Increasing sales tax to get a new stadium?

[spartacus]

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 Two main things that make a franchise viable are a fan base which we have and a newer non outdated stadium.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

Your statement "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" is completely false.

 

Whether is a new stadium or not, Buffalo's problem remains the lack of corporate sponsors to buy the PSLs, luxury boxes and premium seats in any stadium.

 

Spending $1 billion on a new stadium in Bufalo and adding that debt service to the debt service to the purchase price of the team would condemn the team to failure.

 

not to mention there is no way that a bankrupt city is arranging the financing for that kind of expenditure

 

 

 

 

 

[RyanC883]

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

 

 

I agree. It should also be near Niagara Falls. That is a tourist destination, and people could come from out of town to see the falls and attend a game. But, the sales tax is already too high in Buffalo so I think another funding idea is needed. Also, the location near Niagara Falls could help the Bills obtain corporate sponsorship from companies in Canada. Between Buffalo and Southern Ontario there are more than enough companies and people to support a team.

 

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!!

 

I would bet you that OKC had much lower taxes already. When NYS creates a tax, it never goes away. People here are already over-taxed, corporations won't come here and are leaving, and so are the people. Perhaps work with whatever businesses are left in the area to come up with a funding solution. The Steelers stadium for example has real sponsors: Heinz, etc. Large, international companies. We have "Tops" and tiny law firms. Time to tap into the Toronto Market and get some real $$ for the sponsorships.

 

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....

 

 

Also not a bad idea. They use old run-down sites in Pittsburgh for malls, etc. The riverfront where they put PNC Park and Heinz field now also has a casino and a consert venue, and tons of resturants and bars. It has done a lot to keep young people living downtown and even paying the absurdly higher income taxes that the City charges as compared to the suburbs. (which is why I don't live in the City.) Sorry to throw out another Pittsburgh story, but that's where I live now so it's all I've got. But they are both rust-belt cities and the leaders of Buffalo should copy to some extent the turnaround that has occurred in Pgh.

Edited May 14, 2011 by RyanC883

[KollegeStudnet]

What would be the point of building something new like this? We have one already.

 

PTR

 

I forgot to mention...convention center, niagara falls area and tourist destination!

 

600-800 million would be for the area

 

Of course the price would go up if--they have a retractable roof/dome.

 

I honestly think a new stadium will be built in the next 3-5 years in NF, NY-- having a train system extending from Toronto to NF for the games!

[Thoner7]

Its the NFL. They made 9 Billion last season, and the teams are owned by the richest men in the world. As they fight with their millionaire players, I believe the American people and the fans should collectively tell them to "pay for your own f***ing stadiums"

 

Besides, Government money doesn't solve problems, it tends to create more of them. The tax rate in Erie county is already higher than it should be to support the Bills IIRC, I wonder how many people and jobs that small tax has driven away? Now there is a smaller tax base, great!

 

Educational spending in this country has sky rocketed over the past 30-40 years, and students get dumber and dumber the more they spend. Ironically, ever since the Dept. of Edu. was funded, tests scores have plummeted. The whole idea of "throw more money at the Bills and they will stay" is a facre, just like it is in everything else. Regardless of what it is, if it cannot sustain itself then its inevitably going to fail.

Edited May 14, 2011 by Thoner7

[Thoner7]

Also not a bad idea. They use old run-down sites in Pittsburgh for malls, etc. The riverfront where they put PNC Park and Heinz field now also has a casino and a consert venue, and tons of resturants and bars. It has done a lot to keep young people living downtown and even paying the absurdly higher income taxes that the City charges as compared to the suburbs. (which is why I don't live in the City.) Sorry to throw out another Pittsburgh story, but that's where I live now so it's all I've got. But they are both rust-belt cities and the leaders of Buffalo should copy to some extent the turnaround that has occurred in Pgh.

 

This is exactly what I mean. It sounds like you want to live in the City, but wont because of the higher taxes. Well, if they lowered taxes, people might actually live there and pay the taxes. Being able to tax more people will bring in more revenue. This is exactly what has happened in the City of Rochester/Monroe County. Property tax rates are lower in Ontario County and Wayne County, its no coincidence that the towns of Victor and Ontario (in Ontario and Wayne County) are the fastest growing school districts BY FAR. Its also no coin incidence that 100 feet from the Monroe county line is the biggest mall in Rochester is, because the sales taxes is 1% lower. On a larger scales people and businesses are fleeing NYS like crazy for Texas, Florida, the Carolinas, etc. All of which have better tax systems.

