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

[Mango]

38 minutes ago, ColoradoBills said:

 

There is some evidence that the population drain has stopped and may be reversing as the 2020 Census numbers come in.

One thing I'm interested in is if the aged population demographics are changing and younger work aged people are increasing.

 

I too have pondered a return to WNY now that I'm retired.

 

I do wonder if in the near future a demographic change happens and a return to the Great Lakes areas are seen.  Something as

simple as proximity to water could fuel a change.  It's getting to be a big issue out here in the West.

Thanks for you reply.

I agree I think it’s a shift. I did work with Journeys End for a bit a while back so my data is out of date. But back then Buffalo was taking in more refugees than NYC. Because of it the population loss was always assumed to greater than reported. Not that those people don’t count. They do. They’re just not the “look at all the people moving here” anybody accounts for. People like to think that population gain is because people are moving from X city to come live here. And a lot of it is people being placed because we are cheap and have more job opportunities than Syracuse. 
 

[ColoradoBills]

1 hour ago, Mango said:

I agree I think it’s a shift. I did work with Journeys End for a bit a while back so my data is out of date. But back then Buffalo was taking in more refugees than NYC. Because of it the population loss was always assumed to greater than reported. Not that those people don’t count. They do. They’re just not the “look at all the people moving here” anybody accounts for. People like to think that population gain is because people are moving from X city to come live here. And a lot of it is people being placed because we are cheap and have more job opportunities than Syracuse. 
 

 

I do agree there is a lot of different ingredients in the sausage.

 

I guess my main point is that opportunity wise things today in Buffalo are much better for kids leaving school then it was when

I left school in the later half of the 70s.  When I left it was just the start of the big swing toward job and population loss and that

acceleration mode lasted for decades.  My younger nieces and nephews and now even grand nieces and nephews are the ones

really working on me to move back.  LOL, they are much more positive about their futures in WNY than I was at that age.

 

I do see that as a significant improvement and it does give me hope for their futures.   

[SirAndrew]

7 hours ago, ColoradoBills said:

 

I do agree there is a lot of different ingredients in the sausage.

 

I guess my main point is that opportunity wise things today in Buffalo are much better for kids leaving school then it was when

I left school in the later half of the 70s.  When I left it was just the start of the big swing toward job and population loss and that

acceleration mode lasted for decades.  My younger nieces and nephews and now even grand nieces and nephews are the ones

really working on me to move back.  LOL, they are much more positive about their futures in WNY than I was at that age.

 

I do see that as a significant improvement and it does give me hope for their futures.   

I think a lot has changed with the economy nation wide since many left Buffalo in the 70’s and 80’s. There really isn’t a workforce promised land these days. You need the proper education or trade skills to find employment anywhere, and Buffalo is no different. This isn’t 1975 where a steel worker with a high school diploma loses his job, and finds good paying employment out west or down south.
 

You need a certain skill set to be well employed anywhere. Finding employment isn’t impossible if you have that. Are there better paying jobs (also higher cost of living in many areas), and more options elsewhere ? Absolutely, but Buffalo isn’t this land without jobs that some would lead you to believe. There are many advantages to living elsewhere, so I’m not being a cheerleader for the city or showing a lack understanding for the myriad of reasons to relocate. I simply don’t think it’s totally accurate to act like the area has zero jobs. 

[Hapless Bills Fan]

Saw this on Sal Capaccio's twitter, hadn't seen before.

Location of new stadium

 

 

 

Does anyone know whose football field/track would get taken over there - HS? ECCC?

[Just Jack]

1 hour ago, Hapless Bills Fan said:

Saw this on Sal Capaccio's twitter, hadn't seen before.

Location of new stadium

 

 

That's kind of a "well duh".  Ever since it came out it was going to be on a parking lot/land the Bills controlled, I knew it was going to be over there.  That's the bus lot, the largest parking lot available, that would be the least disrupted, to build anything that large. 

Edited September 6, 2021 by Just Jack

[loyal2dagame]

3 minutes ago, Just Jack said:

 

That's kind of a "well duh".  Ever since it came out it was going to be on a parking lot/land the Bills controlled, I knew it was going to be over there.  That's the bus lot, the largest parking lot available to build anything that large. 

I still think the county "donates" the entire ecc south campus to the footprint of the new stadium. 

[klos63]

On 9/4/2021 at 7:47 PM, BuffaloBills1998 said:

But it’s not a terrible investment it’s what’s going to help keep the team here in WNY for generations to come. Taxpayers are going to have to pay for a good portion of the stadium. Erie county officials and NYS officials know this. Which is why they will work with the Pegulas on getting this deal done. 

It may not be a terrible investment, but it doesn't guarantee the team here for generations, likely just 1 generation, which I think is 20 years.

[Doc]

3 hours ago, klos63 said:

It may not be a terrible investment, but it doesn't guarantee the team here for generations, likely just 1 generation, which I think is 20 years.

 

If the county puts up a good chunk of money, they can demand 30 years.

[LabattBlue]

10 hours ago, Hapless Bills Fan said:

Saw this on Sal Capaccio's twitter, hadn't seen before.

Location of new stadium

 

 

 

Does anyone know whose football field/track would get taken over there - HS? ECCC?

