Jrb1979

A good example is something similar to Progressive field in Cleveland. They have an area for kids to play, a patio and bar overlooking the field. On the main level each micro brewery has their own concession with different food at each one. Those are things I would like to see that I have feeling won't happen. Upgraded seats and a roof over most of the stands doesn't impress me.

I don't have a skewed outlook on everything. Maybe football but hockey I don't. As far as the average fan goes, if they truly just went for the sake of taking in the energy of the game then none of these other stadiums would be adding in things to make the game day experience better. They would stick with concourses like they always have had. The stadium experience is big part of the game more so now then it ever has before.

I hope so cause that's what is needed. I know many here disagree with that.

They have added. Four New 'Outfield Neighborhoods': Most of Tuesday's media tour was focused on the four new social spaces Rogers Centre will house in the outfield next season—two on the 100-level and two on the 500-level. The 'outfield neighborhoods' include a Corona Rooftop Patio in the 500-level right field, a family-friendly park in left, and two themed bars along the 100-level that sit behind the batter's eye and overlook the road bullpen.

It's why I listen to Satellite radio. Other then Sabres games or the odd time on my way to work I rarely listen to regular radio anymore.

Anything is an improvement over Highmark. I'm sure everything will be an improvement. My view is that if the outside esthetic is this generic I don't see the inside being anything special either. I would venture to guess is you have the Bills hall of fame inside and the food vendors will be mostly the same as Highmark just improved. The game day experience probably isn't going to change much. I know most of you are there for the game and are happy with all the improvements. The problem is your average fan wants more then that to be drawn to go to a game. Why spend a few hundred dollars to go to a game when the experience is not much different than watching at home for free. Your average fan wants a better experience then what they get at home. It's why I brought up the Rogers Centre and it's upgrades. They are adding major amenities to make the game day experience better. Having an updated Highmark stadium isn't enough for the sports world we live in. I do understand that people on this board are satisfied with the team staying and having an improved stadium. You do have to understand that your casual sports fan isn't drawn by that.

Sure it's an upgrade to Highmark but that's not saying much. My point is that if you look at the new stadiums and upgrades stadiums and arenas around the country are doing, they almost all have things in common. They all are adding things to make the stadium experience better then what you get if you watched the game sitting at home. A good example is the Rogers Centre in Toronto. Before the major upgrades this offseason I rarely went to a game. I would drive 3 hours to see a game in Cleveland before seeing a game in Toronto. Now with the upgrades and the new amenities and food offerings I am looking forward to seeing a game there. I know most here could care less about that stuff but the people here aren't your average fan.

It doesn't effect my life but doesn't mean I should just be satisfied they are staying. The issue I have is that around the league the stadiums that have been built or being built are state of the art. Even other leagues are upgrading their stadiums to get them up to date. Look at the Rogers Centre in Toronto. This winter they have done a big make over with adding a bar that overlooks centre field. The way sports have been heading the game isn't the major draw anymore stadium wise. Most can stay home if they just want to watch the game. This goes for the Sabres too. I hope with them being good again and attendance rising they use some of that money a put it back into the arena and get it up to date.

IMO I think why many don't want a huge over the top stadium is the cost for tickets at that kind of stadium. Many would be priced out.

I get it. Buffalo isn't a major city and is a small market. They don't need anything fancy or over the top. It just needs to be good enough and to not price out the market.

Yes they are just fine but they were also built well before these new wave of stadiums. Personally I would rather they built something similar to what Nashville is building. Winning only takes you so far. December and January games have been a hard sell even when they are winning. Since a dome isn't happening then hopefully the amenities are majorly updated. I'm talking having all the micro breweries having a vendor in the stadium, a bar/ restaurant in one of the corners over looking the field. I would love if they took a page from Progressive field and have an area for kids and families to hangout.

That was at the beginning of the year. They had a sell out today. You can't say much when the Bills have issues selling tickets in December and January. Look at the amount of Bengals fans at the last game.

For the older generation this stadium works just fine. The problem is if they want to get the 40 and under generation to go to games you need it to be on the level of those stadiums. It's already a hard sell for fans in December and January games. The Bengals game should never had that many Bengals fans in attendance.

It should be paid for in PSLs.

Yep and with PSLs starting at $10,000 a seat.

For the amenities we don't know anything and that would make the stadium a lot better depending on what is offered. My problem is that from the renderings its an upgrade to what's already there. For the amount of money they are spending I wanted to see something more in line the Vikings stadium. This was the chance to bring the city of Buffalo and the Bills up to the level of the top cities in the NFL.

It's going to be a pile of rocks like the original one. Still for what they spent on it, it should be a lot more impressive. It's very generic but I guess that's to be expected when all fans want is the Bills to stay.

That is such a small-minded way to look at it.

With PSLs coming and hopefully the end of the private lots that will help with that. I still don't understand why so many are happy with something so uninspiring?

I'm fine with no dome but it still should be more state of the art. Instead what we got screams small market. I guess all that matters is that they are staying in Buffalo

It looks different and has a lot of stuff the old stadium didn't have but it's still nothing special, especially when you compare to all the new stadiums that have been built in the last few years. That's all I'm saying. I looks like something they would have built in the era when they built stadiums like the Browns or the Steelers.

While it looks nice, I not blown away by it. It's basically an updated version of the stadium they already have. It doesn't necessarily need to be a dome but more state of the art.

I would agree with that "assessment" if that happened after Allen got hurt. They dropped the short passing game well before that.

I hope so. As a person who loves hockey seeing it as mostly an afterthought is disappointing. Even now with the NFL season over the Sabres still don't get much coverage locally. THEY ARE 2 POINTS OUT OF THE PLAYOFFS. The media needs to start talking about them Who cares who the Bills are going to draft in the 7th round of the playoffs

First I will say the game has never been better or exciting. They do have that Gretzky type player. Problem is he plays in Edmonton and your casual sports fan could care less. IMO it will always be number 4 for a few reasons. One being it's not an accessible sport for most people due to cost to play. For me the biggest reason it will always be number 4 is the game is too fast for the casual sports fan. Football, Basketball and Baseball are slow paced and are much easier to follow. I will say I wish the game was more popular than it is now. IMO it's the best pro sport and has the best playoffs.