Dr. Fong Posted January 15, 2011 Posted January 15, 2011 I've been to several NFL stadiums in my time. There's nothing wrong with the Ralph. Maybe they were talking about the facilities on the interior of the stadium that the average fan never gets to see.
GOBILLS78 Posted January 15, 2011 Posted January 15, 2011 Maybe he was talking about the hard-as-cement AstroTurf.
NoSaint Posted January 15, 2011 Posted January 15, 2011 I've been to several NFL stadiums in my time. There's nothing wrong with the Ralph. Maybe they were talking about the facilities on the interior of the stadium that the average fan never gets to see. There's also something to be said - a pickup truck gets the job done, but compared to a bentley it wouldnt be your first choice.
Dr. Fong Posted January 15, 2011 Posted January 15, 2011 There's also something to be said - a pickup truck gets the job done, but compared to a bentley it wouldnt be your first choice. I guess so, but Buffalo isn't exactly a Bentley town.
Bills(70) Posted January 15, 2011 Posted January 15, 2011 I've just heard people say that they think it is old but I went to my first Bills game (from out of town) a few months ago and I thought it was fine. I also think it's in a great area in the suburbs instead of downtown in the congestion of a city like other stadiums are. It is old. Buffalo, New York needs a domed stadium, and not along the Lake front either, but NorthEast of Downtown, even in the Riverside area would be fine. You want to minimize the Lake affects dumping on the dome. South of the city is not the place to build it given the snowbelt, North/NorthEast of the city is the common sense place to put it. Without a domed stadium the Buffalo Bills are going to end up leaving WNY, sometimes, the truth hurts.
metzelaars_lives Posted January 15, 2011 Posted January 15, 2011 I'm gonna pull out the old Super Techmo Bowl and beat Zolak's head in for this. As a virtual Tecmo God, I can tell you off the top of my head that in the classic game, which is of course the 1991 version based on the 1990 season for NES, New England's QB's are Steve Grogan and Hugh Millen. Thank you.
Red Posted January 15, 2011 Posted January 15, 2011 Ofcourse Scott Zolak hated playing in Buffalo...wasn't this guy playing when Bruce Smith was burrying opposing QB's into our cement turf that we used to have? I mean, if I was being slammed into the concrete after every pass I threw and the crowd was so loud I couldn't hear an airplane fly over and the swirling winds and my own lack of QB'ing ability got in the way of completing a pass (because my name is Scott freakin' Zolak), then I guess that I would not like playing in Buffalo, either.
Red Posted January 15, 2011 Posted January 15, 2011 Ofcourse Scott Zolak hated playing in Buffalo...wasn't this guy playing when Bruce Smith was burrying opposing QB's into our cement turf that we used to have? I mean, if I was being slammed into the concrete after every pass I threw and the crowd was so loud I couldn't hear an airplane fly over and the swirling winds and my own lack of QB'ing ability got in the way of completing a pass (because my name is Scott freakin' Zolak), then I guess that I would not like playing in Buffalo, either.
Top Sheff Posted January 15, 2011 Posted January 15, 2011 One of the most common compliants that I have heard is that the visitors locker room is too small.
CodeMonkey Posted January 15, 2011 Posted January 15, 2011 The stadium is old. From the crumbling pitted concrete everywhere, to the old dingy concession areas, to the 300's bench seating, to the disgusting bathrooms. I have never seen the player facilities but compared to modern stadiums I suspect they are lacking as well. It would be silly to expect a new stadium in Buffalo now with the future ownership in question. The Ralph may not quite be an embarrassment to the NFL, but it is heading that direction.
BADOLBILZ Posted January 15, 2011 Posted January 15, 2011 when it comes to the Ralph, see Bill Simmon's article 2 years ago about the Bills-Cleveland MNF game. It's a loud place, everyone can see the field, average joes can sit in the bottom bowl, its loud, etc. It has everything a fan and hometown player would want in a stadium. 2 bit guys on boston radio aren't doing much to change that opinion of mine... Great reference. These new facilities often first price the avid fans out, then leave the place with a sterile, shopping mall feel. There are two things I would like to see changed: First, find a way to reduce the wind on the field. Playing 7 home games means that there is the potential for seven games where it's difficult to throw the football and this is not advantageous to the Bills. It also discourages offensive production, which is a great deal of the entertainment of the game. Second, improve the sound system. It is WEAK. The announcer is just a faint noise on the opposing side 50 yard line. At other stadiums the sound system rocks and helps motivate the crowd as well as can be used to(illegallly) pump in fake crowd noise to help the home team D.
