Jennifer Chambers

The Detroit News

The approved $1.4 billion sale of the Buffalo Bills NFL football team on Wednesday is expected to move the needle on talks by trustees at the Ralph C. Wilson Foundation on how proceeds will land in Detroit.

Terry Pegula and wife Kim were unanimously approved by NFL owners as new owners of the Buffalo Bills on Wednesday.

According to a report in the Buffalo News, Ralph Wilson, the late founder of the Bills and a Grosse Pointe resident, instructed before his death that money from the team's sale go only to benefit Detroit and Buffalo.

Still, trustees with the Ralph C. Wilson Foundation remained tight-lipped about the future of the funds Wednesday afternoon.

“Ralph Wilson’s dedication to the Detroit area has been understood and celebrated for years. While that certainly will remain the case in the future through his foundation, it is far too early for the trustees to offer any specifics,” a statement issued by the trustees said.

“Our priority today is completing and closing the sale of the Buffalo Bills,” the statement said.

A representative at the Michigan-based foundation refused to provide further comment.

Jeffrey C. Littmann, treasurer and trustee of the foundation, issued a statement on the team’s website Wednesday saying once the closing is done and the transition to the new owners is made, attention will turn toward the foundation and its future plans.

“Of course we’ve done some pre-planning work but we will be turning our attention to the future and mission of the Ralph Wilson Jr. foundation. ...We look forward to someday giving you a full report on what our intentions are and what our plans are going forward,” Littmann said.

The Pegulas, who already own the NHL’s Buffalo Sabres, expect the sale to be finalized by the end of the week.

Wilson died in March, prompting the sale.

The Bills were last valued by Forbes at $935 million, but their price was well above other recent sales.

jchambers@detroitnews.com

Associated Press contributed