Howard Milstein interested in the Bills

[Ted William's frozen head]

The biggest differences are Millstein has never sued the NFL, doesn't have gambling ties, has bankcrupted less businesses and owns 140 acres that have been rumored as a stadium site. In addition he and Cuomo and best buds. I am okay with Trump but he is behind Jacobs, Millstein and Pegula for sure to me.

Interesting. I can see Cuomo making that 140 acres a "Tax Free Zone" for this 'new; business venture.

[GA BILLS FAN]

 

 

 

 

All roads into NF, not just through Grand Island.

PTR - Have you been to Niagara Falls ? You've posted this map a couple times, the stark reality is without MAJOR upgrades to the highway system, traffic in/out of games would be a nightmare. I'm not saying it can't work, but it would require a significant investment in infrastructure. The map you are posting is misleading, I'll explain below:

 

To get to Buffalo (and places south or east), there is ONE two-lane highway that leads from downtown NF east toward Wheatfield/Tonawanda -- that two lane highway splits and goes over Grand Island bridges, which, by the way, back up when there is little or no traffic. The highway continues toward Tonawanda for another 5 miles and STOPS. At that point, you have a one lane road that follows the Niagara River. All the other options you highlight are CITY streets with many intersections and traffic lights. The only other viable exit towards Buffalo on your map is the Niagara Falls Boulevard, which has at least 20 lights before you would get through he Tonawandas and the first highway option at the 290.

 

So, in summary, NF has the land, needs the investment, but does NOT currently have the infrastructure to support a stadium.

Edited May 2, 2014 by TXBILLSFAN

[BuffaloRebound]

PTR - Have you been to Niagara Falls ? You've posted this map a couple times, the stark reality is without MAJOR upgrades to the highway system, traffic in/out of games would be a nightmare. I'm not saying it can't work, but it would require a significant investment in infrastructure. The map you are posting is misleading, I'll explain below:

 

To get to Buffalo (and places south or east), there is ONE two-lane highway that leads from downtown NF east toward Wheatfield/Tonawanda -- that two lane highway splits and goes over Grand Island bridges, which, by the way, back up when there is little or no traffic. The highway continues toward Tonawanda for another 5 miles and STOPS. At that point, you have a one lane road that follows the Niagara River. All the other options you highlight are CITY streets with many intersections and traffic lights. The only other viable exit towards Buffalo on your map is the Niagara Falls Boulevard, which has at least 20 lights before you would get through he Tonawandas and the first highway option at the 290.

 

So, in summary, NF has the land, needs the investment, but does NOT currently have the infrastructure to support a stadium.

I think you'd have to build a passenger train to Niagara Falls which is over-due anyway.

[Mr. WEO]

Very familiar with Millstein and his connections to Kelly. http://www.niagarafallsreporter.com/Stories/2012/Sep18/Milstein.html

 

Trump still owns a small stake in the AC casinos. You asked what was better about Millstein than Trump so I gave my opinion.

 

 

He owns 10% of the stock in a company that owns two casinos. He's a shareholder.

 

Milstein bought that land in the hopes of building a casino. That failed.

 

I think the Milstein/Cuomo brotherhood is way overplayed here--approaching fantasy.

[boyst]

If it is going to be a Howard. I want Stern. We would win.

[jumbalaya]

If Milstein would be that bad of an owner does it mean we would eventually wax reminiscent of those glorious 6-10 years?

[PromoTheRobot]

PTR - Have you been to Niagara Falls ? You've posted this map a couple times, the stark reality is without MAJOR upgrades to the highway system, traffic in/out of games would be a nightmare. I'm not saying it can't work, but it would require a significant investment in infrastructure. The map you are posting is misleading, I'll explain below:

 

To get to Buffalo (and places south or east), there is ONE two-lane highway that leads from downtown NF east toward Wheatfield/Tonawanda -- that two lane highway splits and goes over Grand Island bridges, which, by the way, back up when there is little or no traffic. The highway continues toward Tonawanda for another 5 miles and STOPS. At that point, you have a one lane road that follows the Niagara River. All the other options you highlight are CITY streets with many intersections and traffic lights. The only other viable exit towards Buffalo on your map is the Niagara Falls Boulevard, which has at least 20 lights before you would get through he Tonawandas and the first highway option at the 290.

 

So, in summary, NF has the land, needs the investment, but does NOT currently have the infrastructure to support a stadium.

I post that map in response to people who think the GI bridges are the only way get to NF. I agree that roads would need improvement. But also keep in mind not everyone would be coming from Buffalo. And the further are from the stadium the more diffuse the traffic becomes.

 

A proper traffic study is most definitely needed.

