Kathy Hochul: San Diego was interested in taking the Bills away from Buffalo

[Greg S]

A very legitimate source said there were cities interested in taking the Bills away from Buffalo before the team struck a deal for a new stadium.

On Wednesday, New York Gov. Kathy Hochul said via WNYC radio that cities that specifically lost teams wanted to land the Bills had there been a possibility.

She went on to indicate that San Diego was one.

“I was aware that they were being reached out to by other cities that have lost teams before. That is real,” Hochul said.

“My whole life there was talk of them going to Toronto… Buffalo is a very small market. It is quite extraordinary that they have a team at all,” she added. “Because there’s a lot more money to be had in those larger cities like San Diego and others who would love to have a team. So, that’s a reality most people probably aren’t familiar with.”

Hochul, a western New York native, would be well aware of the Toronto subject.

On March 28, it was officially announced that a $1.4 billion venue would be built for the Bills in Orchard Park next to their current home. The team will be locked into playing there for at least 30 years and will begin in 2026.

The building will officially be an open-air stadium with about a 62,000-seating capacity.

The Bills and the NFL will front $550M for the project. The $850M total from taxpayers covers 61 percent of the total cost of construction.

Other markets that lost NFL franchises in the past include St. Louis and Oakland.

[Dablitzkrieg]

Water is wet too

[machine gun kelly]

My spec. is that simply trying to let her voters know the threat was real and make the $850 mil. More palatable.  Who knows how serious San Diego was when they wouldn’t fork up the $ for a newer Chargers stadium.  It went to a refendum (like everything on the left coast)

[purple haze]

Of course.  Not surprising at all.  The deal they struck was definitely lopsided against the state of NY, but either they anted up or the Bills could leave.  With no guarantee that money would be used on “more important things.”

[Greg S]

3 minutes ago, Dablitzkrieg said:

Water is wet too

 

This just reinforces the fact that she was able to get a deal done and secure the long term future for the Bills in WNY. We(fans) can relax and don't have to worry about relocation anymore. SD can wait 34 years now if they want the Bills. By that time I will probably be taking a permanent dirt nap.

[purple haze]

4 minutes ago, machine gun kelly said:

My spec. is that simply trying to let her voters know the threat was real and make the $850 mil. More palatable.  Who knows how serious San Diego was when they wouldn’t fork up the $ for a newer Chargers stadium.  It went to a refendum (like everything on the left coast)

True. But she only mentioned San Diego.  There seems to have been other places as well.  Pegula’s would definitely be fronting all the money for a California stadium.  Public money for new stadiums isn’t a thing out here.

Edited April 13, 2022 by purple haze

[machine gun kelly]

PH, yep, and you’d think some of the detractors at least felt a little better that what $450 mil. Of it comes from gambling $.  
 

Im in no rush for the new stadium simply as when I fly up with my kids for a September game, it’s four airfares, tix, and spending for the whole family while there.  It’s an investment which is why I’ve only in the last few years gone up twice and of course the wind was miserable in beginning of November.

[SlimShady'sSpaceForce]

Taint nothing worse than a story w/o a link. 

 

Quote

Hochul referenced years of rumors about the Bills moving to nearby Toronto, while also sharing that San Diego and other larger cities that recently lost NFL franchises had reached out to the Pegulas about relocating their franchise.

 

Edited April 13, 2022 by SlimShady'sSpaceForce

[Warcodered]

Saw some tweets talking about the deal that noted something that I think people tend to ignore for some reason. As rich as the Pegula's are it's not realistic to think they just have a 1 Billion+ available to just spend on this, their net worth is including assets.

[Bruffalo]

Taking the Chargers to LA was such BS.  As if Los Angles needs two NFL franchises to be uninterested in. 

[machine gun kelly]

4 minutes ago, purple haze said:

True. But she only mentioned San Diego.  There seems to have been other places as well.  Pegula’s would definitely be fronting all the money for a California stadium.  Public money for new stadiums isn’t a thing out here.

That’s because they are always broke with excessive spending by the govt.  Sorry, I’ve had three home offices out there for Mgmt meetings. Multiple times a year and was appalled by the excessive spending.

[Greg S]

2 minutes ago, SlimShady'sSpaceForce said:

Taint nothing worse than a story w/o a link. 

 

 

 

Gov. Kathy Hochul: San Diego was option for Buffalo Bills relocation (usatoday.com)

 

[Ya Digg?]

So the team that already showed they couldn’t afford/help pay for a team was somehow going to land another team?? 

[Rochesterfan]

1 minute ago, machine gun kelly said:

My spec. is that simply trying to let her voters know the threat was real and make the $850 mil. More palatable.  Who knows how serious San Diego was when they wouldn’t fork up the $ for a newer Chargers stadium.  It went to a refendum (like everything on the left coast)

 

Agreed, but Baltimore wouldn’t fork over the money and the Colts moved - suddenly they find the money and steal the Browns.

 

Cleveland couldn’t find the money and when the Baltimore threat was realized - suddenly Cleveland found the money and then built a stadium for the new Browns.

 

The same goes for St. Louis - lost the Cardinals - built a huge new dome for the Rams.  Oakland lost the Raiders to LA and then got them back and lost them again over Stadium money.  
 

Houston needed a new stadium - lost the Oilers - built a huge new dome for the Texans. LA had 2 teams leave that needed new stadiums and tax breaks - San Diego needed a new stadium - lost the Chargers - why would it be a surprise that suddenly they decided they could force through the tax increase on Hotels that failed and make another nice offer.

 

I would call BS except the exact same thing has happened at least 8 times in the last 30 years and every town that lost a team suddenly found funding to throw at a new team.  
 

Every time.

 

The difference is if the Bills left Buffalo - they were not coming back - we were dead.

 

 

[Greg S]

3 minutes ago, SlimShady'sSpaceForce said:

Taint nothing worse than a story w/o a link. 

 

 

 

Sorry I can't post the link but its there.

[TBBills]

San Diego always wants a team until they get one then they don't want one anymore. San Diego is a psychotic girlfriend. 

Edited April 13, 2022 by TBBills

[ALF]

San Diego could have kept the Chargers . The Bills would have to pay a massive amount to the NFL and its owners to move and then be expected to chip in big for a new stadium there, not likely.

[Augie]

Just now, Ya Digg? said:

So the team that already showed they couldn’t afford/help pay for a team was somehow going to land another team?? 

 

That is how the game is played. Strange, I know…….  🤷‍♂️

[machine gun kelly]

12 minutes ago, TBBills said:

San Diego always wants a team until they get one then they don't want one anymore. San Diego is a psychotic girlfriend. 

You’ve obviously speak from experience.

 🤪

[Doc]

There has been talk about NFL expanding.  Which obviously means they believe there are more markets out there.  San Diego is potentially one of them so this is wholly believable.