Over 29 years of fanhood Posted May 14, 2014 Posted May 14, 2014 (edited) 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 tvs tuned in, Millions of them. Getting a piece of Toronto is the right play here, any way you can. Batavia is not the answer. Edited May 14, 2014 by over 20 years of fanhood
stony 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. Jim's wife is from Attica but that doesn't make building a stadium in Batavia a good idea. Thurman has a sport's bar at the track, but he's not involved in anything other than the restaurant (or the occasional commercial). Their connections to the area aren't helping bring a stadium to Batavia. But this is a good thing.
jimmy10 Posted May 14, 2014 Posted May 14, 2014 Just spitballing here... What if Toronto eventually does get a franchise besides the Bills while the Bills DO remain in WNY. What then of our market penetration into Southern Ontario. I know these decisions aren't made based on ifs-and-buts, but in that case maybe a more central WNY location WOULD be to our advantage, to draw more from the east.
thebandit27 Posted May 14, 2014 Posted May 14, 2014 Just spitballing here... What if Toronto eventually does get a franchise besides the Bills while the Bills DO remain in WNY. What then of our market penetration into Southern Ontario. I know these decisions aren't made based on ifs-and-buts, but in that case maybe a more central WNY location WOULD be to our advantage, to draw more from the east. I think that the NFL would have to change its rules regarding impingement upon a franchise's existing market.
BillnutinHouston Posted May 14, 2014 Author Posted May 14, 2014 because nobody was offering a flat $78 million to play in the Carrier Dome? Maybe during the first deal, but the second one was for reportedly much less. So why bother a second time? 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. Great post - I agree completely.
Campy Posted May 14, 2014 Posted May 14, 2014 I think that the NFL would have to change its rules regarding impingement upon a franchise's existing market. No, it wouldn't. From the NFL's perspective, Buffalo's market, as recognized by the NFL, stops at the border (I think the reason for that has to do with the management of licensed properties).
Over 29 years of fanhood Posted May 14, 2014 Posted May 14, 2014 (edited) Just spitballing here... What if Toronto eventually does get a franchise besides the Bills while the Bills DO remain in WNY. What then of our market penetration into Southern Ontario. I know these decisions aren't made based on ifs-and-buts, but in that case maybe a more central WNY location WOULD be to our advantage, to draw more from the east. Possible... But you have to consider that they are trying to tap into TO just to survive. I am not sure the NFL would see a nigh enough market to support 2 teams if you combine TO and all of western/central New York. Two team populations are on the order of markets that are 15 million ish right? Interesting twist none the less. Add: I looked, if they did a team in TO and moved bills to Central WNY, perhaps they'd surpass jax, NO and Green Bays immediate reach and provided they were geographically disparate enough from each other to avoid canibalization, it could work. Green Bay has loyal following though so their conversion rate with the market is good and has broad reach beyond its metro area... Saints have their whole state almost... Which means their base is hugely understated by the metro region. Can't go too Far East as the further east you go, closer you get to giants fans. Edited May 14, 2014 by over 20 years of fanhood
Adam Posted May 14, 2014 Posted May 14, 2014 Now if the Bills are really to stay in the region, but leave Erie County, the optimal location would be Syracuse. The location puts them in the middle of the state and atthe intersection of the I-90 and I-81. They could pull from all regions in the state, probbaly some die hards from Toronto and maybe a bit from Ottawa as well.
May Day 10 Posted May 14, 2014 Posted May 14, 2014 nah. go a little farther and put them in Albany. That way they can draw from NYC, Montreal, maybe some Boston, Pittsfield, MA, and Hudson Valley Maybe during the first deal, but the second one was for reportedly much less. So why bother a second time? They didnt really bother for very long... I dont think anyone will ever know the real dealings/motivations and reason(s) for the "postponement" and who initiated that. But I am pretty sure that if at the time someone had waved $78 million in their faces from Syracuse they would have taken the money, while doing the same public song and dance about capturing the Syracuse market.
