GOBILLS!!!!! Posted May 13, 2011 Posted May 13, 2011 So Ive have been doing a little bit of reading on the whole situation regarding the new vikings stadium and I saw that the county that the new stadium will be built in is going to increase sales tax by as little as a .5 cent increase in order to pay for about 300 million dollars that will be used in helping to fund the project. My question is this...couldnt erie county do something similar in that sense to increase the sales tax slightly? I doubt many people in buffalo would be opposed to the idea of a very small increase if that means funding for part of a new stadium for our beloved bills. Your thoughts
PromoTheRobot Posted May 13, 2011 Posted May 13, 2011 I think just a new stadium with nothing else won't help the Bills. You need to create a complex with a stadium, hotel, convention center, amusement park, etc. Something that will generate money not just from football. PTR
Billshank Redemption Posted May 13, 2011 Posted May 13, 2011 our taxes are already almost 10% i dont think its a great idea.
clancynut Posted May 13, 2011 Posted May 13, 2011 Another issue to consider is where do you build a new stadium? Somewhere in Niagara County would make it closer for Canadian fans to come to a game; But that would eliminate Erie County as a source for potential funding. Promo is right any new stadium would have to be part of an entertainment complex. Would it be possible to have Niagara and Erie both sales tax to get a new complex built? Another issue what happens to the tax after the stadium is paid for? Politicians in WNY seem never to be able to get rid of a temporary tax.
kegtapr Posted May 13, 2011 Posted May 13, 2011 Another tax in NY? Good luck getting anyone other than the most diehard fan on board with that one.
Marv's Neighbor Posted May 14, 2011 Posted May 14, 2011 So Ive have been doing a little bit of reading on the whole situation regarding the new vikings stadium and I saw that the county that the new stadium will be built in is going to increase sales tax by as little as a .5 cent increase in order to pay for about 300 million dollars that will be used in helping to fund the project. My question is this...couldnt erie county do something similar in that sense to increase the sales tax slightly? I doubt many people in buffalo would be opposed to the idea of a very small increase if that means funding for part of a new stadium for our beloved bills. Your thoughts Their economic base is much healthier than what we have in WNY. .5 there is a lot different then .5, on top of what we have already pay. Fortunately when Rich Stadium was built, they passed on the inflatable "dome" concept and what we have is much more servicable than the Metro Dome.
KollegeStudnet Posted May 14, 2011 Posted May 14, 2011 say if they build a stadium for the Bills... keep it open air...no dome...no retracrable roof... price tag would be 600-800 million
KD in CA Posted May 14, 2011 Posted May 14, 2011 Another tax in NY? Good luck getting anyone other than the most diehard fan on board with that one. But it's just a 'little bit more' so it shouldn't be a problem.
kegtapr Posted May 14, 2011 Posted May 14, 2011 But it's just a 'little bit more' so it shouldn't be a problem. Taken right from the school district talking points.
RealityCheck Posted May 14, 2011 Posted May 14, 2011 So Ive have been doing a little bit of reading on the whole situation regarding the new vikings stadium and I saw that the county that the new stadium will be built in is going to increase sales tax by as little as a .5 cent increase in order to pay for about 300 million dollars that will be used in helping to fund the project. My question is this...couldnt erie county do something similar in that sense to increase the sales tax slightly? I doubt many people in buffalo would be opposed to the idea of a very small increase if that means funding for part of a new stadium for our beloved bills. Your thoughts The problems with the Bills has nothing to do with the stadium. I am a die hard Bills fan, but I do not endorse increasing taxes for the purpose of a luxury that is otherwise unaffordable. This country is headed into the economic abyss, to value a new Bills stadium over economic common sense is a symptom of why this country is moving from bad to worse.
Mango Posted May 14, 2011 Posted May 14, 2011 I recently moved to OKC about a year ago, and they have a penny tax added to every purchase. That penny at one point went to helping revamp the Ford Center to lure the then Sonics to come here. That penny tax also goes to rehab the city, creating parks and activities, as well as helping fund the new Olympic Rowing Training Center. The idea is good, and OKC is getting better(def not there). GO THUNDER!!