Bills(70) Posted January 15, 2011 Posted January 15, 2011 The stadium is old. From the crumbling pitted concrete everywhere, to the old dingy concession areas, to the 300's bench seating, to the disgusting bathrooms. I have never seen the player facilities but compared to modern stadiums I suspect they are lacking as well. It would be silly to expect a new stadium in Buffalo now with the future ownership in question. The Ralph may not quite be an embarrassment to the NFL, but it is heading that direction. Agreed CodeMonkey. Even if Kelly, Thomas and the crew can get an ownership grou together, they'll need to find an extra 2 billion dollars in the next 5 years or so and build a domed stadium. It's about the only way this team is going be cemented in Buffalo for any longterm period. People shouldn't be worried about the Ralph or the new ownership group. They should be worried about what is going to anchor this team here longterm, and a state of the art Domed Stadium does that without question.
nucci Posted January 15, 2011 Posted January 15, 2011 Maybe he was talking about the hard-as-cement AstroTurf. which was replaced with Astroplay, a rubber infilled synthetic surface in 2003.
Hey Hey Posted January 15, 2011 Posted January 15, 2011 I'm a Bills fan living in New England, I was driving to work today, when I heard former Pats Qb Scott Zolak taking to Carl Banks on his radio show, Zolak was talking about how terrible the old Meadow Lands stadium was. He then went on to say that Buffalo by far the worst place to ever play. I didn't get the impression he was talking about the fans or the weather. It seems he was bashing the Ralph. Banks sort of agreed. I've been a season ticket holder for the Bills for many many year, I've traveled to Buffalo frequently for the last 10 years for games. I've been to 4-5 other nfl stadiums. Other then not having a bunch of fancy consession stands, (which I thought no really cares about after 3 hours of tail gating), I also thought the Ralph was ok. Has anyone else ever heard the anything else bad about the Ralph. The field seem well maintained, they changed the turf 2 or 3 times in the last 10 years to stay updated. I've never heard anything bad about the locker rooms or training areas. Has anyone else heard anything? I never had a problem with the Ralph but this season I saw a game in Arizona. That stadium is incredible. It's clean and the food and drink options are great. With that said I will take the Ralph as is to keep the bills in buffalo.
headcase Posted January 15, 2011 Posted January 15, 2011 Nyc Make the country Trillions of dollars so stop with the black hole stuff....Yes it is BS how NE and NJJ and NJG get state of the art stadiums. NY State will never let the Bills leave, they will keep refurbing the Ralph. Which is fine with me. I've got nothing to say about RWS, never been there, but what part does NE play in this situation? Kraft paid for that stadium, no public money was used for it. The state/town did some infrastructure improvements, but no public money is in the stadium. SSDD
NoSaint Posted January 15, 2011 Posted January 15, 2011 I guess so, but Buffalo isn't exactly a Bentley town. I totally understand but in this case it wasn't a buffalo player complaining. Nothing wrong with a "gets the job done" stadium, but comparatively it's likely among the least outfitted and comfortable. Couple that with the crowning, turf from his days, Bruce, the location, the weather, the crowd being loud and proud.... I doubt that when schedules come out players look forward to the Ralph in December the same way as they might going out to a new stadium in the south.
Thoner7 Posted January 15, 2011 Posted January 15, 2011 The sight lines at the ralph are better then anywhere else I have been, included Baltimore, Foxboro, happy vally, and the dome. The only place cooler than the Ralhp was Air Force's stadium but thats Oranges to Apples. Traffic at teh Ralph is horrible though.
NoSaint Posted January 15, 2011 Posted January 15, 2011 I never had a problem with the Ralph but this season I saw a game in Arizona. That stadium is incredible. It's clean and the food and drink options are great. With that said I will take the Ralph as is to keep the bills in buffalo. I'm sure the player facilities are similarly posh compared to RWS-.of course, cry me a river that you are getting paid hundreds of thousands a game and the lockerroom smells like sweaty men instead of mahogany and leather bound books. It's quite serviceable but a fair critique saying it's among the worst.
CodeMonkey Posted January 16, 2011 Posted January 16, 2011 I've got nothing to say about RWS, never been there, but what part does NE play in this situation? Kraft paid for that stadium, no public money was used for it. The state/town did some infrastructure improvements, but no public money is in the stadium. SSDD Which is exactly how it should be for all sports stadiums!!!
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