Derelichte Posted May 14, 2014 Posted May 14, 2014 nah. go a little farther and put them in Albany. That way they can draw from NYC, Montreal, maybe some Boston, Pittsfield, MA, and Hudson Valley They didnt really bother for very long... I dont think anyone will ever know the real dealings/motivations and reason(s) for the "postponement" and who initiated that. But I am pretty sure that if at the time someone had waved $78 million in their faces from Syracuse they would have taken the money, while doing the same public song and dance about capturing the Syracuse market. Creeping into Pats territory. Their typical bandwagon fans will be jumping ship once the Brady era ends, and the Manuel/Watkins era begins!
oman128 Posted May 14, 2014 Posted May 14, 2014 (edited) You can cross the outer harbor off the list, that ain't happening. I like the idea of a downtown stadium, somewhere in proximity to the other arenas, to utilize parking hotels etc. I also think the new Stadium could target a really crappy part of downtown tear it down and rebuild a new Stadium, shopping, parking, houses etc. Edited May 14, 2014 by oman128
keepthefaith Posted May 14, 2014 Posted May 14, 2014 You can cross the outer harbor off the list, that ain't happening. I like the idea of a downtown stadium, somewhere in proximity to the other arenas, to utilize parking hotels etc. I also think the new Stadium could target a really crappy part of downtown tear it down and rebuild a new Stadium. Yes and if not there I doubt the stadium ends up outside of Erie County. The county will fight like hell to keep it there.
Adam Posted May 14, 2014 Posted May 14, 2014 nah. go a little farther and put them in Albany. That way they can draw from NYC, Montreal, maybe some Boston, Pittsfield, MA, and Hudson Valley They didnt really bother for very long... I dont think anyone will ever know the real dealings/motivations and reason(s) for the "postponement" and who initiated that. But I am pretty sure that if at the time someone had waved $78 million in their faces from Syracuse they would have taken the money, while doing the same public song and dance about capturing the Syracuse market. Or on the moon
May Day 10 Posted May 14, 2014 Posted May 14, 2014 I thought of the moon but they would be committing only to Earth while there are a lot of other planets left out. I was thinking Jupiter. Huge gravitational pull, centrally located. Can get fans from Saturn and all those moons, run a high speed rail connecting Mercury, Venus, Earth
Adam Posted May 14, 2014 Posted May 14, 2014 I thought of the moon but they would be committing only to Earth while there are a lot of other planets left out. I was thinking Jupiter. Huge gravitational pull, centrally located. Can get fans from Saturn and all those moons, run a high speed rail connecting Mercury, Venus, Earth It could have a major impact on the passing game
dwight in philly Posted May 14, 2014 Posted May 14, 2014 You can cross the outer harbor off the list, that ain't happening. I like the idea of a downtown stadium, somewhere in proximity to the other arenas, to utilize parking hotels etc. I also think the new Stadium could target a really crappy part of downtown tear it down and rebuild a new Stadium, shopping, parking, houses etc. i think that is the most likely scenerio.. i am in the corner of a retro-fit the ralph .. but based on the players involved, i think downtown sounds reasonable..
sodbuster Posted May 14, 2014 Posted May 14, 2014 I thought of the moon but they would be committing only to Earth while there are a lot of other planets left out. I was thinking Jupiter. Huge gravitational pull, centrally located. Can get fans from Saturn and all those moons, run a high speed rail connecting Mercury, Venus, Earth Man, jet lag is tough enough on the players for west coast trips!
jimmy10 Posted May 14, 2014 Posted May 14, 2014 I thought of the moon but they would be committing only to Earth while there are a lot of other planets left out. I was thinking Jupiter. Huge gravitational pull, centrally located. Can get fans from Saturn and all those moons, run a high speed rail connecting Mercury, Venus, Earth Congratulations on the dumbest post of the year. Jupiter is a well established market for the gas Giants.
PearlHowardman Posted May 15, 2014 Posted May 15, 2014 Batavia wins! Bills home games will be filled with us fans from the 'Cuse! SU Orange football on Saturday. Buffalo Bills football on Sunday. There will be no better place to live in the USA for football!!
Just Jack Posted May 15, 2014 Posted May 15, 2014 I thought of the moon but they would be committing only to Earth while there are a lot of other planets left out. I was thinking Jupiter. Huge gravitational pull, centrally located. Can get fans from Saturn and all those moons, run a high speed rail connecting Mercury, Venus, Earth I think the Europas might have an issue with that since they've already laid claim to the franchise rights to Jupiter.
Recommended Posts