AP

With all the noise coming from two of the higher-profile Bills bidders, the full universe of candidates hadn’t been known. Previously believed to consist of only Jon Bon Jovi’s group, Donald Trump, and Sabres owner Terry Pegula, up to five more may be in the mix.

According to Tim Graham of the Buffalo News, the trust responsible for selling the franchise from Ralph Wilson’s estate will begin to conduct meetings with as many as eight prospective buyers in the next three weeks.

First up, Trump. The real-estate mogul, who recently told NBC’s Al Michaels that Trump bid $1 billion in cash for the team, met with the trust on Wednesday. An “undisclosed” bidder will get together with the folks screening the candidates on Thursday, and Pegula will meet with the trust next week.

The unknown bidders may include former Sabres owner Thomas Golisano, who has publicly expressed interest in the team.

While the existence of unnamed potential buyers will make Bills fans nervous because those buyers could be based in cities like Los Angeles, the rejection of Bon Jovi’s initial bid based in part of the lack of sufficient assurances that the team won’t move should be interpreted as very good news for folks who want the team to stay put in Buffalo.