that from happening. Anything I had to do with him getting there makes me proud.”


Fifty years ago, a deejay and a Sabres novelty song inspired Terry Pegula’s Buffalo sports empire