Bills push to host a future NFL Draft.

[Billl]

On 3/31/2025 at 9:16 AM, PromoTheRobot said:

https://www.si.com/nfl/bills/news/highmark-stadium-making-serious-push-host-future-nfl-draft

 

Considering recent drafts have drawn close to 300,000 people I'd like to see how they pull this off in Orchard Park.

 

 

 

The drafts draw a total of roughly 300,000 total in attendance over the 3 day event.  They don’t draw 300,000 unique people, and there is never anywhere near that number gathered at a single time.  You might get half that many on day 1, and that’s a ton of people but it’s manageable.  The majority of those people will be locals as well, so it’s not like everyone attending will need hotel rooms.  Buffalo would do a great job.  

[Mark Vader]

On 3/31/2025 at 7:22 AM, Gregg said:

Isn't GB hosting it this year. They are just as small or even smaller than the Buffalo market. I would love to see the Bills host the NFL draft if they can make it work. What better place to a hold an NFL draft then in a football mad city like Buffalo.

If they can have it in Green Bay, they can have it in Buffalo.

[Jamie Nails]

10 hours ago, Mark Vader said:

Are you still going?

ohh yeah. Not going to miss it. lol 

[US Egg]

Bills could learn a thing or two from Green Bay:

 

 

 

[Buffalo716]

14 hours ago, US Egg said:

Bills could learn a thing or two from Green Bay:

 

 

 

Dude first of all Green Bay is 3 or 4 times larger than orchard Park lol

 

Second of all orchard Park doesn't want any of this.. that's the thing everybody's missing 

 

They don't want to get built up , they don't want to get turned into cheektowaga 

 

They literally like being a small town that turns into a small city nine times a year 

 

They don't  15 more restaurants or 15 more hotels or the town expanded.. people move to orchard Park because they like it how it is

[GunnerBill]

19 minutes ago, Buffalo716 said:

Dude first of all Green Bay is 3 or 4 times larger than orchard Park lol

 

Second of all orchard Park doesn't want any of this.. that's the thing everybody's missing 

 

They don't want to get built up , they don't want to get turned into cheektowaga 

 

They literally like being a small town that turns into a small city nine times a year 

 

They don't  15 more restaurants or 15 more hotels or the town expanded.. people move to orchard Park because they like it how it is

 

If the developers see an opportunity that rarely stops them. 

[US Egg]

4 minutes ago, GunnerBill said:

If the developers see an opportunity that rarely stops them. 

Don’t encourage him.

[Buffalo716]

41 minutes ago, GunnerBill said:

 

If the developers see an opportunity that rarely stops them. 

 

Well it's one thing if they put it on the Buffalo Bills grounds or in the immediate vicinity of the stadium 

 

It's a completely different thing to build up orchard Park... Which is what many people have expressed their desires to do in all the new stadium threads... With cries of woe is me and why can't we have good stuff and this is why Wny is stuck in the past

 

Also every single new development in orchard Park has to get voted on... Which they are very very conservative... They already approved a bills zone in 4 districts surrounding the stadium 

 

That's the spots  that they will build up and people will still cry

 

 

Edited 23 hours ago by Buffalo716

[WotAGuy]

On 3/31/2025 at 10:21 AM, GunnerBill said:

I'm coming if they do

I mean, I’ll be pretty excited too, but not THAT excited. 

[GunnerBill]

1 minute ago, WotAGuy said:

I mean, I’ll be pretty excited too, but not THAT excited. 

 

Sadly with Poyer and Diggs gone and Milano maybe on his final run the Bills are short of players who makde me excited in that way.

[Augie]

On 3/31/2025 at 10:22 AM, Gregg said:

Isn't GB hosting it this year. They are just as small or even smaller than the Buffalo market. I would love to see the Bills host the NFL draft if they can make it work. What better place to a hold an NFL draft then in a football mad city like Buffalo.

 

My sister lives in nearby Appleton and they keep asking if I’m coming for the draft. I am not, but I did stay with them the last time the Bills played up there so it was nice to ask. They have extra rooms and thought it was something I’d love and space is clearly at a premium. But the draft is not really my thing, especially in GB.

 

They tell me they will be using parks to house people in RV’s and tents, but there may be snow on the ground. I’d rather attend the draft in Green Bay than sleep on the ground when it’s covered with snow, but I’m good with neither. 

 

I have no idea how equipped WNY is to handle a thing like that. I’ve been gone far too long to have an opinion. 

 

.

Edited 23 hours ago by Augie

[Gugny]

On 3/31/2025 at 10:21 AM, GunnerBill said:

I'm coming if they do

I’ll get excited about it, but this seems a little overboard. 

[PromoTheRobot]

1 hour ago, Buffalo716 said:

Dude first of all Green Bay is 3 or 4 times larger than orchard Park lol

 

Second of all orchard Park doesn't want any of this.. that's the thing everybody's missing 

 

They don't want to get built up , they don't want to get turned into cheektowaga 

 

They literally like being a small town that turns into a small city nine times a year 

 

They don't  15 more restaurants or 15 more hotels or the town expanded.. people move to orchard Park because they like it how it is

 

Then why the #### did they fight so hard to keep the stadium in OP? For years they made sure the only development the stadium area ever saw was a Tim Hortons and a 7-11. Building up that area isn't going to ruin their precious little town, the main part of which is several miles to the east.

