New "ironclad" Stadium deal reached

[Augie]

1 hour ago, eball said:

 

I'll beg to differ.  The time is loooooooong past for "if they had built it downtown" takes.  Move on, folks.

 

 

I have always said as long as the Bills remain in WNY I’ll be content. I’m good. Having said that, my first preference was a downtown stadium strictly for selfish reasons. I fly into town for games, usually by myself. Taking one person in a rental car or finding a ride to the stadium is less than ideal. To be able to walk from the downtown hotel to the stadium, as I’ve done in other cities, is awesome! I’m sure I’m not alone in that feeling. 

 

BUT, that will NOT be the case so I’m not wasting any mental energy on the topic. If anybody is obsessed with not getting exactly what they wanted, I suggest they look up the Serenity Prayer. It ain’t happening, so let it go. 

[mrags]

22 minutes ago, Buffalo716 said:

First , Any family that comes to Buffalo to see a Bills game has plenty of options

 

There are tons of restaurants and nightlife and nicer things downtown… Sheas district is beautiful…. There are tons of really nice mom and pop restaurants

 

People are parking in the RV lot a week before the game

 

There’s not a better city the day of a game than buffalo … And I’ve been to 13 stadiums

That’s my point. There aren’t any options really on game day. Leading up to the game. Or after the game. Unless you want to tailgate. Which is fine. But it’s not for everyone. And for the price of tickets, I just feel like people want more. 
 

the RV lot a few days before the game is one thing but let’s be real. A few hundred people aren’t moving the needle. If they were, places like Big Tree, Danny’s, and Prohibition would be doing much better than they are. 
 

I’ve been to a lot of stadiums as well. And I’m not going to debate the downtown thing any further. Of course there would be much more to do there. But I’ve been to some cities/stadiums that are much more fun than going to a tailgate in some muddy lot in OP 

[Buffalo716]

8 minutes ago, mrags said:

That’s my point. There aren’t any options really on game day. Leading up to the game. Or after the game. Unless you want to tailgate. Which is fine. But it’s not for everyone. And for the price of tickets, I just feel like people want more. 
 

the RV lot a few days before the game is one thing but let’s be real. A few hundred people aren’t moving the needle. If they were, places like Big Tree, Danny’s, and Prohibition would be doing much better than they are. 
 

I’ve been to a lot of stadiums as well. And I’m not going to debate the downtown thing any further. Of course there would be much more to do there. But I’ve been to some cities/stadiums that are much more fun than going to a tailgate in some muddy lot in OP 

What people don’t understand is that Orchard Park is rural

 

That’s why it was the perfect choice For a football stadium

 

Because that’s all that was getting built

 

They don’t want to turn Orchard Park into Cheektowaga… The residents of Orchard Park want to keep it a town of 3000 people… That’s why they moved to Orchard Park

 

Which makes it perfect for an escape… It’s the perfect place for a stadium that could turn into a city once a week… Eight times a year

 

That’s literally golden

Edited April 5, 2023 by Buffalo716

[mrags]

3 minutes ago, Buffalo716 said:

What people don’t understand is that Orchard Park is rural

 

That’s why it was the perfect choice For a football stadium

 

Because that’s all that was getting built

 

They don’t want to turn Orchard Park into Cheektowaga… The residents of Orchard Park want to keep it a town of 5000 people

 

Which makes it perfect for an escape… It’s the perfect place for a stadium that could turn into a city once a week… Eight times a year

 

That’s literally golden

Not to everyone. Again. That’s perfectly fine now. But in the future as tech becomes better. As your home TV is as clear as being there in person. And at the cost of not spending 600+ on pair of tickets. You need to find ways to keep people coming to the stadium. Just the game isn’t going to cut it anymore. It works now because you can get tickets for less than $100 a game. But in the future it’s not going to be the case. The plan can’t just be to build and new stadium and charge 2-3x as much and expect people to sell it out. We have a hard enough time selling out games now when the weather gets crumby. And we currently have a 7k person wait list for season tix. 

