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

[NewEra]

Are people surprised that the tickets are $15 in December/Jan?  Some people love the elements.  Some people love “old school football”.  Some people love to be freezing cold and wet.  Just not enough to fill the open aired stadium in upstate NY.  
 

lots of folks would rather sit in a climate controlled atmosphere and enjoy some great football, devoid of being freezing cold and wet.  

11 minutes ago, Buffalo619 said:

No dome is a huge mistake.  What are they thinking!!

Cost to build. 

 

agreed.  It’s a big mistake.  Wutevs, I’ll be staying in Vegas for the foreseeable future.
 

If they build a dome I won’t be able to complain about how stupid they are for not building a dome while I watch a team throw the ball 3 times in a game and beat us.  

[Buffalo716]

5 minutes ago, NewEra said:

Are people surprised that the tickets are $15 in December/Jan?  Some people love the elements.  Some people love “old school football”.  Some people love to be freezing cold and wet.  Just not enough to fill the open aired stadium in upstate NY.  
 

lots of folks would rather sit in a climate controlled atmosphere and enjoy some great football, devoid of being freezing cold and wet.  

There are still 60k plus Willing to brave the elements and somewhere in the 60k is where the number is said to be  

 

Ralph used to pack in 80k .. it was a huge stadium

[NewEra]

11 minutes ago, Buffalo716 said:

There are still 60k plus Willing to brave the elements and somewhere in the 60k is where the number is said to be  

 

Ralph used to pack in 80k .. it was a huge stadium

Yup.  They used to.  
 

There sure are 60k willing to brave the elements once you drop the ticket prices to $8-15

[Buffalo716]

16 minutes ago, NewEra said:

Yup.  They used to.  
 

There sure are 60k willing to brave the elements once you drop the ticket prices to $8-15

There's usually 40 50,000 season ticket holders

 

And lots of them don't miss games

 

The bills are not desperate to sell 50,000 tickets in December 

 

It's usually in the thousands 

 

Attendance isn't a problem with the Buffalo Bills and it really never has been

 

 

Edited December 22, 2021 by Buffalo716

[NewEra]

22 minutes ago, Buffalo716 said:

There's usually 40 50,000 season ticket holders

 

And lots of them don't miss games

 

The bills are not desperate to sell 50,000 tickets in December 

 

It's usually in the thousands 

 

Attendance isn't a problem with the Buffalo Bills and it really never has been

 

 

I didn’t say attendance was an issue.  The resale ticket prices reflect how excited the non season ticket holders are to attend.

[LeGOATski]

2 minutes ago, NewEra said:

I didn’t say attendance was an issue.  The resale ticket prices reflect how excited the non season ticket holders are to attend.

I think they're still planning on keeping tickets as cheap as possible. They'll be more expensive, but still not as crazy as big market stadiums.

[BADOLBILZ]

13 minutes ago, Buffalo716 said:

There's usually 40 50,000 season ticket holders

 

And lots of them don't miss games

 

The bills are not desperate to sell 50,000 tickets in December 

 

It's usually in the thousands 

 

Attendance isn't a problem with the Buffalo Bills and it really never has been

 

 

 

Again you are leaning on old data to make your argument.

 

When the price of tickets triples........that changes.

 

Every account in our group has at least one "extra" ticket.......we will likely all keep our own seats for seniority purposes........but in total about 40% of our season tickets will likely get turned in when they go from $1400 to $4000 each.

 

This would seem to be a recurring theme around us in the lower bowl as well.   

 

 

[Augie]

55 minutes ago, NewEra said:

Yup.  They used to.  
 

There sure are 60k willing to brave the elements once you drop the ticket prices to $8-15

 

It’s somewhat shocking how much the football world/experience has changed since 1973. In those days, there was no Sunday Ticket. There was no ESPN. We didn’t have GIANT Hi-Def flatscreens in every room. I would wait for Monday Night Football to to see the highlights from other games around the league. 