Koufax Posted May 14, 2011 Posted May 14, 2011 I don't see how .5% for a stadium is better than playing in the Ralph and keeping taxes where they are or maybe devoting that $300 million to education or hospitals? The Bills just need to play good football and sell out games. I don't make it to the Ralph very often from San Diego, but besides the voodoo economics and luxury box mumbo jumbo, why is another place going to be hundreds of millions of dollars better than this? Anybody who has deep enough pockets to buy the team from Ralph's estate isn't going to make a huge difference for added revenue of the stadium vs. debt service (if only partially funded by the public). I feel pretty strongly that 1-2 preseason games, 8-9 regular season games, and good lord willing, two playoff games, those 10-12 days a year can be just fine in Orchard park if the team wins and fans show up. And if the bottom line is all that matters, this team is headed for LA in a minute anyway. I'm hoping Ralph sells to a local group who like it where it is, and realize that good football players and not luxury boxes are what will turn this franchise around.
BuffaloBill Posted May 14, 2011 Posted May 14, 2011 What is the sales tax in Erie County these days. When I left twenty plus years ago it was oppressive. Instead of adding to it local governments and the State need to figure out how to change priorities and to get by with less. Raising taxes in a place that is already very high makes no sense to me. I want to see the Bills remain in Buffalo as much as anybody. I know the NFL will not allow it but what about selling shares in the team and stadium. I would gladly buy in if it meant the Bills could remain. The new NFL ownership like Jerrah would never let this happen though.
PromoTheRobot Posted May 14, 2011 Posted May 14, 2011 say if they build a stadium for the Bills... keep it open air...no dome...no retracrable roof... price tag would be 600-800 million What would be the point of building something new like this? We have one already. PTR
zevo Posted May 14, 2011 Posted May 14, 2011 The question I ask myself is what would be the economic impact on buffalo if the bills did move....I personally think the stadium is fine...location may be an issue....why not just revamp the hell out of it instead of building a new one....
papazoid Posted May 14, 2011 Posted May 14, 2011 you build a new stadium/convention center complex along the waterfront, from downtown buffalo out towards bethlehem steel. retractable roof, let UB and Canisius Colleges use it also. football, baseball, soccer, concerts, conventions, etc....
PromoTheRobot Posted May 14, 2011 Posted May 14, 2011 The question I ask myself is what would be the economic impact on buffalo if the bills did move....I personally think the stadium is fine...location may be an issue....why not just revamp the hell out of it instead of building a new one.... you build a new stadium/convention center complex along the waterfront, from downtown buffalo out towards bethlehem steel. retractable roof, let UB and Canisius Colleges use it also. football, baseball, soccer, concerts, conventions, etc.... Allow me to wheel in the old horse carcass and pull out my whacking stick... There is no point in building a new stadium if you are just building another RWS. A new stadium has to accomplish the following goals: 1) Attract fresh revenue 2) Increase the fan base A new waterfront complex in Buffalo would not meet those goals because you would be drawing from the same base you have now. Also Buffalo is not much of a tourist draw so you wouldn't be bringing in fresh money from elsewhere. Now if you put the same complex in Niagara Falls, either the US or Canada, you might have something. The Falls are already a tourist draw. You have hotels, casinos and attractions. Plus you are a good 30 minutes closer to Toronto allowing you to strengthen a claim on that market. A new stadium in the Falls would allow you to make a legitimate bid to host a Super Bowl. You could also bid for both the Final Four and Frozen Four, a college bowl game, an annual "border clash" game between the Sabres and Leafs, as well as concerts and conventions. On top of all that build an "NFL Experience" style attraction that includes restaurants and clubs. You need hotels and attractions in place to make it pop. I think the Falls gives you a better chance than downtown Buffalo or Orchard Park. The only other location that might work is Darien Lakes but I think the Falls is better on many levels. Best case scenario for this would be a private venture with some state and county support. I can't see a fully-public venture doing it right. PTR
CodeMonkey Posted May 14, 2011 Posted May 14, 2011 The problems with the Bills has nothing to do with the stadium. I am a die hard Bills fan, but I do not endorse increasing taxes for the purpose of a luxury that is otherwise unaffordable. This country is headed into the economic abyss, to value a new Bills stadium over economic common sense is a symptom of why this country is moving from bad to worse. Perfectly stated.
GOBILLS!!!!! Posted May 14, 2011 Author Posted May 14, 2011 The problem that most people aren't seeing is that the only way for the team stay in buffalo is if a new stadium is built in the near future. Two main things that make a franchise viable are a fan base which we have and a newer non outdated stadium. A team could leave with a newer stadium with a small fanbase ala the jaguars and a team could also move even if it has a fanbase but without a stadium. A new owner may want a new stadium and could possibly not care about buffalo if a new one is offered
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