[SoCal Deek]

1 hour ago, mrags said:

I agree and it’s what is needed going forward imo. Like it was brought up in the thread before it can’t just be the game and tailgating. It’s got to be a whole day of experience. Drunks 20 somethings aren’t bringing anything to the table as far as what the Bills, the NFL, or the town/city/state is looking for.
They want families spending weeks worth of savings to come to town on a road trip to games. Spending money on organization parking, drinks, food, and memorabilia to go with everyone in the family on their way out.
Showing up a few hours before game time, chugging beers in the lot, puking in your bleacher end zone seat, and getting into an accident on the way home isn’t doing anything for the Bills, the NFL, or the town. 

I’m not sure if I follow your logic here. Won’t the new stadium ticket prices and associated costs tend to weed out the twenty something crowd? So assuming that it does, I’m advocating for a football centric experience for those that will actually still be attending. Now mind you, I don’t see this as a fur coat and pearl necklace crowd, but more of a WNY sports crowd. It would be a ton of fun, building on the existing traditions, and be completely unique to the NFL. But… it wouldn’t be upscale restaurants and stores that’d be closed the other 355 days of the year. 

 

 

Edited April 5, 2023 by SoCal Deek

[Huh? What?]

I like the possible transit options.... Aging myself... my Dad and I took the bus to War Memorial for games and would go back to the restaurant on the bus line, to only take the bus to the Sabres' games... Okay, it was only one trip only for each game in '72 and it was a communion present, but my parents did it all the time as they had seasons for both teams through the restaurant.... But back then tailgating wasn't a big thing. I think those who may take the transit option are not going to be tailgaters....  they may be older, who probably will occupy mid price seats... My Bills experience through 50+ years of fandom is as follows

1... childhood... Dad brings me to a game

2. Bills' tickets in high school... Great game fun to watch

3. College... I know people working the concessions... buy a cup throw the cup back... free beer... Game... what game?... Dad is here? (The Dufek Years)

4. Inherit seasons... bringing a date we meet up others tailgating.... must leave at 8 AM to fully embrace the atmosphere... (snickering that girlfriend couldn't pee like us guys and her lines to pee in the stadium....)

5. Still have tix... but we meet in a bar before the game and leave at 12:15....

6. Same as #5... but we leave at the end of the 3rd quarter to avoid traffic and go to bar...

7. We just go to the bar for the game

8. Why go to bar, it's on TV...

9. clipping coupons... yelling... those damn kids today...

My point is as we get older, we may appreciate letting the others drive us to a game, if we can afford it and Thor will be our next president... (okay I've gone to far...Hah!!!)

Thanks for letting me post... Cheers to all of you...

 

 

Edited April 5, 2023 by Huh? What?
new wording

[mrags]

3 minutes ago, SoCal Deek said:

I’m not sure if I follow your logic here. Won’t the new stadium ticket prices and associated costs tend to weed out the twenty something crowd? So assuming that it does, I’m advocating for a football centric experience for those that will actually still be attending. Now mind you, I don’t see this as a fur coat and pearl necklace crowd, but more of a WNY sports crowd. It would be a ton of fun, building on the existing traditions, and be completely unique to the NFL. But… it wouldn’t be upscale restaurants and stores that’d be closed the other 355 days of the year. 

 

 

Yes I do believe the price increases as well as the wait list will weed out many of the drunken stupidness that currently happens in the lots now. 
 

im just stating what the Bills org, NFL, and town wants out of this. A complete cleanup of the area and what happens on game day. Not all of it will be gone. But I feel like a good amount will. But if your going to do that, you need more things for business patrons, and families will enjoy at the games. 
 

like was said, just tailgating in muddy lots isn’t going to cut it. Like what you said, stages set up with performers, music, etc. 