 

 

[May Day 10]

we better hope this whole thing isnt some scheme to crowbar a stadium into the Governor's buddy's failed dead property investment, and also steering the sale in his direction based on said scheme.

[Buftex]

Golisano gets a bad rap sometimes but Golisano told his management that he wanted an exciting team and that if they were going to lose at least wanted to score a lot of goals while doing it. Let's not forget that if for the fact that we lost all of our defenseman in that series against the Hurricanes, we very likely would've won the Stanley Cup that year. If we had, there would be a statue outside of the arena of him and everybody would bow to it as they walked in.

 

 

Agreed SF Bills Fan, I think Golisano is kind of maligned, for no real reason. He did Buffalo hockey a solid by keeping the Sabres on life-support for 6 years (or however long it was)... he was on record as saying he wasn't really a "hockey guy", but realized the value of the franchise to WNY, and, for lack of better way to put it, kind of served as a foster-father for the team, until he could find somebody with more interest in it, to take over. As I recall, too, he was steadfast in insisting that whoever he sold the team to, they would not move the team to another city. I appreciate what Golisano did, quite a bit. I like Pegula too. True, the team hasn't had much success under Pegula, but i don't think anyone who is paying attention can say it has been from lack of trying...I think Pegula will get it right with the Sabres....just taking a little longer than we might have expected.

Edited May 2, 2014 by Buftex

[GA BILLS FAN]

 

 

 

Agreed SF Bills Fan, I think Golisano is kind of maligned, for no real reason. He did Buffalo hockey a solid by keeping the Sabres on life-support for 6 years (or however long it was)... he was on record as saying he wasn't really a "hockey guy", but realized the value of the franchise to WNY, and, for lack of better way to put it, kind of served as a foster-father for the team, until he could find somebody with more interest in it, to take over. As I recall, too, he was steadfast in insisting that whoever he sold the team to, they would not move the team to another city. I appreciate what Golisano did, quite a bit. I like Pegula too. True, the team hasn't had much success under Pegula, but i don't think anyone who is paying attention can say it has been from lack of trying...I think Pegula will get it right with the Sabres....just taking a little longer than we might have expected.

+1, foster-father is good way to put it, we all should remind ourselves how precarious the situation was with the Sabres when Golisano stepped in. Hopefully, the Bills won't get to that point, but if it does, I'm sure TG would do what he could.

[C.Biscuit97]

Golisano gets a bad rap sometimes but Golisano told his management that he wanted an exciting team and that if they were going to lose at least wanted to score a lot of goals while doing it. Let's not forget that if for the fact that we lost all of our defenseman in that series against the Hurricanes, we very likely would've won the Stanley Cup that year. If we had, there would be a statue outside of the arena of him and everybody would bow to it as they walked in.

 

Agreed. He also basically bought the Sabres to keep them in Buffalo. They were in a really bad place before TG, fiancially and as a team. He wasn't a hockey fan so why would he want to take a loss when he was essentially doing a favor to Buffalo?

 

 

Agreed SF Bills Fan, I think Golisano is kind of maligned, for no real reason. He did Buffalo hockey a solid by keeping the Sabres on life-support for 6 years (or however long it was)... he was on record as saying he wasn't really a "hockey guy", but realized the value of the franchise to WNY, and, for lack of better way to put it, kind of served as a foster-father for the team, until he could find somebody with more interest in it, to take over. As I recall, too, he was steadfast in insisting that whoever he sold the team to, they would not move the team to another city. I appreciate what Golisano did, quite a bit. I like Pegula too. True, the team hasn't had much success under Pegula, but i don't think anyone who is paying attention can say it has been from lack of trying...I think Pegula will get it right with the Sabres....just taking a little longer than we might have expected.

 

I should have read the whole thread. Good response Buftex.

[May Day 10]

Im 100% Golisano and have always been grateful for his critical role in Sabres history.

 

He said from the getgo the goal was for the team to stand on its own and it wasnt a charity. It is actually amazing how they built the fanbase from rubble. They really couldnt depend on filling HSBC or the Aud regularly without comps night to night since the 70's. Slashed prices, especially STH prices and then variable pricing... Had some well timed playoff runs/President's Trophy.

Larry Quinn was the poison there. I like his business sense, and his Buffalo spirit, but he needed to keep his hands off anything hockey related.

[PromoTheRobot]

Im 100% Golisano and have always been grateful for his critical role in Sabres history.

 

He said from the getgo the goal was for the team to stand on its own and it wasnt a charity. It is actually amazing how they built the fanbase from rubble. They really couldnt depend on filling HSBC or the Aud regularly without comps night to night since the 70's. Slashed prices, especially STH prices and then variable pricing... Had some well timed playoff runs/President's Trophy.

