Cynical Posted January 14, 2015 Posted January 14, 2015 As I mentioned before, the January 3 Houston Comeback game was even blacked out. A playoff game?!? This is a bad example to promote your argument. There are numerous factors that are not being included or ignored. Rich Stadium at the time held over 80k people. Attendance figures for the game claim 75k+. The Bills played the Oilers the week before (last game of the season) and lost badly, 27-3. Kelly was injured (knee) during that game and was eventually declared out for the playoff game. Frank Reich came off the bench in relief of Kelly during the regular season game and was declared the starter for the playoff game. Reich's performance off the bench was less than stellar - 11/23 for 99 yards, 2 INT and 0 TD. Needless to say, having to play the Oilers the following week with Reich as the starter, expectations for a Bills victory were quite low, The Bills still managed to put 75K+ in the stands. Today, RWS holds 73k+ people. If Rich Stadium was only 73K back in 92-93, the Oiler playoff game would have been a sell out. Furthermore, any new stadium being built today will probably seat less than 70K. I would not be shocked if the number is somewhere between 60-65K.
Pondslider Posted January 14, 2015 Posted January 14, 2015 If I remember right too if the Bills had won the Sunday night game they would have had a bye week in the playoffs, so tickets weren't even available until Monday for that game and then had to be sold out by Thursday at noon or whatever the blackout rule is.
Cynical Posted January 14, 2015 Posted January 14, 2015 (edited) This anti roof (no one builds domes anymore) sentiment is weird. I attend games in the Superdome all of the time and there is plenty of atmosphere. I also went to Houston this year and thought that place was great. I don't know what the attraction is of sitting outside in 35 degree temperatures when it is raining? Good luck attracting the wealthier clientele in that atmosphere. I cannot see a scenario where there isn't a roof. Well, then, lets ask the people in NY/NJ, Boston, Pittsburgh, Philadelphia, Cleveland, Cincinnati, and Seattle how they attract wealthier clientele to come to the games played in a cold/colder climate. I would be very interested in hearing what Seattle has to say considering they went from the Kingdome to the stadium they now play in. And just for giggles, why not ask Denver and KC? I am not against a dome. But I do believe domes attract a more casual fan, which leads to the argument the atmosphere playing in a dome "sucks". Casual fans attend because its something to do. Its an event. Hardcore/diehard fans will attend regardless if its a dome or not. Even the wealthier ones. These fans will attend because they enjoy the whole game day "experience". To these people, its more than just a game, or something to do on a Sunday. Its a part of their lifestyle. Edited January 14, 2015 by Cynical
ExiledInIllinois Posted January 14, 2015 Posted January 14, 2015 Well, then, lets ask the people in NY/NJ, Boston, Pittsburgh, Philadelphia, Cleveland, Cincinnati, and Seattle how they attract wealthier clientele to come to the games played in a cold/colder climate. I would be very interested in hearing what Seattle has to say considering they went from the Kingdome to the stadium they now play in. And just for giggles, why not ask Denver and KC? You want an answer to your question? How do they attract them in any city? Two words: Luxury box Heated and enclosed with TV monitors. Basically a/dome without a dome.
billykaykay Posted January 14, 2015 Posted January 14, 2015 I don't personally know any true WNYers that would skip a Bills game because of weather. I know I wouldn't. I've worked outside jobs most of my life so staying home because it's cold and snowy/rainy is a lame excuse. That's just my opinion, but like I said, I don't know anyone that wouldn't attend a home game because of weather. GB has a waiting list for season tickets and sells out every home game. Guess they have more loyal fans than Buffalo. And it gets a hell of a lot colder there. Wait till you turn 70.
Saxum Posted January 14, 2015 Posted January 14, 2015 I am all for a retractable roof and natural light. That is why Lucas Oil Field is so appealing. When these issues previously were discussed many months ago, someone also posted a photo of a rugby stadium in NZ or Australia that was very appealing with all of the natural light. If it were up to me and if there is a retractable roof, the roof would be open for football unless it were below a certain temperature (say 30 degrees +/-) or it was raining or the wind had gusts of over a certain MPH. There is a way to accommodate most everyone's interests. I certainly would not want to be in an antiseptic dome stadium without any character (e.g., Rogers, the one in St. Pete), I would rather have the Ralph. But, if someone is going to spend the money and time building a stadium, I think that it should be downtown, have a retractable roof, and have lots of character and light. That was me who posted it and that stadium same latitude (except south of equator not north of equator) as Buffalo. It was scaled for 30K and I was wondering if it could be scaled for 60-75K Here is another one in New Zealand http://www.forsythbarrstadium.co.nz/the-stadium/ My objection is not to closed vs open - I think something between the two is best like Seattle and Dallas with a window or portion of stadium roof open and the sides inclined to redirect the snow down the sides rather than into field or to continue pile along sides which I have seen in some Northern European countries. My objection is the ruining of tailgating in Buffalo who along with Kansas City and Green Bay have some of the best tailgating. A roofed stadium downtown will be cramped for parking (wow a train track which goes one direction!) probably requiring mullti-level parking garages which will be there own nightmare to get out AND lack of tailgating options unless you want to find a bar to host you like happens when we go to games in Baltimore.
