AP exclusive: Bills propose new 60k seat stadium by (update - 2025)

[Bleeding Bills Blue]

6 minutes ago, May Day 10 said:

A lot of the issue is the employees' management of the lines.

 

Normally, you get to the front of the line.  You get some stupe.  You order a couple beers.  They take their time operating the register, complete the transaction.  The will either grab the cup(s), wait to get someone's attention for a minute.  Then slowly pour the draft beers themselves.  Ask you if you would like the lids.  Put the lids on like they are splitting the atom.  Then onto the next person.  Or you will order like a hot dog and see a similar transaction, but the person operating the register will need to walk to the opposite side of the stand to retrieve the hot dog, maneuvering through the other workers.

 

There is almost no efficiency when it comes to Bills, Bisons, or Sabres games.  I have gone other venues where they have it down to a science.

 

At one of the Blue Jays games this year I went to the beer stand and they had a woman taking orders and another one pouring, staying ahead of the rush.  The line moved as fast as people could check out.  It was amazing, I could have hugged the workers.  Instead I tipped them like $5

 

 

Most of the time, at these Buffalo venues, they have the lines go straight back to the opposite wall.  OMG, it creates several pinch-points throughout the concourse and creates misery.  Every civilized city has figured out you do the zig-zag rope system, feeding into every register.   Beer-only lines seem like a wonderful and under-utilized idea here

 

 

 

One time i tried to get coffee during MNF (I think it was patriots buffalo in 2018 with derek anderson), and they just told me they were out of coffee.  I don't drink during the games as I usually have to drive so I stop like an hour before kickoff + gametime + walk to the car and I'm good to go.  Coffee doesn't like sober me up, but A - it was cold, and B - It's sort of a placebo effect on sobering you up a bit faster.  

 

I got a hot chocolate that was about half the size of the cup.. for like 8 dollars.

[Mr. WEO]

1 minute ago, PromoTheRobot said:

 

At Polar Park in Worcester, the Triple-A home of the Red Sox, they have a "convenience store." Walk in, grab what you want, scan your items and wave your chipped credit card or phone to pay. So simple. So obvious. And yet...

 

Every major airport has these as well--all of the "Hudson News" type places and food courts.  They just have staff watching as you check out

[Bleeding Bills Blue]

6 minutes ago, Hapless Bills Fan said:

 

So you're saying the same number of concessions could serve the same # of ticketholders and get more business if they shortened the lines by operating more efficiently?

 

I think you'll see it be more like uber eats.  You place your order in an app for the concession location you want, they tell you it is ready, and then you go to a counter and they hand you your food/drink (maybe a quick verification using your ticket barcode or something).  Do beer only at other concession stands where you have to show ID, and get faster beer taps.  Since they have to turn off beer at halftime - the app portion is unaffected.  

Edited September 1, 2021 by dneveu

[Doc]

3 minutes ago, Mr. WEO said:

The point is that i don't see a significant difference in the price point between the two options, comparing to current prices (as you compared).

 

We can speculate on the actual price increases between a larger downtown roofed stadium or a smaller open air one in OP.  The point being it will be a significant one for the former.  And if you were to tell fans up front, they'd say "we'll make do with the current plan."

[RiotAct]

11 minutes ago, May Day 10 said:

 

Normally, you get to the front of the line.  You get some stupe.  You order a couple beers.  They take their time operating the register, complete the transaction.  The will either grab the cup(s), wait to get someone's attention for a minute.  Then slowly pour the draft beers themselves.  Ask you if you would like the lids.  Put the lids on like they are splitting the atom.  Then onto the next person. 

 

LOL!!!!!

 

Minimum-wage concession stand worker: “Now I am become Death, destroyer of worlds”.

[Mr. WEO]

1 minute ago, Doc said:

 

We can speculate on the actual price increases between a larger downtown roofed stadium or a smaller open air one in OP.  The point being it will be a significant one for the former.  And if you were to tell fans up front, they'd say "we'll make do with the current plan."

 

What if it was presented to them as: "both will now require PSLs and major ticket price increases, would you rather pay all that for a smaller open stadium next to the old one, or a larger dome downtown?"?  The effect of 1.4 B vs 1.8 B (or whatever) between the 2 won't translate directly into a large difference in ticket prices over time.

4 minutes ago, RiotAct said:

LOL!!!!!

 

Minimum-wage concession stand worker: “Now I am become Death, destroyer of worlds”.

 

 

The Orchard Park Project.

[Doc]

1 minute ago, Mr. WEO said:

What if it was presented to them as: "both will now require PSLs and major ticket price increases, would you rather pay all that for a smaller open stadium next to the old one, or a larger dome downtown?"?  The effect of 1.4 B vs 1.8 B (or whatever) between the 2 won't translate directly into a large difference in ticket prices over time.

 

The downtown stadium is estimated to cost $2.3B.  And sure if you put it that way, people would probably want the downtown one.  If you gave specific prices, they probably wouldn't.

[Mr. WEO]

1 minute ago, Doc said:

 

The downtown stadium is estimated to cost $2.3B.  And sure if you put it that way, people would probably want the downtown one.  If you gave specific prices, they probably wouldn't.

 

Prices wouldn't be known for years.

[LeGOATski]

2 hours ago, Hapless Bills Fan said:

 

Some truth

That is funny, lol

 

But seriously, by all accounts people absolutely LOVE going to Bills games. Possibly the best experience in the NFL, even by other teams' fans. Why TF would we want to change that?

