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

[SoCal Deek]

The seating capacity discussion is an interesting one. Just like with any large venue the balance has to be struck between capacity and price. One of the new variables in the equation has to be the move towards streaming as opposed to live event attendance. I’m guessing some believe stadiums will be getting smaller and more people will simply pay to watch on TV. However, as we all know, WNY is not like your average NFL region, and I tend to side with those who’d suggest more, less expensive seats fit the region way better than less, more expensive seats. It’ll be interesting to see where it lands. 

[Paup 1995MVP]

17 hours ago, BTB said:

I could be wrong but I think the highest capacity was 80,020...or maybe that was when it first opened.  The Aud after they raised the roof...16,433.  🙂

You might be right on the exact number at Rich.  I knew it was a little over 80,000.  And that was definitely the number at the Aud.  Remember that well, when the Sabres were a respected and respectable hockey team..  So long ago!!

18 hours ago, The Jokeman said:

Not necessarily the population in 1990 was 954,883 and today it's 886,477. 

Given the size of the region, including Rochester and Southern Ontario, I would think the 70,000 is very doable.  But I haven't lived in WNY in years, and entertainment is so fragmented in today's world, it may be more difficult to fill up the stadium.  

 

Interesting how many college football stadiums in the midwest and south sell upwards of 80,000 seats for every game.  

[DrDawkinstein]

For what it's worth, 60,000 doesnt seem that too far off the mark when you look at the actual numbers.

 

If you add in the suites, we're pretty much right on average.

 

 

Now, the obvious counterpoint being that most of these numbers come from the Drought Years when we would be eliminated by November and attendance would drop off.

 

I personally think 65,000 plus suites is the sweet spot.

 

Would be interested in seeing the attendance numbers at the end of this year. I bet it will be closer to 70,000 average.

[SDS]

1 hour ago, machine gun kelly said:

This is on the Howard and Jeremy show now, but Sal is on.  They are debating both sides.  Goodell made a good point that it needs to fit Buffalo.  I can see 65-70,000 seats.  60k would be the smallest in the NFL.  We’re not SF.  this would be a huge mistake as all the players even from other teams state we have a college feel.  Go to an AL or FL game and you’d know Buffalo is special.  That needs to stay that way.

 

Besides, do you know how expensive a 60k stadium would be?  It would completely price out the real fans.

 

The new standard should be 25k. Big ass TVs, access to feeds, and the game itself is a made for TV production that points to a drastically smaller footprint. Way too much money and resources are dedicated to a tiny live audience compared to the viewing audience at large. 

[DrDawkinstein]

5 minutes ago, SDS said:

 

The new standard should be 25k. Big ass TVs, access to feeds, and the game itself is a made for TV production that points to a drastically smaller footprint. Way too much money and resources are dedicated to a tiny live audience compared to the viewing audience at large. 

 

I get what you're saying from a pure business perspective, but I think one thing was made clear last year: the energy of the large crowds of rabid fans greatly improves the quality of the product for the tv audience. That goes for all sports. And for a region like WNY that doesnt have a lot of other entertainment options, it should be something the entire community can attend and come together as one big group. IMO, at least.

[Metal Man]

Saw an interesting take on the stadium capacity discussion on the news the other night.

 

Basically the guy was saying that when you start to add extra seating capacity you build up which significantly raises the cost with more structural support needed. However since those are the nose bleed seats you are adding a lot of construction cost for extra capacity at the cheapest seat sales price.

 

Makes sense to me then that above the ~60k range is where they decided the extra cost wasn't worth the extra seat revenue.

[SDS]

3 minutes ago, Metal Man said:

Saw an interesting take on the stadium capacity discussion on the news the other night.

 

Basically the guy was saying that when you start to add extra seating capacity you build up which significantly raises the cost with more structural support needed. However since those are the nose bleed seats you are adding a lot of construction cost for extra capacity at the cheapest seat sales price.

 

Makes sense to me then that above the ~60k range is where they decided the extra cost wasn't worth the extra seat revenue.

that sounds fine, but your last line sounds like a guess. 

[Royale with Cheese]

18 minutes ago, DrDawkinstein said:

For what it's worth, 60,000 doesnt seem that too far off the mark when you look at the actual numbers.

 

If you add in the suites, we're pretty much right on average.

 

 

Now, the obvious counterpoint being that most of these numbers come from the Drought Years when we would be eliminated by November and attendance would drop off.

 

I personally think 65,000 plus suites is the sweet spot.

 

Would be interested in seeing the attendance numbers at the end of this year. I bet it will be closer to 70,000 average.

 

It seems smaller stadiums are the new norm outside of Dallas.