[T master]

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

 

What the heck the area already has one of if not the highest tax structure in the nation,(thank u democrats) hence all the people leaving western NY for other more tax friendly states like Fl. or Tenn.

 

No i don't see why the people would mind I've heard that the people of NY out of every dollar they make they get to keep a whopping .36 cents, what's another penny or 2- ya go for it !!! Besides your all paying for the Meadowlands stadium aren't you ???

 

If any thing the rest of the league should take a lesson from Ralph , you all call him cheap i see it as pretty damn smart , he's the only guy that owns his team lock , stock & barrel . (It sure beats a mortgage of 1.6 billion for a stadium that real smart) He doesn't owe any body anything for the team , i would say that is something to be pretty proud of in an age where the norm is to mortgage everything you own for a hand full of instant gratification !!!

 

Wow !! Nothin wrong with that concept (YA THINK !!) could that be why every thing that touches our economy SUCKS & there is no jobs here & every one in the US is worried about losing everything they worked for . Ya let's just raise the taxes again that's the answer !!!!!!

Edited May 14, 2011 by T master

[ExiledInIllinois]

What the hack the area already has one of if not the highest tax stucture in the nation hence all the people leaving western NY for other tax friendly states like Fl. or Tenn.

 

Chicago (Cook County) has a higher rate... Why aren't people leaving in droves? What gives there? It, the sales tax, is 10.25% in Cook county.

[KD in CA]

Taken right from the school district talking points.

 

 

Funny how much the teachers' union screams anytime someone suggest they give up a 'little bit more', huh?

[LGB]

Why just tax from Erie County...shouldn't all of the Bills viewing area (NFL blackout zone) be taxed within the 75 mile radius of RWS?

 

This includes all of Buffalo, Niagara Falls, Batavia, Rochester, probably Syracuse and some Canadian cities.

 

Think of all the money that would bring in - if the Bills get millions of dollars from just Erie County now.

[Tcali]

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

just what the Buffalo area needs--more taxes.thats the govt motto---just a liiiiiiittttle more wont hurt us--and look at all the wonderful things it will bring.let the damn owners finance it like you finance most other businesses.

[QCity]

let the damn owners finance it like you finance most other businesses.

Believe me, the last thing you want is for the organization to be run like "most other businesses." For as much as Ralph gets kicked around, the man is an astute businessman. Everyone knows that moving this team to a new location like LA with a brand new stadium would rain cash from the sky.

 

When Ralph goes and new ownership takes over, they just may want to run it like "most other businesses." Say bye to the Bills if that happens.

[bigc14120]

The stadium is NOT the issue, plenty of seats and boxes. The problem is whether the fan base will support ticket prices ala Toronto, New York or Dallas. In fact, the Bills franchase is worth more in a robust economic environment where ticket prices are 2 or 3 times what they are in Buffalo. (witness the NYC teams) Any owner (or potential owner) who keeps the franchase in Buffalo is suboptimizing their return on investment. Now some might do that with civic interest in mind (think Golasano, Jacobs, or Pagula) But most want maximum monetary return. (Think Snyder, Johnson, and others) Bottom line, the only way the Bills stay long term is if the fan base can support much higher ticket prices and profits. Otherwise, a new owner will move to a better return environment. Mr Wilson's comments about the loss of corporate headquarters in Buffalo reflects a concern about the ability to price his tickets. Now, as a secondary consideration, a new stadium would be nice, but would not save the team for WNY.

[CodeMonkey]

The stadium is NOT the issue, plenty of seats and boxes. The problem is whether the fan base will support ticket prices ala Toronto, New York or Dallas. In fact, the Bills franchase is worth more in a robust economic environment where ticket prices are 2 or 3 times what they are in Buffalo. (witness the NYC teams) Any owner (or potential owner) who keeps the franchase in Buffalo is suboptimizing their return on investment. Now some might do that with civic interest in mind (think Golasano, Jacobs, or Pagula) But most want maximum monetary return. (Think Snyder, Johnson, and others) Bottom line, the only way the Bills stay long term is if the fan base can support much higher ticket prices and profits. Otherwise, a new owner will move to a better return environment. Mr Wilson's comments about the loss of corporate headquarters in Buffalo reflects a concern about the ability to price his tickets. Now, as a secondary consideration, a new stadium would be nice, but would not save the team for WNY.

Very logical and I agree completely. Government would have to have more **** for brains than usual to build a monster stadium now not knowing the future of the Bills when Mr. Wilson passes. The economy cannot afford it, and Mr. Wilson sure as hell isn't going to pay for it. All talk about a new stadium is a waste of time until Mr. Wilson passes and a new owner takes over. Probably a waste of time even then.