[Buffalo716]

6 minutes ago, SUNY_amherst said:

it made sense in the 1970s to have a stadium in Orchard Park

 

in the 2020s/30s people want to visit city centers and enjoy all the nightlife

 

Thats why nobody else is doing this anymore. Imagine the Browns building a stadium in Geneva/Conneaut… or Pittsburgh Steelers in Meadville! ..and taxpayers dropping a BILLION on it… 

 

yeah, no LOL. They built their stadiums right freakin downtown obviously cause they aren’t stupid

 

Really cause the Bears are about to move to Arlington Heights Imao
 

[Buffalo716]

13 minutes ago, SUNY_amherst said:

No public funding. 

Chicago is a world-class city with billions and billions of dollars of revenue

 

The fact anybody compares any other teams in the league to Buffalo shows how Little they think critically

 

There’s not one fortune 500 company in Buffalo… 

Not one

 

Hence we need public funding

It’s a simple as this Mr. troll… Do you want the bills or no?

 

If you do you should be ecstatic they will be here for your childrens children 

 

 

 

Edited April 5, 2023 by Buffalo716

[Kiva]

8 minutes ago, Buffalo716 said:

Chicago is a world-class city with billions and billions of dollars of revenue

 

The fact anybody compares any other teams in the league to Buffalo shows how Little they think critically

 

There’s not one fortune 500 company in Buffalo… 

Not one

 

Hence we need public funding

It’s a simple as this Mr. troll… Do you want the bills or no?

 

If you do you should be ecstatic they will be here for your childrens children 

 

 

 

Why wasn’t there a vote on public funding? Here in SD, we voted down a public funding measure for the chargers and they bolted. SD is in much better financial shape than Buffalo.     

If Buffalo cannot build an appropriate stadium (dome) in an appropriate location (city) take the public funding off the table until it can be voted on.  As a voter, The billionaire owner should pay 100%

 

 

Edited April 5, 2023 by Kiva

[Buffalo716]

5 minutes ago, Kiva said:

Why wasn’t there a vote on public funding? Here in SD, we voted down a public funding measure for the chargers and they bolted. SD is in much better financial shape than Buffalo.     

If Buffalo cannot build an appropriate stadium (dome) in an appropriate location (city) take the public funding off the table until it can be voted on.  As a voter, The billionaire owner should pay 100%

 

 

Ralph Wilson did not own Ralph Wilson stadium

 

A precedent was set

[SoCal Deek]

10 minutes ago, Kiva said:

Why wasn’t there a vote on public funding? Here in SD, we voted down a public funding measure for the chargers and they bolted. SD is in much better financial shape than Buffalo.     

If Buffalo cannot build an appropriate stadium (dome) in an appropriate location (city) take the public funding off the table until it can be voted on.  As a voter, The billionaire owner should pay 100%

 

 

So your complaint is with the Governor then? 

[Kiva]

1 minute ago, Buffalo716 said:

Ralph Wilson did not own Ralph Wilson stadium

 

A precedent was set

Precedent has no merit.  Public opinion is what matters.  The answer is obvious, they avoided a vote because they knew it would be a No and decided to force the issue.  We need to start over on this project and be sure this has public backing. If no dome, it would fail.  If not in the city of Buffalo, it would fail.  It’s a giant waste of tax dollars in the wrong part of the state. 

Just now, SoCal Deek said:

So your complaint is with the Governor then? 

Without getting political, she was a fill in at the time, an unelected governor. She has special interests in the area, it doesn’t surprise me she tried to fool the public to get this deal passed. Investigation should be done before any ground is broke.  

[Buffalo Super Fan]

3 hours ago, SoCal Deek said:

Exactly! So why not create the best tailgating experience in the nation with plenty of restrooms, electrical hookups, solar carports, performance stages, and parking lot based beverage/concession stands. This is WNY, not Southern California. If fans are going to cough up extra cash for the seats themselves, why not make the before game experience truly extraordinary at a price that your regular Bills fans can afford?