1B4IDie Posted January 14, 2015 Posted January 14, 2015 If it is a downtown stadium they need to clone Lambeau. Lambeau has a mall attached to it and meeting rooms that can be used year round. There are only a maximum of 12 days a year an NFL stadium is used. It would be a critical to make it multifunctional like Lambeau.
Saxum Posted January 14, 2015 Posted January 14, 2015 If it is a downtown stadium they need to clone Lambeau. Lambeau has a mall attached to it and meeting rooms that can be used year round. There are only a maximum of 12 days a year an NFL stadium is used. It would be a critical to make it multifunctional like Lambeau. Exactly - you can make space usable but still leave the stadium open. Even include bridges to other buildings which serve as additional gates.
billykaykay Posted January 14, 2015 Posted January 14, 2015 This is a bad example to promote your argument. There are numerous factors that are not being included or ignored. Rich Stadium at the time held over 80k people. Attendance figures for the game claim 75k+. The Bills played the Oilers the week before (last game of the season) and lost badly, 27-3. Kelly was injured (knee) during that game and was eventually declared out for the playoff game. Frank Reich came off the bench in relief of Kelly during the regular season game and was declared the starter for the playoff game. Reich's performance off the bench was less than stellar - 11/23 for 99 yards, 2 INT and 0 TD. Needless to say, having to play the Oilers the following week with Reich as the starter, expectations for a Bills victory were quite low, The Bills still managed to put 75K+ in the stands. Today, RWS holds 73k+ people. If Rich Stadium was only 73K back in 92-93, the Oiler playoff game would have been a sell out. Furthermore, any new stadium being built today will probably seat less than 70K. I would not be shocked if the number is somewhere between 60-65K. Also, playoff tix price were jacked up.
Peter Posted January 14, 2015 Posted January 14, 2015 There are always a million and one reasons that people give for why games are not sold out. In Miami, it is always that there is so much else to do blah, blah, blah. Whether the reasons are valid or not, whatever stadium is built, teams have to give people a reason to want to be at the stadium rather than watch games at home or do something else. That includes the product on the field as well as the fan experience and amenities at the stadium. We can go back and forth about whether a new stadium should have a retractable roof or be open air, the location, the size etc., but if it does not give people the incentive to get into their cars, drive to the stadium, contend with the traffic, want to be surrounded by the others that attend the games, enjoy the fan experience etc. . . as opposed to not doing any of that and watching the game at home or doing something else . . . what is the point? We can all have romantic notions about what it was like "in the day," but times have changed with large screen HD tvs, fantasy football, social media, and the way people live their lives now.
bbb Posted January 14, 2015 Posted January 14, 2015 That's kind of the point. The numbers say that they have a hard time selling tickets in December. It is a fact that and has been for decades. So there is a segment that isn't going specifically because of weather. It's women. I know so many who love going in September, esp. Opening Day, and won't go when the weather is bad. If I remember right too if the Bills had won the Sunday night game they would have had a bye week in the playoffs, so tickets weren't even available until Monday for that game and then had to be sold out by Thursday at noon or whatever the blackout rule is. I don't remember the ticket situation, but you're definitely right on all the other stuff.
Hammered a Lot Posted January 14, 2015 Posted January 14, 2015 Agreed. If there was any doubt about the next stadium being a dome or retractable roof before the snow storm before the Jets game, there is no doubt any longer. That snow storm was a snow storm of a life time affecting a lot of vital services employees in a lot of communities. Dome or No dome, that game would not have been played as people were overly tired from snow related services/dutys. People needed rest. You would not have had enough cops directing traffic etc....
bbb Posted January 15, 2015 Posted January 15, 2015 Exactly what I've been saying. You had to be here to know that game would never have been played. I've heard this a number of times, and it's just wrong.
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