One has to wonder if there may be any ramifications for having an older stadium. Every other NFL city seems to have a new stadium. Detroit, Cleveland, Cincinnati, Pittsburgh, Boston, Baltimore, Philadelphia, Washington DC, Tampa, Nashville, St. Louis, Seattle, Denver, Phoenix (2006), Indy (2008), Dallas (future), Houston, NY Jets?, Chicago (major renovations), Green Bay (renovations).
That's a lot of cities. Is there a somewhat secret policy to have all NFL teams outfitted with new stadiums? There are talks in Minneapolis, New Orleans and San Diego for new stadiums. A vast majority of NFL cities either have a new stadium or have plans at various stages in the mix. A downtown stadium, just the concept would be nice......but it seems easily to be too much a luxury item. If the Wilson family had plenty of money, a new stadium could possibly be funded privately. That will not happen.
What is the structural integrity of Ralph Wilson Stadium? It must be in pretty good shape still I would assume.
Buffalo's major mistake was building the large UB campus in Amherst. Put that on the waterfront 40 years ago and see what kind of critical mass would have been created in those 4 decades.