Larry Quinn was the poison there. I like his business sense, and his Buffalo spirit, but he needed to keep his hands off anything hockey related.

 

If Golisano buys the Bills I dread the thought of Larry Quinn being put in charge of the team.

[C.Biscuit97]

If Golisano buys the Bills I dread the thought of Larry Quinn being put in charge of the team.

 

Ha, I hope not. But I just don't think Golisano really cared about the Sabres. I think he would be more invested in the Bills.

 

And don'tyou drive to Bills games from NH? Because no one should ever complained about driving to Niagara Falls if the Bills end up there.

[CodeMonkey]

Very familiar with Millstein and his connections to Kelly. http://www.niagarafa...8/Milstein.html

 

Trump still owns a small stake in the AC casinos. You asked what was better about Millstein than Trump so I gave my opinion.

He owns some common stock that he got when he sold his casino interests. He has no say in running the business anymore. No longer an issue.

However all of the other issues with The Donald are still in play.

 

Ha, I hope not. But I just don't think Golisano really cared about the Sabres. I think he would be more invested in the Bills.

 

And don'tyou drive to Bills games from NH? Because no one should ever complained about driving to Niagara Falls if the Bills end up there.

He didn't. He just wanted them to stay in Buffalo. Now that he lives in Florida I'm not sure if he would want to invest a billion in the Bills. But I guess we will see.

Edited May 2, 2014 by CodeMonkey

[billykaykay]

PTR - Have you been to Niagara Falls ? You've posted this map a couple times, the stark reality is without MAJOR upgrades to the highway system, traffic in/out of games would be a nightmare. I'm not saying it can't work, but it would require a significant investment in infrastructure. The map you are posting is misleading, I'll explain below:

 

To get to Buffalo (and places south or east), there is ONE two-lane highway that leads from downtown NF east toward Wheatfield/Tonawanda -- that two lane highway splits and goes over Grand Island bridges, which, by the way, back up when there is little or no traffic. The highway continues toward Tonawanda for another 5 miles and STOPS. At that point, you have a one lane road that follows the Niagara River. All the other options you highlight are CITY streets with many intersections and traffic lights. The only other viable exit towards Buffalo on your map is the Niagara Falls Boulevard, which has at least 20 lights before you would get through he Tonawandas and the first highway option at the 290.

 

So, in summary, NF has the land, needs the investment, but does NOT currently have the infrastructure to support a stadium.

NYS could waive tolls on Sunday game day mornings. This would help alleviate traffic concerns.

[Buftex]

He owns some common stock that he got when he sold his casino interests. He has no say in running the business anymore. No longer an issue.

However all of the other issues with The Donald are still in play.

 

 

He didn't. He just wanted them to stay in Buffalo. Now that he lives in Florida I'm not sure if he would want to invest a billion in the Bills. But I guess we will see.

 

Golisano has recently said (before Mr Wilson acutally passed away), when the time came, if there was any notion that the Bills might be in danger of leaving Buffalo, he would have a similar committment to keeping the Bills in town, as he did with the Sabres, should he be needed to do so.

 

I have heard it speculated that he and Peugla could actually partner up for ownership of the team. Of course, since Mr Wilson passed, neither Golisano or Pegula have made their intentions known. I don't the fact that Golisano no resides in Florida (for tax reasons) would diminish his interest in Buffalo/WNY. He said, during his tenure as Sabres owner, that these pro sports franchises are good for the economy in the sense that they their health keeps other businesses healthy. From what I understand, Golisano is heavily invested in the area, financially.

[CodeMonkey]

Golisano has recently said (before Mr Wilson acutally passed away), when the time came, if there was any notion that the Bills might be in danger of leaving Buffalo, he would have a similar committment to keeping the Bills in town, as he did with the Sabres, should he be needed to do so.

 

I have heard it speculated that he and Peugla could actually partner up for ownership of the team. Of course, since Mr Wilson passed, neither Golisano or Pegula have made their intentions known. I don't the fact that Golisano no resides in Florida (for tax reasons) would diminish his interest in Buffalo/WNY. He said, during his tenure as Sabres owner, that these pro sports franchises are good for the economy in the sense that they their health keeps other businesses healthy. From what I understand, Golisano is heavily invested in the area, financially.

Well Paychex is still headquartered in Rochester so yeah

[Mike in Horseheads]

NYS could waive tolls on Sunday game day mornings. This would help alleviate traffic concerns.

Now that's hilarious! They are more apt to charge tolls on Niagara Falls blvd too!

[BillsFan-4-Ever]

the issue (if not already pointed out) here is does he have the financial backing that the other owners will approve?

 

his (last) bid to buy the skins fell flat because he would have had to borrow too much money to make that purchase.