 

The world changes around us, and we need to be able to adapt. We went from 80,020 seats to a goal of about 60k. The home experience is unbelievable compared to what it was when The Ralph opened. The stadium experience needs to improve to compete. I’m actually fine with an open or domed stadium as long as they stay in WNY. But I’ll be honest, I’m FAR less likely to make the effort to travel to a winter game in an open stadium. It doesn’t mean I’m less of a fan, it just means I have great options without facing the threat of freezing my arse off. 

 

EDIT: I’d be VERY curious to know what percentage of league income comes from actual attendance (tickets, concessions, parking, etc.) vs TV rights and other revenue streams. 

 

 

.

Edited December 22, 2021 by Augie

[Buffalo716]

26 minutes ago, NewEra said:

I didn’t say attendance was an issue.  The resale ticket prices reflect how excited the non season ticket holders are to attend.

I understand that. In a non football City that might be an issue 

 

And the bills do sell the majority of their tickets like 96%.. so they really don't care about the resale market because they are getting sold originally 

 

If they weren't getting sold I would think it's an issue 

 

I have to think in a new stadium tickets will be hard to come by

 

 

 

 

 

16 minutes ago, BADOLBILZ said:

 

Again you are leaning on old data to make your argument.

 

When the price of tickets triples........that changes.

 

Every account in our group has at least one "extra" ticket.......we will likely all keep our own seats for seniority purposes........but in total about 40% of our season tickets will likely get turned in when they go from $1400 to $4000 each.

 

This would seem to be a recurring theme around us in the lower bowl as well.   

 

 

I fully understand what you're saying badol. 

 

I've been in situations like that over the years

 

But for every one of us that steps down.. there is someone to replace us

 

It's not going to be hard for us to fill a 65,000 seat stadium

Edited December 22, 2021 by Buffalo716

[BADOLBILZ]

18 minutes ago, Buffalo716 said:

I fully understand what you're saying badol. 

 

I've been in situations like that over the years

 

But for every one of us that steps down.. there is someone to replace us

 

It's not going to be hard for us to fill a 65,000 seat stadium

 

 

When prices are mostly static with modest increases as they have been for decades?   Sure.

 

When they increase by thousands per ticket to pay for a new stadium?   C'mon bro. 

 

My point is that the Bills lack of advancing to a modern pricing model(because of their modest/basic facilities) has lead to a false read on the veracity of ticket buyers because they've remained cheap enough for existing season ticket holders to just keep adding extra's.

 

Edited December 22, 2021 by BADOLBILZ

[Buffalo716]

2 minutes ago, BADOLBILZ said:

 

 

When prices are mostly static with modest increases as they have been for decades?   Sure.

 

When they increase by thousands per ticket to pay for a new stadium?   C'mon bro. 

 

My point is that the Bills lack of advancing to a modern pricing model(because of their modest/basic facilities) has lead to a false read on the veracity of ticket buyers because they've remained cheap enough for existing season ticket holders to just keep adding extra's.

 

If I was paying $1,200 for a ticket... Let's see if the new ticket goes to 3500

 

And realistically I've never bought tickets to sell them and make money, I go to every Game  

 

And keeping the bills in Buffalo with a new stadium was always going to increase prices

 

 

Edited December 22, 2021 by Buffalo716

[T master]

On 8/31/2021 at 12:52 PM, mjd1001 said:

Agreed.  I wanted it downtown, but oh well.  Once this thing is starting to get built, most people will get more excited about it.  Just make sure its nice and it at least comes close to justifying its price tag.

 

No matter what it's in Buffalo so there will be many complaints of just how they could have built it better that just goes with the territory !! 

 

It's just like those fans that are calling for McD & Beanes head because the team isn't playing as well as they did last year despite them going to the play offs for the last 3 yrs & not making before that for what 17 yrs.

 

 Bills fans are never completely happy there will always be those that are B**CHIN ...