 

If they built a big domed stadium downtown, the same people would be complaining that it just doesn't have the same feel as the good ol' Ralph.

[Doc]

3 minutes ago, Mr. WEO said:

Prices wouldn't be known for years.

 

You can easily ball park the price increases needed for a $900M stadium price difference.  Having a bigger stadium is immaterial really, fans mostly don't want a roof and downtown has loads of headaches involved and you're not missing out on anything there you can't recreate after the game.

[Greg S]

3 minutes ago, LeGOATski said:

That is funny, lol

 

But seriously, by all accounts people absolutely LOVE going to Bills games. Possibly the best experience in the NFL, even by other teams' fans. Why TF would we want to change that?

 

If they built a big domed stadium downtown, the same people would be complaining that it just doesn't have the same feel as the good ol' Ralph.

 

Bills fans are known for having some of the best tailgating in the NFL. People want to be out in parking lot drinking beers and grilling their food. Who wants to sit in a stadium restaurant paying for overpriced food and drinks?

[Doc]

I don't see the argument for a downtown stadium with its associated huge increase in prices across the board.  Some say it would revitalize the area, but is that even true?  And if so, that should be something the city pays for.

[DrDawkinstein]

1 minute ago, Doc said:

I don't see the argument for a downtown stadium with its associated huge increase in prices across the board.  Some say it would revitalize the area, but is that even true?  And if so, that should be something the city pays for.

 

The stadium alone and itself wouldnt. But, if they tied in bars, restaurants, other commerical facilities around there. Maybe another hotel. And built the long needed rail from the airport to downtown with a stop at the stadium... now we're on the right track.

 

Absolutely agreed the city and state should pay for more on a downtown stadium, and would need to. Expand 190, add ramps, update surface roads nearby.

 

But like I said, even if it's $3B, they could make it happen if they wanted to. It's the only team that would play in NYS. NYC makes/loses $3B everyday by 10am. The city is good for it. Make them pay for something for us for once.

[Doc]

4 minutes ago, DrDawkinstein said:

The stadium alone and itself wouldnt. But, if they tied in bars, restaurants, other commerical facilities around there. Maybe another hotel. And built the long needed rail from the airport to downtown with a stop at the stadium... now we're on the right track.

 

Absolutely agreed the city and state should pay for more on a downtown stadium, and would need to. Expand 190, add ramps, update surface roads nearby.

 

But like I said, even if it's $3B, they could make it happen if they wanted to. It's the only team that would play in NYS. NYC makes/loses $3B everyday by 10am. The city is good for it. Make them pay for something for us for once.

 

Yeah, but for maybe at most a dozen days/games a year?  I don't know.  Agree on the rest.

[SDS]

7 minutes ago, DrDawkinstein said:

 

The stadium alone and itself wouldnt. But, if they tied in bars, restaurants, other commerical facilities around there. Maybe another hotel. And built the long needed rail from the airport to downtown with a stop at the stadium... now we're on the right track.

 

Absolutely agreed the city and state should pay for more on a downtown stadium, and would need to. Expand 190, add ramps, update surface roads nearby.

 

But like I said, even if it's $3B, they could make it happen if they wanted to. It's the only team that would play in NYS. NYC makes/loses $3B everyday by 10am. The city is good for it. Make them pay for something for us for once.

New York City adds to the economy of the rest of the state to the tune of about $16 billion a year. The other stuff just isn’t worn out in reality. How does one build a hotel around the schedule of 10 events a year? The same with restaurants or any other amenity. 

[DrDawkinstein]

1 minute ago, Doc said:

 

Yeah, but for maybe at most a dozen days/games a year?  I don't know.  Agree on the rest.

 

Cobblestone district does fine business already, year-round. If you build a new bar strip area downtown, it will get used more than on just gameday.

[RiotAct]

14 minutes ago, Doc said:

I don't see the argument for a downtown stadium with its associated huge increase in prices across the board.  Some say it would revitalize the area, but is that even true?  And if so, that should be something the city pays for.

I bet Paula’s Donuts and Misuta Chow’s would open up satellite locations next to the stadium!

[Doc]

All that stuff is above my pay grade.  If they think it would help, then the city/state should pay for the difference in building a stadium downtown.

[DrDawkinstein]

1 minute ago, SDS said:

New York City adds to the economy of the rest of the state to the tune of about $16 billion a year. The other stuff just isn’t worn out in reality. How does one build a hotel around the schedule of 10 events a year? The same with restaurants or any other amenity. 

 

Well then send $3B up this way!

 

I'm gonna go deep on a tangent if we keep going, but we'd be back to talking about an enclosed stadium that can be used as a convention center as well. Bring in a Bowl game, as well as the MAC championship. I'm sure there are plenty of other opportunities since I already came up with these off the top of my head, and I'm no expert. Plus just increasing Buffalo's tourist draw in general.

Just now, Doc said:

All that stuff is above my pay grade.  If they think it would help, then the city/state should pay for the difference in building a stadium downtown.

 

Yeah, I'm just spitballing as well. I'm sure folks already thought of all this in the extensive studies that have already been performed by the professionals.

[May Day 10]

nobody will attend a 3rd rate bowl game in Buffalo between Toledo and Appalachian State.  MAC Championship game too draws very small 15k? and I dont see them prying it from centrally-located Detroit in a league that has major Michigan/Ohio bias.

 

Can have 250 monster truck rallies