 

Allegiant is 65,000

Levi's is 68,500

Mercedes is 71,000

US Bank is 66,200

 

All these are much bigger markets too.

[Draconator]

1 minute ago, Royale with Cheese said:

 

It seems smaller stadiums are the new norm outside of Dallas.

 

Allegiant is 65,000

Levi's is 68,500

Mercedes is 71,000

US Bank is 66,200

 

All these are much bigger markets too.

I think with Allegiant and Levi's, they can expand the seating. Levi's is close to 80K for a Superbowl or National Championship game 

[SoMAn]

46 minutes ago, Greg S said:

 

2027 does seem to far off. When they get shovels in the ground it should take 2.5-3 years to build it. Having Hochul on the Bills side should help them get thru all potential problems that could come up with a project like this.

What problems? Just do it! 

I think the people involved create their own problems. How hard is it? Other major cities either don't have the volume of problems Buffalo seems to have or if problems arise, they solve them quickly.

[Estro]

As a season ticket holder since the 2002 who now lives in Southern NJ (about a 7 hour drive to the stadium) I'm going to relish these last 5 or so years left @ the current stadium.

 

Ive been to probably 10 other NFL stadiums and the best sight lines by far are at Bills Stadium.  The new stadiums seem to be built to host other events like soccer matches so the actual field arear is much larger. In many cases this means if you're in the lower level sidelines or corner you're often an additional 50-100 feet from the game. It might not sound like a huge difference, but for me it's a huge.

 

Will the new stadium be exciting? Yes, it's nice to have new things, but when factoring in crappier sight lines, probable 40-100% ticket price hikes & probable 1.5k-4k PSLs, I'll probably have to bail on my season tickets. I won't be able to afford PSLs on my current 4 season tickets that are in section 134, plain and simple.

[SoMAn]

52 minutes ago, 4_kidd_4 said:

Can we get a “facepalm” emoji choice on the board? Need it for those that keep saying we can host a SB in Buffalo. 🤦🏻‍♂️ 

I don't know if you were responding to my post from just before yours.  My statement clearly said AFC Championship game, not SB.

[Metal Man]

13 minutes ago, SDS said:

that sounds fine, but your last line sounds like a guess. 

 

Definitely just a guess which is all any of us can really do right now in regards to how they came up with that capacity number.

 

Anything that has to do with maximizing profit though is probably a good guess.

[Back2Buff]

1 hour ago, NJKBillsfan said:

Does it even make sense for the new stadium to be only 60k when the current stadium consistently sells out at 73k?

 

Plus the team is just getting good so demand will be even higher in the future. 

 

No it doesn't.  Obviously last year there were no fans, but in 2019 when this team was on the verge of playoffs, the stadium did not sell out in December.

 

When the weather gets cold, that stadium is lucky to get 60k.

[Doc]

18 minutes ago, SDS said:

that sounds fine, but your last line sounds like a guess. 

 

Not really.  According to jw's report, they considered 65K seats at $200M more.

[SDS]

Just now, Doc said:

 

Not really.  According to jw's report, they considered 65K seats at $200M more.

 

I didn't read the story. If that's the case, then that is an excellent reason to downsize. Thanks for the head's up.

[Doc]

Just now, SDS said:

I didn't read the story. If that's the case, then that is an excellent reason to downsize. Thanks for the head's up.

 

No problem.  I just don't think that 60K versus 65K (league average) is such a big deal.  With more and more tech, people are watching at home more.  This way they get sell-outs consistently even in the dead of winter.  But my opinion/guess is that the 60K isn't set in stone.

[May Day 10]

5 minutes ago, Back2Buff said:

 

No it doesn't.  Obviously last year there were no fans, but in 2019 when this team was on the verge of playoffs, the stadium did not sell out in December.

 

When the weather gets cold, that stadium is lucky to get 60k.

 

I just looked at attendance figured for the 2019 season

 

December 29th vs jets had 69,016

December 8th vs Ravens had 69,134

The opener vs Cincinnati had 69,448

 

according to football reference.

[Virgil]

WGR said this morning it was a covered stadium, anyone else hear that?   

[NoHuddleKelly12]

Part of our home field advantage has always been the noise generated by the 12th man of course, and am just wondering what the acoustics engineering will look like to still be able to retain current levels (hopefully) even with less total fans in the stands? The Falcons solved their "decibel woes" a few years back by other means, but we don't want to stoop to that. 

 

 https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2015/02/01/report-falcons-alleged-to-have-piped-in-crowd-noise-nfl-discipline-expected/  

Edited September 1, 2021 by NoHuddleKelly12