WotAGuy Posted September 14, 2012 Share Posted September 14, 2012 Disclaimer: I started going to games in the Rockpile in the 60s, so I come from a different era. I understand the need to improve the Ralph for engineering safety and integrity purposes - 40 years is old for a concrete structure. But do we really need wider concourses, more video screens and try to make the stadium more in line with the new stadiums being built? I've not heard many people say they don't go to games because its too crowded or too hard to see the replays. It's not the most comfortable place, but I prefer to get to my seat and stand there and scream for three hours and then slide on out. If I want comfort I stay in my comfy living room. I kinda like our stark, old school stadium! I'm going to watch football, not the friggin opera! And we aren't competing with Indy or Dallas or Jersey for where we choose to watch a game, so why do we need to upgrade the stadium to try and keep up with those cities? Just seems like the stadium improvements could easily be limited to what is necessary to maintain the structural safety of the Ralph and leave it at that. If we do keep the team here long term, a new stadium is going to be needed eventually, so why spend the extra bucks for comfort improvements now? Just wondering if I'm in the minority and most people (who actually attend the games) feel we need to improve the comfort factor at the Ralph. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LabattBlue Posted September 14, 2012 Share Posted September 14, 2012 If you have ever been in the concourse under the upper deck(specifically at half time or after a game)...YES, the concourses need to be widened! Who says they are trying to compete with Dallas, Indy amd the Meadowlands in terms of stadium quality? I haven't heard that, want that, nor can they afford that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Buffalo Barbarian Posted September 14, 2012 Share Posted September 14, 2012 Fancy stadiums are for people who don't like football. The only thing I would want is to get all the seats closer to the field, have only ten yards separating the front row from the field. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WotAGuy Posted September 14, 2012 Author Share Posted September 14, 2012 I see your point about the crowded upper deck, but I'll refine my question: is it really necessary to spend the tax dollars now to improve a stadium that has no long term future? I'm assuming this stadium will not be feasible to maintain after another 10 years. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dwight in philly Posted September 14, 2012 Share Posted September 14, 2012 do whatever they did to lambeau with what they have to work with, money wise, never hear any complaints about lambeau.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Big Cat Posted September 14, 2012 Share Posted September 14, 2012 Yes. NFL stadiums have to compete with 5.1 surround, 1080i, running commentary, replays, an on-screen vantage point that trumps ANYTHING you would get at a stadium, toilets that are both clean and only 15 feet away, a comfy couch in a climate-control living room, WHATEVER food you want WHENEVER you want it, as much beer/liquor you can drink, as many drugs as you can take, as many cigarettes as you want to smoke, etc. etc. etc. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zow2 Posted September 14, 2012 Share Posted September 14, 2012 Typical Buffalo MO would be to spend millions to dress up an older building instead of creating something new. They need to just go for it, build a multi-use regional stadium with a retractable roof that is a crown jewel of WNY. I'm tired of it...get in the big leagues or get out. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BillnutinHouston Posted September 14, 2012 Share Posted September 14, 2012 The Bills haven't released the study they paid for, so all we know about the improvements is the price tag. Interestingly, the County seems to be parroting the same pricetag the Bills are - $200 - $220 million. Obviously, the County hasn't objected to the scope of work outlined in the study, which tells me the upgrades are relatively modest and justified. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jr1 Posted September 14, 2012 Share Posted September 14, 2012 You have to do this to make future ownership keep the team here Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Senator Posted September 14, 2012 Share Posted September 14, 2012 Fancy stadiums are for people who don't like football. The only thing I would want is to get all the seats closer to the field, have only ten yards separating the front row from the field. Have you ever been to Ralph Wilson Stadium??? (Serious question.) I used to have sideline seats in row 3 at the 20-yard line - at that part of the field, the front row IS roughly 10 yards from the field. The seats at RWS are already as close as logistically possible to the field of play. (Unless you have another idea about where to put the players bench, and plan to get rid of the cheerleaders.) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BRAWNDO Posted September 14, 2012 Share Posted September 14, 2012 (edited) The Bills haven't released the study they paid for, so all we know about the improvements is the price tag. Interestingly, the County seems to be parroting the same pricetag the Bills are - $200 - $220 million. Obviously, the County hasn't objected to the scope of work outlined in the study, which tells me the upgrades are relatively modest and justified. Sounds about right. Absolutely the stadium needs improvements. Edited September 14, 2012 by BRAWNDO Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ALLEN1QB Posted September 14, 2012 Share Posted September 14, 2012 Typical Buffalo MO would be to spend millions to dress up an older building instead of creating something new. They need to just go for it, build a multi-use regional stadium with a retractable roof that is a crown jewel of WNY. I'm tired of it...get in the big leagues or get out. Yea I agree what he said! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chandemonium Posted September 14, 2012 Share Posted September 14, 2012 I don't understand why everyone thinks we need wider concourses at the Ralph, and yes I have been in there at peak crowding. Sure, you might be a little closer to people than you want to be for a few seconds but its such a minor part of the gameday experience and even though it's crowded I've never had trouble getting out of the stadium in a timely fashion, which is all I really care about when I'm in the concourse. I also don't understand how we need wider concourses now, but somehow they were fine 20 years ago when the stadium had 7,000 more seats. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jauronimo Posted September 14, 2012 Share Posted September 14, 2012 They need to make the bathrooms more conducive to fornication. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dragonborn10 Posted September 14, 2012 Share Posted September 14, 2012 Yes. NFL stadiums have to compete with 5.1 surround, 1080i, running commentary, replays, an on-screen vantage point that trumps ANYTHING you would get at a stadium, toilets that are both clean and only 15 feet away, a comfy couch in a climate-control living room, WHATEVER food you want WHENEVER you want it, as much beer/liquor you can drink, as many drugs as you can take, as many cigarettes as you want to smoke, etc. etc. etc. All that and you don't have to deal with the drunk chain smoking fan next to you... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
filthymcnasty08 Posted September 14, 2012 Share Posted September 14, 2012 "Typical Buffalo MO would be to spend millions to dress up an older building instead of creating something new. They need to just go for it, build a multi-use regional stadium with a retractable roof that is a crown jewel of WNY. I'm tired of it...get in the big leagues or get out." This. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LabattBlue Posted September 14, 2012 Share Posted September 14, 2012 I don't understand why everyone thinks we need wider concourses at the Ralph, and yes I have been in there at peak crowding. Sure, you might be a little closer to people than you want to be for a few seconds but its such a minor part of the gameday experience and even though it's crowded I've never had trouble getting out of the stadium in a timely fashion, which is all I really care about when I'm in the concourse. I also don't understand how we need wider concourses now, but somehow they were fine 20 years ago when the stadium had 7,000 more seats. Try being under there at halftime trying to get to a concession stand, restroom, or to the exterior walkway of the stadium. Human gridlock, and no, it is not for a few seconds. Who said it was fine 20 years ago? Typical Buffalo MO would be to spend millions to dress up an older building instead of creating something new. They need to just go for it, build a multi-use regional stadium with a retractable roof that is a crown jewel of WNY. I'm tired of it...get in the big leagues or get out. Typical TSW MO...completely disregard the financial impact of building a new stadium. Just build it! Feel free to explain the "multi-use stadium" part of your post. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RkFast Posted September 14, 2012 Share Posted September 14, 2012 (edited) IMO, the sight lines at RWS are amazing. But leave your seat and its a **** show. Way too crowded and tough to get around. Not sure this can be fixed, but damn they should try. I do agree with the sentiment about all the other frills, though. Some good food, a good seat, ability to take a leak and not have it take a half hour and thats all I need. Edited September 14, 2012 by RkFast Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
3rdand12 Posted September 14, 2012 Share Posted September 14, 2012 (edited) i may be off here , but i think the NFL drives alot of this push to level the " NFL Experience ". We are not Dallas though. We live in a tough environment both weather and economically. Most of dont need plush or fluff, just winning. I could go for more cheerleaders though. if a dome is ever proposed it would defeat the whole Buffalo mentality. i myself wish they still played in the mud. all of them. damn pansies those cowboys I really could go for more cheerleaders though. Edited September 14, 2012 by 3rdand12 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bananathumb Posted September 14, 2012 Share Posted September 14, 2012 i may be off here , but i think the NFL drives alot of this push to level the " NFL Experience ". We are not Dallas though. We live in a tough environment both weather and economically. Most of dont need plush or fluff, just winning. I could go for more cheerleaders though. if a dome is ever proposed it would defeat the whole Buffalo mentality. i myself wish they still played in the mud. all of them. damn pansies those cowboys I really could go for more cheerleaders though. Yead, tax dollars for naked cheerleaders and every game's a sell-out! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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