But that doesn’t put money into the Buffalo Bills or the other NFL teams pockets. I think tailgating is going to be redefined by the Buffalo Bills to inside the Bills Jerry Jones world stadium gates with the Bills, NFL getting fans money. Also don’t discount the 6% surcharge the Bills have the right to use to there choosing at some point on sales of tickets, food and merchandise it was in the Watson Buffalo News Article. If Bills fans can’t see the way this is going I don’t know really anything more I can say. See I guess my point is why cut corners on the new Bills stadium because the Bills fan is paying going NFL rate either way. The Ralph Wilson Highmark Stadium, parking lots tailgate Buffalo Bills are over after 2025 enjoy the next couple of years. I think some Bills fans thought mistaking so time will tell great Orchard Park location, across the street nothing will change to the Bills tailgating experience is a huge assumption in my opinion. Go Bills! Let’s Go Buffalo 

[Buffalo716]

5 minutes ago, Kiva said:

Precedent has no merit.  Public opinion is what matters.  The answer is obvious, they avoided a vote because they knew it would be a No and decided to force the issue.  We need to start over on this project and be sure this has public backing. If no dome, it would fail.  If not in the city of Buffalo, it would fail.  It’s a giant waste of tax dollars in the wrong part of the state. 

Without getting political, she was a fill in at the time, an unelected governor. She has special interests in the area, it doesn’t surprise me she tried to fool the public to get this deal passed. Investigation should be done before any ground is broke.  

That’s your opinion 

 

There are hundreds and hundreds of thousands of people in Western New York who are willing to have a slight increase in taxes for the Buffalo Bills

 

I don’t know if you know how taxes work but most of the state money is coming down state from New York City billionaires and millionaires

[SoCal Deek]

4 minutes ago, Kiva said:

 

Without getting political, she was a fill in at the time, an unelected governor. She has special interests in the area, it doesn’t surprise me she tried to fool the public to get this deal passed. Investigation should be done before any ground is broke.  

I’m not trying to be political. At least not in the traditional Left v Right sense. It’s apparent that the State wanted to invest in this project.  No? 

[Kiva]

3 minutes ago, Buffalo716 said:

That’s your opinion 

 

There are hundreds and hundreds of thousands of people in Western New York who are willing to have a slight increase in taxes for the Buffalo Bills

 

I don’t know if you know how taxes work but most of the state money is coming down state from New York City billionaires and millionaires

Not nearly enough money is coming from downstate to sustain. I left wny because taxes and are just way too high and the stagnant economy. I’m in Cali now and with my 1.8 million dollar assessment, I’d be paying  $54k/ year in property taxes, 37k more than I’m paying here. With no representation. 

[Buffalo716]

2 minutes ago, Kiva said:

Not nearly enough money is coming from downstate to sustain. I left wny because taxes and are just way too high and the stagnant economy. I’m in Cali now and with my 1.8 million dollar assessment, I’d be paying  $54k/ year in property taxes, 37k more than I’m paying here. With no representation. 

Every single person in office in Western New York the people voted for

 

And it’s clear the state wants the bills to stay

 

And how much do you think local western NY taxes are going up?

 

Because I can guarantee you it’s much less than what you’re thinking

Edited April 5, 2023 by Buffalo716

[WyoAZBillfan]

42 minutes ago, Buffalo716 said:

Chicago is a world-class city with billions and billions of dollars of revenue

 

The fact anybody compares any other teams in the league to Buffalo shows how Little they think critically

 

There’s not one fortune 500 company in Buffalo… 

Not one

 

Hence we need public funding

It’s a simple as this Mr. troll… Do you want the bills or no?

 

If you do you should be ecstatic they will be here for your childrens children 

 

 

 

Lost me at Chicago is a world class city….I know there’s more to the statement but..

[Buffalo716]

1 minute ago, WyoAZBillfan said:

Lost me at Chicago is a world class city….I know there’s more to the statement but..

Like every huge city it has problems but it’s 100% a world class city 

 

From arts and entertainment to food and athletics or architecture it’s world class