Those are ECC South athletic fields.

[PromoTheRobot]

https://buffalonews.com/news/local/hochul-study-on-bills-stadium-site-coming-soon/article_d263f596-1bca-11ec-8e78-1b7584236dd9.html

 

Quote

Gov. Kathy Hochul said Wednesday that a study on the best site for a new Buffalo Bills stadium is expected in "the next couple of weeks" and will be released to the public. The Bills have proposed a $1.4 billion, 60,000-seat stadium in Orchard Park, across Abbott Road from Highmark Stadium, where the team has played for 48 years. But some locals prefer a new stadium in downtown Buffalo.

 

The Bills want taxpayers to foot most of the bill for the new stadium and have said they will not renew the lease on Erie County-owned Highmark Stadium, which expires in July 2023, if there is no stadium deal by then. The cost of the project means the state is front and center in the negotiations.

 

Asked during an event at the Niagara Power Project whether a downtown stadium site had been ruled out, Hochul answered, "We are waiting for the results of a study that's been underway for a number of months now and I think that will come out in the next couple of weeks. We're studying all the options.

 

[Doc]

As they should. Hopefully they at least demand that a fixed roof be put on the stadium (sorry open air enthusiasts). 

[Mr. WEO]

18 minutes ago, Doc said:

As they should. Hopefully they at least demand that a fixed roof be put on the stadium (sorry open air enthusiasts). 

“at least”?

 

why

[Nextmanup]

On 8/31/2021 at 1:31 PM, Utah John said:

Who's got the cash to fill up those 60 suites?  I realize that's a big source of money for other teams but will that work in Buffalo?

It's funny, as  Dallas has over 300 suites, and SOFI has around 260!

 

And you're wondering how we can fill 60....

 

We're never going to compete with the big fish of the league, which is why we shouldn't even try.

 

They should play out at Rich Stadium forever.  The older it gets, the better the experience.

 

Pretty soon it's going to be impossible to enjoy an old fashioned "stadium experience" in the open air with not much going on other than....a FOOTBALL GAME.

 

Leave the hi-tech architectural tour de force stuff to the big markets.

 

 

Edited September 22, 2021 by Nextmanup

[BuffaloRebound]

This is good news.  State shouldn’t solely rely on study done by Pegula when govt will be footing some/most of the bill.  

[Doc]

13 minutes ago, Mr. WEO said:

“at least”?

 

why

It sounds as if a downtown stadium may still be an option.

[BuffaloRebound]

1 minute ago, Nextmanup said:

It's funny, as  Dallas has over 300 suites, and SOFI has around 260!

 

And you're wondering how we can fill 60....

 

We're never going to compete with the big fish of the league, which is why we shouldn't even try.

 

They should play out at Rich Stadium forever.  The older it gets, the better the experience.

 

Pretty soon it's going to be impossible to enjoy an old fashioned "stadium experience" in the open air and not much going on other than....a FOOTBALL GAME.

 

Leave the hi-tech architectural tour de force stuff to the big markets.

 

 

I agree with this.  Not trying to compare rich/Ralph/whatever it’s called now with Fenway, but going to Fenway is almost a religious experience for baseball fans and that stadium has no frills.  

[eball]

12 minutes ago, Nextmanup said:

It's funny, as  Dallas has over 300 suites, and SOFI has around 260!

 

And you're wondering how we can fill 60....

 

We're never going to compete with the big fish of the league, which is why we shouldn't even try.

 

They should play out at Rich Stadium forever.  The older it gets, the better the experience.

 

Pretty soon it's going to be impossible to enjoy an old fashioned "stadium experience" in the open air with not much going on other than....a FOOTBALL GAME.

 

Leave the hi-tech architectural tour de force stuff to the big markets.

 

 

 

There's a HUGE difference between "competing with the big fish" and upgrading the fan experience.  You may enjoy sitting in the elements in a crappy seat (or bleacher) with concourses that make you feel like you're in a dungeon, but most people don't.  This "nostalgia" you're feeling is misplaced.  And, there's that little fact that the stadium is literally falling apart.

[Mr. WEO]

34 minutes ago, Doc said:

It sounds as if a downtown stadium may still be an option.

 

PSE has already submitted a plan for a stadium and decided on Orchard Park--no roof. 

 

What study is the Governor referring to?

[Back2Buff]

I find it funny that people will bring up traffic issues like there isn't huge traffic issues on game days in OP.

 

Traffic shouldn't be a deterrent to a downtown stadium.  Its a BS excuse.

[WotAGuy]

1 hour ago, Nextmanup said:

It's funny, as  Dallas has over 300 suites, and SOFI has around 260!

 

And you're wondering how we can fill 60....

 

We're never going to compete with the big fish of the league, which is why we shouldn't even try.

 

They should play out at Rich Stadium forever.  The older it gets, the better the experience.

 

Pretty soon it's going to be impossible to enjoy an old fashioned "stadium experience" in the open air with not much going on other than....a FOOTBALL GAME.

 

Leave the hi-tech architectural tour de force stuff to the big markets.

 

 

The stadium in Minnesota is really beautiful and a great fan experience. It didn’t feel like the typical covered stadium. The main concourse level felt like an airport or mall - very open and bright.