BillnutinHouston Posted May 14, 2014 Author Posted May 14, 2014 I'm amazed to see all the posts talking about how a given site affects the poster. I guess I should have expected as much. But this is about what's best for the Bills franchise, isn't it?
CodeMonkey Posted May 14, 2014 Posted May 14, 2014 I'm amazed to see all the posts talking about how a given site affects the poster. I guess I should have expected as much. But this is about what's best for the Bills franchise, isn't it? How it affects people DOES speak to what's best for the Bills franchise. Making it easier for more people to get there in a shorter period of time, for example, would typically mean the potential for ticket sales to go up.
The Rev.Mattb74 ESQ. Posted May 14, 2014 Posted May 14, 2014 I do not want Batavia to be in the running because I am scared it has a legit shot. I love my small community and wouldn't trade it for higher taxes, and all the changes that come with economic development. As far as infrastructure travel would not be an issue you would have to just add an exit or two(anywhere the stadium is placed that would happen). For every person who has a longer ride, two would have a shorter one. Even those coming from Canada would have their ride time increase very little if at all. The real problem comes in essential services, ie. law enforcement, fire, and ems, something Genesee County is not equipped to handle .
voodoo poonani Posted May 14, 2014 Posted May 14, 2014 Batavia does make some logistical sense being right in the middle of Rochester and Buffalo. Combining the greater metropolitan areas of Buffalo-Cheektowaga-Niagara Falls and Rochester yields a population in the neighborhood of Charlotte and Pittsburgh. It's mostly farmland, so you can eat up a lot of space with fewer layout restrictions. Getting on/off the 90 will take the most work, plus you don't want everyone to have to stop to get tickets or pay tolls.
May Day 10 Posted May 14, 2014 Posted May 14, 2014 (edited) Getting on/off the 90 will take the most work, plus you don't want everyone to have to stop to get tickets or pay tolls. Perhaps thats an idea for financing some of the stadium? Edited May 14, 2014 by May Day 10
BillnutinHouston Posted May 14, 2014 Author Posted May 14, 2014 How it affects people DOES speak to what's best for the Bills franchise. Making it easier for more people to get there in a shorter period of time, for example, would typically mean the potential for ticket sales to go up. Right. But do the demographics favor moving east or north? Forget whether the Toronto series worked or not - why do you suppose the team entered into successive deals to play in Toronto and not in the Carrier Dome? If I was making the decision for the Bills, the stadium location decision wouldn't be about making existing customers happy, as I can make them happy with wins. To me, it would be about how I can best increase market share and capture the UNTAPPED market.
Coach Klein Posted May 14, 2014 Posted May 14, 2014 Saw a guy last week taking pictures of the potential Batavia site. 600-acre plot of land that is designated to the town for a developmental project...currently the Ralph sits on a 200-acre plot of land.
May Day 10 Posted May 14, 2014 Posted May 14, 2014 Forget whether the Toronto series worked or not - why do you suppose the team entered into successive deals to play in Toronto and not in the Carrier Dome? because nobody was offering a flat $78 million to play in the Carrier Dome?
jimmy10 Posted May 14, 2014 Posted May 14, 2014 (edited) If they can put Foxboro Stadium out in the middle of nowhere with one road in and out of town that's not even a highway, then a Batavia location right off the thruway could make sense. As a Rochester season ticket holder, I am very much in favor of Batavia for my own selfish reasons, but I'm honestly doubtful it happens. However, the more I think about it, the more logical it seems, especially considering the Foxboro model. I'm sure other teams have done it too, thrown their stadiums way out in the middle of nowhere. One advantage to the location is that it would allow for preserving our tradition of wide-open spaces for tailgating. As others have pointed out, the tailgating scene at more densely-packed urban stadiums is kind of a bummer. I've been to Charlotte and Atlanta in particular. Instead of a big community vibe, it's just small groups scattered around various private lots and parking decks. Edited May 14, 2014 by jimmyo
dhg Posted May 14, 2014 Posted May 14, 2014 I'm not questioning the intelligence of those who support the NF idea, but that doesn't make those arguments good. There is nothing strong to support a Niagara Falls move, other than proximity to toronto. The access to that region is beyond terrible, the area is a wasteland where they would put the stadium, the dump would end up in every arial shot of the stadium, the roads, the interstates, the fact that all people from Erie County would have to traverse Grand Island..... yes, that hot mess... it's such a stupid concept, I honestly can't see how anyone with intelligence would support such a stupid location. So to blindly say there is a lot of support for the claim without citing such claims is disagreeing just to disagree. I am a firm supporter of a Buffalo waterfront concept so that the stadium could force the city to improve the access, bringing in more opportunities fro business growth, and city revitalization. It's Buffalo's team and asset, and that's who deserves to benefit from it, and nobody else. I am flat out exhausted by all the opportunities to grow and evolve be stripped away from my home town for pedantic excuses and nonsensical reasons. Erie County has paid heavily to keep the team in WNY, and it's time that franchise starts paying back to the city that bears it's name, and has bled for it for over 50 years. Kinda makes the Niagara falls debate really weak. Excellent post!
MyHorseAteTheKid Posted May 14, 2014 Posted May 14, 2014 I am all for an inner city location... Fuhrmann blvd, Tift Farm or tear down the Perry Projects...