[NewEra]

31 minutes ago, Augie said:

 

It’s somewhat shocking how much the football world/experience has changed since 1973. In those days, there was no Sunday Ticket. There was no ESPN. We didn’t have GIANT Hi-Def flatscreens in every room. I would wait for Monday Night Football to to see the highlights from other games around the league. 

 

The world changes around us, and we need to be able to adapt. We went from 80,020 seats to a goal of about 60k. The home experience is unbelievable compared to what it was when The Ralph opened. The stadium experience needs to improve to compete. I’m actually fine with an open or domed stadium as long as they stay in WNY. But I’ll be honest, I’m FAR less likely to make the effort to travel to a winter game in an open stadium. It doesn’t mean I’m less of a fan, it just means I have great options without facing the threat of freezing my arse off. 

 

EDIT: I’d be VERY curious to know what percentage of league income comes from actual attendance (tickets, concessions, parking, etc.) vs TV rights and other revenue streams. 

 

 

.

Yet we still have fans that love want to pretend that it’s 1975.  Some think that it’s manly to play in the cold and the elements. Some want to bring back the replay rules of the 70’s when there wasn’t any technology that could actually help the league be more efficient with their ridiculous penalties.  While we watch the game in 4k and can see everything. 🙄 
 

I’ll be sure to bring my club and drag my wife by her hair next time I attend.  So I can fit in with the manliest of men!  

36 minutes ago, Buffalo716 said:

I understand that. In a non football City that might be an issue 

 

And the bills do sell the majority of their tickets like 96%.. so they really don't care about the resale market because they are getting sold originally 

 

If they weren't getting sold I would think it's an issue 

 

I have to think in a new stadium tickets will be hard to come by

 

 

 

 

 

I fully understand what you're saying badol. 

 

I've been in situations like that over the years

 

But for every one of us that steps down.. there is someone to replace us

 

It's not going to be hard for us to fill a 65,000 seat stadium

I think it just shows that people would much rather sit nice conditions rather than a potential blizzard.  Or even just some rain.    

[Augie]

12 minutes ago, NewEra said:

Yet we still have fans that love want to pretend that it’s 1975.  Some think that it’s manly to play in the cold and the elements. Some want to bring back the replay rules of the 70’s when there wasn’t any technology that could actually help the league be more efficient with their ridiculous penalties.  While we watch the game in 4k and can see everything. 🙄 
 

I’ll be sure to bring my club and drag my wife by her hair next time I attend.  So I can fit in with the manliest of men!  

I think it just shows that people would much rather sit nice conditions rather than a potential blizzard.  Or even just some rain.    

 

Not to go TOO far afield here, but it’s the technology AND the social media. I just watched on IG  Mike Evans right arm garb Levi Wallace and tackle him when he realized the ball was uncatchable…..resulting in a penalty on Wallace, of course. I’ll never leave my Bills in my heart, but I could become far less interested in the NFL in general if they don’t start to fix the problem.

 

Full time refs who are 100% invested in what they do and are afraid to lose their jobs would be a good start. The players aren’t driving trucks and working at Jiffy Lubes in the offseason. This should be a full time gig, for EVERYONE! 

[nucci]

2 minutes ago, Augie said:

 

Not to go TOO far afield here, but it’s the technology AND the social media. I just watched on IG  Mike Evans right arm garb Levi Wallace and tackle him when he realized the ball was uncatchable…..resulting in a penalty on Wallace, of course. I’ll never leave my Bills in my heart, but I could become far less interested in the NFL in general if they don’t start to fix the problem.

 

Full time refs who are 100% invested in what they do and are afraid to lose their jobs would be a good start. The players aren’t driving trucks and working at Jiffy Lubes in the offseason. This should be a full time gig, for EVERYONE! 

remember in the 60's they did? The NFL/AFL battle teams offered players jobs in the offseason to sign with them...

[Augie]

4 minutes ago, nucci said:

remember in the 60's they did? The NFL/AFL battle teams offered players jobs in the offseason to sign with them...