[Logic]

On 4/1/2025 at 10:50 AM, Logic said:

 

Just gonna re-post this, as it pertains to the discussion that immediately followed it in this thread.

It certainly seems like the Bills ARE interested in learning from Green Bay, with regard to what its done surrounding its stadium and what its planning to do for the draft.

[Buffalo716]

5 minutes ago, PromoTheRobot said:

 

Then why the #### did they fight so hard to keep the stadium in OP? For years they made sure the only development the stadium area ever saw was a Tim Hortons and a 7-11. Building up that area isn't going to ruin their precious little town, the main part of which is several miles to the east.

Well that's my point.. you don't need to develop all of orchard Park to have a nice experience 

 

The Buffalo Bills and I'm sure they know what they're doing... Have already got a couple of zones okayed for a Bills entertainment zone in the vicinity of the stadium 

 

I was more talking about the people who always cry about Western New York being stuck in the past and we can't have nice things and orchard Park is a ghost town.. yet the stadium is going to be one of the best in the world, it's going to be gorgeous and I'm sure it's going to be a great experience around the stadium

 

They are going to have a Bills entertainment district in the vicinity... But my point is people are still going to complain because it won't be good enough for them... They're always going to find something to complain about .. and most of them don't live in Western New York 

 

I on the other hand I am ecstatic about the new stadium...  and everything that will come with it

 

 

 

 

Edited 23 hours ago by Buffalo716

[PromoTheRobot]

1 minute ago, Buffalo716 said:

Well that's my point.. you don't need to develop all of orchard Park to have a nice experience 

 

The Buffalo Bills and I'm sure they know what they're doing... Have already got a couple of zones okayed for a Bills entertainment zone in the vicinity of the stadium 

 

I was more talking about the people who always cry about Western New York being stuck in the past and we can't have nice things and orchard Park is a ghost town.. yet the stadium is going to be one of the best in the world, it's going to be gorgeous and I'm sure it's going to be a great experience around the stadium

 

They are going to have a Bills entertainment district in the vicinity... But my point is people are still going to complain because it won't be good enough

 

 

 

You're going to tear down the old stadium, plus there's talk of eliminating ECC South. That's more than enough room for extra parking and a small-ish "Patriot Place" development. Two hotels, a couple of restaurants, a music venue and you really have something.

[Buffalo716]

5 minutes ago, PromoTheRobot said:

 

You're going to tear down the old stadium, plus there's talk of eliminating ECC South. That's more than enough room for extra parking and a small-ish "Patriot Place" development. Two hotels, a couple of restaurants, a music venue and you really have something.

Are they really going to get rid of ECC South? Where's their campus going to go 

 

 I think there's already 10 plus hotels in orchard Park for a town of 30,000.. I think they can do one more around the stadium and a couple of restaurants maybe one with a music venue,  yes that's totally doable 

 

But orchard Park certainly cannot handle 12 new restaurants 365 days a year.. when the town only blows up 10 days a year... There's not enough of a consistent customer base 

 

They could handle two restaurants for sure

Edited 23 hours ago by Buffalo716

[Augie]

1 minute ago, PromoTheRobot said:

 

You're going to tear down the old stadium, plus there's talk of eliminating ECC South. That's more than enough room for extra parking and a small-ish "Patriot Place" development. Two hotels, a couple of restaurants, a music venue and you really have something.

 

I have to admit, the start of baseball season kind of bums me out. I enjoy the restaurants and entertainment at The Battery in Atlanta, where the Braves play. I have to check the Braves schedule now before I can go there for lunch. It’s awesome with hotels, retail, countless restaurants, theaters, etc. My son will start working out of there as soon as their office is completed. 

 

Sorry, I just really like the Battery, and I’ve walked home before (thank you, Uber) so it’s not too far from home. Can OP support a smaller version of that? I have no idea. I think it would be great if it’s viable. 

[Buffalo716]

4 minutes ago, Augie said:

 

I have to admit, the start of baseball season kind of bums me out. I enjoy the restaurants and entertainment at The Battery in Atlanta, where the Braves play. I have to check the Braves schedule now before I can go there for lunch. It’s awesome with hotels, retail, countless restaurants, theaters, etc. My son will start working out of there as soon as their office is completed. 

 

Sorry, I just really like the Battery, and I’ve walked home before (thank you, Uber) so it’s not too far from home. Can OP support a smaller version of that? I have no idea. I think it would be great if it’s viable. 

A tiny tiny version and that's what I've been saying.. orchard Park has approved and entertainment district... In four zones surrounding the stadium 

 

You're probably going to get a bills Hall of Fame type exhibition... Maybe a little fan interaction stuff... A hotel and probably two or three restaurants 

 

Orchard Park zoning literally doesn't even allow for buildings over two and a half stories... The Buffalo Bills got them to change that and now they're allowed four story in the zones around the stadium.. so I can see a nice hotel , a couple of restaurants... And if a millionaire really wants to get his hands dirty maybe a brewery / restaurant 

 

 

Edited 23 hours ago by Buffalo716

[Virgil]

Could the Bills buy up enough local land and have POI's build in time for a draft in 3 years?  So much of that area is residential and the school, I don't know how the logistics would go.  I would love them to open a Duffs, Anchor, Bar Bill, and other places within walking distance of the new stadium.  Really make a Bills game a full day event.  

 

For our family, we rush out of the stadium and head to Duff's about 2 miles away, and watch the 2nd half of the 4p games.  We then drive home once all the traffic has died down.