Derelichte Posted May 14, 2014 Posted May 14, 2014 If the Bills stink it up in Batavia, at least we'll have the Muckdogs to root for
stony Posted May 14, 2014 Posted May 14, 2014 I do not want Batavia to be in the running because I am scared it has a legit shot. I love my small community and wouldn't trade it for higher taxes, and all the changes that come with economic development. As far as infrastructure travel would not be an issue you would have to just add an exit or two(anywhere the stadium is placed that would happen). For every person who has a longer ride, two would have a shorter one. Even those coming from Canada would have their ride time increase very little if at all. The real problem comes in essential services, ie. law enforcement, fire, and ems, something Genesee County is not equipped to handle . Batavia wouldn't just "get an exit or two." Those exits already exist in Pembroke and Leroy. And as far as infrastructure is concerned, I respectfully disagree that the city/immediate area could handle the influx of traffic/people. Batavia can be a pain in the ass during "rush hour" afternoon traffic. When I came home over the summer from college, concerts at Darien Lake would create mini-gridlock. Also, there's no way to avoid the merging of traffic on 5, 33 & 63 let alone all the traffic coming from the Thruway onto Rt 98. I think it's a bad idea. Hopefully the committee does their due diligence and realizes it's not a good place to call home.
Campy Posted May 14, 2014 Posted May 14, 2014 Saw a guy last week taking pictures of the potential Batavia site. 600-acre plot of land that is designated to the town for a developmental project...currently the Ralph sits on a 200-acre plot of land. Interesting. Where in Batavia was he?
Over 29 years of fanhood Posted May 14, 2014 Posted May 14, 2014 A very serious question with no sarcasm intended. How many fans do you think won't go that are living in Niagara Falls, Buffalo, Amherst etc not to mention Canada? Would we still sell out if we lose a good portion of that fan base who won't travel the 40 minutes or so to get to Batavia? Stop with the big picture stuff. Didn't you see there were 6 posters who said Batavia would be better for them? I have to believe if they put a stadium in Batavia, it will be the last one in western NY.
respk Posted May 14, 2014 Posted May 14, 2014 (edited) As I live near Rochester I like the Batavia site. From a getting people to the game standpoint it makes the most sense. The needed infrastructure would be far more easy to create there than in either the city of Buffalo or Niagara Falls. However, putting the stadium there adds to no existing destination except itself. Outside of the rural charm of Batavia and Yancy's Fancy nearby there isn't a whole lot there to attract people except for the stadium were it to be built there. Buffalo close to the FN arena, Harbor center and the waterfront the stadium would contribute to the destination that those things are becoming. Niagara Falls is somewhat the same idea, the stadium would help to add to the destination that is already attracting people. I think Buffalo wins out over NF, but neither is going to be easy due to the infrastructure that needs to be torn down and rebuilt. Simple terms do you create a third destination for people near Batavia or do you add to the downtown Buffalo destination or to NF. Edited May 14, 2014 by respk
jimmy10 Posted May 14, 2014 Posted May 14, 2014 Stop with the big picture stuff. Didn't you see there were 6 posters who said Batavia would be better for them? I have to believe if they put a stadium in Batavia, it will be the last one in western NY. As one of those 6, I'd just like to point out I acknowledged it was for my own selfish purposes and that I doubt it will actually happen. I was just glomming onto the idea of a sub-60 minute drive to and fro on game days.
Over 29 years of fanhood Posted May 14, 2014 Posted May 14, 2014 If they can put Foxboro Stadium out in the middle of nowhere... So the thought is a stadium 20 miles out of the center of a major metro area with 5 million plus and some of the highest property values in the country between two major highway intersections justifies putting a stadium 35 miles from the center of a million people in the opposite direction of the only real potential market growth play? On the surface it makes sense buf not when you factor in market perspective. Bills either grow their fan base and television market or they move somewhere else. It's really that simple. Ralph got it, Russ gets it, and billionaires with deep enough pocket to buy teams get it. Former bills icons get it... Yes if the whole town of Batavia walked to the game, they'd fill half the lower bowl. God knows it would be easier for them, but that's not keeping a team in WNY. All of western new york has 2.5 million people, Toronto metro is almost 3 times that. Stop worrying about cans in seat. Winning gets that. Anyone who can sell out as many games as they have for a decade is not looking at more sell outs. They want more business buying boxes and more tbd tuned in, Millions of them. Getting a piece of Toronto is the right play here, any way you can. Batavia is not the answer.
Over 29 years of fanhood Posted May 14, 2014 Posted May 14, 2014 If they can put Foxboro Stadium out in the middle of nowhere... So the thought is a stadium 20 miles out of the center of a major metro area with 5 million plus and some of the highest property values in the country between two major highway intersections justifies putting a stadium 35 miles from the center of a million people in the opposite direction of the only real potential market growth play? On the surface it makes sense buf not when you factor in market perspective. Bills either grow their fan base and television market or they move somewhere else. It's really that simple. Ralph got it, Russ gets it, and billionaires with deep enough pocket to buy teams get it. Former bills icons get it... Yes if the whole town of Batavia walked to the game, they'd fill half the lower bowl. God knows it would be easier for them, but that's not keeping a team in WNY. All of western new york has 2.5 million people, Toronto metro is almost 3 times that. Stop worrying about cans in seat. Winning gets that. Anyone who can sell out as many games as they have for a decade is not looking at more sell outs. They want more business buying boxes and more tbd tuned in, Millions of them. Getting a piece of Toronto is the right play here, any way you can. Batavia is not the answer.
Bill in DC Posted May 14, 2014 Posted May 14, 2014 I am going to take a different angle on the Batavia stadium site. Itcould be an interesting site for possible owners of the Bills, namley Jim Kelly and Thurman Thomas. I know Jim's wife is from the Batavia area and Thurman Thomas is a part owner or involved with the Batavia Downs and the casino operations there. Maybe this ties the personal and business interests of the two to the Batavia talk.
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