 

You mean like Dan Marino getting in on IPO’s to be happy with the Dolphins……reportedly?  😋

 

What salary cap? 

[billsfanmiamioh]

2 hours ago, Buffalo716 said:

If I was paying $1,200 for a ticket... Let's see if the new ticket goes to 3500

 

And realistically I've never bought tickets to sell them and make money, I go to every Game  

 

And keeping the bills in Buffalo with a new stadium was always going to increase prices

 

 

I fully expect my $1000 / seat tickets in 109 to at least double with probably a $2500ish seat license. 

[Buffalo716]

8 minutes ago, billsfanmiamioh said:

I fully expect my $1000 / seat tickets in 109 to at least double with probably a $2500ish seat license. 

A PSL is a one-time thing

 

I would pay $1,500 for a PSL if it meant helping to keep bills here

[purple haze]

8 hours ago, BigDingus said:

Extremely disappointing.

 

I know NY is a more expensive state for just about everything, but comparing what we'd get for $1.4 billion to what others got for similar (or much less) is just sad. Even adjusted for inflation, it's a huge downer 😓

 

Saddest part of all is by location alone, it all but guarantees virtually zero potential benefit to the region & surrounding areas. It's pretty well known that these NFL stadiums yield a net-negative for the taxpayer in isolation, as the money reaped from them primarily goes to owner. 

 

However, they can be a catalyst for economic growth overall, as everything from infrastructure & public projects to small & large businesses emerge around it. Those in turn help spur more development, more growth & bring in additional revenue, not directly tied to the stadium or team itself.

 

*******

And no roof/dome... just a cost-saving measure for sure, but ultimately disappointing. Diehards will rejoice, but countless other fans (and more importantly - majority of players) will not be thrilled. I enjoy watching snow games & awful weather as much as the next guy, but only when 1) I'm watching from home & 2) it's not my team playing.

 

Tired of watching games not come down to pure skill, but to an excess of random elements. Sure, skill is still involved, but it almost always favors the less talented team by making games sloppy & more about chance. There's an exception to every rule, anecdotal evidence to provide contrary points, & examples to give that show "yes, good teams can persevere & overcome bad weather!" But after decades of watching these things, it's pretty obvious poor weather leads to more mistakes & more random elements.

 

Josh Allen will be our QB for the next decade barring injury, I'd sure love to see him have a guaranteed 8 home games slinging it with full comfort & control.

The random elements have always been part of the game and any game that has ever been played boils down to execution.  Period.  The Bills had multiple drives into the red zone against New England.   They scored 1 TD.  That ain’t have a thing to do with the weather.  Weather wasn’t bad enough to keep them from getting down there.

 

Full comfort and control is a red herring.  How do you explain 6 points in Jacksonville?  3 points in Tampa after one half?  Perfect weather didn’t help did it?  The Colts beat their tails.  Played in the same elements.  The Colts executed better.  

[purple haze]

5 hours ago, NewEra said:

Are people surprised that the tickets are $15 in December/Jan?  Some people love the elements.  Some people love “old school football”.  Some people love to be freezing cold and wet.  Just not enough to fill the open aired stadium in upstate NY.  
 

lots of folks would rather sit in a climate controlled atmosphere and enjoy some great football, devoid of being freezing cold and wet.  

Cost to build. 

 

agreed.  It’s a big mistake.  Wutevs, I’ll be staying in Vegas for the foreseeable future.
 

If they build a dome I won’t be able to complain about how stupid they are for not building a dome while I watch a team throw the ball 3 times in a game and beat us.  

More people show up than don’t.  Many more people actually.  If folks don’t like the elements I get it.  Nothing wrong with them watching from home.  But let’s not act like it’s a majority of fans.  It’s not.   Stadium is mostly full even in bad weather.  If the Bills get bad then late season attendance would be a different story. 
 

Bills didn’t lose because of the Patriots game plan.  D gave up 14 points.  Offense didn’t execute in the red zone on multiple occasions.  If the offense pulled their weight they win easily.