beausox Posted April 14, 2006 Share Posted April 14, 2006 We are a small market. We lack Fortune 500 companies to spend lavishly for football entertainment. The ticket prices are the lowest in the League. The next owner even IF a Wilson will have a huge nut and/or inheritance tax to crack. The conclusion is plain. Since we cant change population and wealth in the short run we must as fans compensate the next owner by being willing to pay more , much more, for tickets. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Coach Tuesday Posted April 14, 2006 Share Posted April 14, 2006 I don't know who you mean by "we", but Buffalo has its politicians to thank and no one else. The corrupt political elite that has run the City and County for the last 20+ years have drained the wealth out of the area by raising taxes in order to make good on promises to unions that never should have been made, all the while driving out more and more businesses. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
buffaloboyinATL Posted April 14, 2006 Share Posted April 14, 2006 We are a small market. We lack Fortune 500 companies to spend lavishly for football entertainment. The ticket prices are the lowest in the League. The next owner even IF a Wilson will have a huge nut and/or inheritance tax to crack.The conclusion is plain. Since we cant change population and wealth in the short run we must as fans compensate the next owner by being willing to pay more , much more, for tickets. 662084[/snapback] How exactly are "we" as football fans, to blame for the Buffalo economy. To date, Bills fans have continued to shell out the asking price for tickets to games. We have also remained in the top 10 in the league when it comes to buying team merchandise. Are we supposed to slip the ticket takers " a little something extra" the next time we go to a game? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cgang Posted April 14, 2006 Share Posted April 14, 2006 How are the fans to blame? That implies that the fans have control or have somehow not supported the team in the past. We complain a lot and weren't exactly packing the stadium for the better part of the 80's (a few frigid New England Patriots games come to mind) but I think we'd only be to blame if the support wasn't there. I think it is, judging by our attendance rankings and the current valuation of the team. Last time I checked, Wilson and the NFL calls the shots. As to the inheritance "nut", I blame Wilson for not being creative with his inheritance matters. Check out the following article on espn. http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?i...ht&lid=tab1pos2. Other owners have been a bit more pro-active on that front. And I blame the NFL for tinkering with the rev. share rules to essentially carve out exceptions for new owners who buy lower rev. generating teams (as discussed elsewhere on TSW). I still can't figure out the stadium name rights issue. Red herring or not, if I was an owner in a small market team, I'd be searching for revenue anywhere I could get it. But if you buy Wilson's argument, neither higher ticket prices or naming rights would be enough to keep the Bills competitive. This all smacks of laying the foundation for a departure regardless of fan support IMHO. It will be interesting to see how this all plays out. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark VI Posted April 14, 2006 Share Posted April 14, 2006 Right. The owners and players have a greed competition and it's the loyal fans fault for not paying thousands for tickets. All seats should be corporate and not real fans. Thanks for posting. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Red Dragon Posted April 14, 2006 Share Posted April 14, 2006 We are a small market. We lack Fortune 500 companies to spend lavishly for football entertainment. The ticket prices are the lowest in the League. The next owner even IF a Wilson will have a huge nut and/or inheritance tax to crack.The conclusion is plain. Since we cant change population and wealth in the short run we must as fans compensate the next owner by being willing to pay more , much more, for tickets. 662084[/snapback] This is the opinion of the brainwashed. The new owner can do what he feels is necessary in regard to ticket prices, but nobody should be "willing" to pay more for tickets. Until it is otherwise proven, it does not seem possible to me that this team cannot be profitable. Futhermore, to be willing to be 'willing" to pay more to watch one of the worst teams in the NFL is insanity. If the Bills can no longer thrive in the new economics of the NFL, they can move the team to another area that has "willing" fans. I have been a lifelong Bills fan, and enjoy watching them play, but there is absolutely no way I will allow myself to threatened by this organization. Western New York will survive without them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crap Throwing Monkey Posted April 14, 2006 Share Posted April 14, 2006 We are a small market. We lack Fortune 500 companies to spend lavishly for football entertainment. 662084[/snapback] And that's the fans' fault? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dundy249 Posted April 14, 2006 Share Posted April 14, 2006 I don't know who you mean by "we", but Buffalo has its politicians to thank and no one else. The corrupt political elite that has run the City and County for the last 20+ years have drained the wealth out of the area by raising taxes in order to make good on promises to unions that never should have been made, all the while driving out more and more businesses. 662113[/snapback] I think he meant "we" because we the people keep voting these fools into office. I have no love affair for one party or the other, but when will Buffalo relize they are voting the wrong people in. Nothing ever gets done. This is the reason I and many like me have left Buffalo and are now prospering in cities around the country. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MichFan Posted April 14, 2006 Share Posted April 14, 2006 I think he meant "we" because we the people keep voting these fools into office. I have no love affair for one party or the other, but when will Buffalo relize they are voting the wrong people in. Nothing ever gets done.This is the reason I and many like me have left Buffalo and are now prospering in cities around the country. 662168[/snapback] Couldn't agree more. WNY'ers have never met a politician who couldn't buy their vote with a promise of more socialistic policies. The only way growth and economic prosperity will ever return to the region is if they start buying into capitalism again and electing officials that will do what it takes to make the area competitive, despite the short term heartache it will cause. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mead107 Posted April 14, 2006 Share Posted April 14, 2006 no one has left . why worry about it, nothing you do will change what will be . when and if it happens enjoy till then . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RayFinkle Posted April 14, 2006 Share Posted April 14, 2006 Ralph also has his fair share of blame he needs to shoulder in this situation. It is difficult to raise ticket prices or charge more for suites when you have put a dog on the field for the better part of a decade. If he built a winner, he might have some leverage to demand more coin for tickets, make more merchandising money, etc... As the saying goes, IF YOU BUILD IT, THEY WILL COME. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The_Real Posted April 14, 2006 Share Posted April 14, 2006 Right. The owners and players have a greed competition and it's the loyal fans fault for not paying thousands for tickets. All seats should be corporate and not real fans. Thanks for posting. 662140[/snapback] I agree. Thanks for stopping by and blaming the people who have done everything possible with in their means to keep the team running. The_Real Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ghost of BiB Posted April 14, 2006 Share Posted April 14, 2006 Can a football team go public? Doesn't Green Bay have some kind of fan ownership stake? If the (local/national/global) fan base is really that strong, who would be willing to buy shares of the Buffalo Bills? I know less about finances than my neighbors dog, so if this is really off the wall, just laugh at me and tell me no, not possible. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The_Real Posted April 14, 2006 Share Posted April 14, 2006 Can a football team go public? Doesn't Green Bay have some kind of fan ownership stake? If the (local/national/global) fan base is really that strong, who would be willing to buy shares of the Buffalo Bills? I know less about finances than my neighbors dog, so if this is really off the wall, just laugh at me and tell me no, not possible. 662235[/snapback] I think the NFL banned teams from doing that anymore. Let me look for the article.... T_R Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kipers Hair Posted April 14, 2006 Share Posted April 14, 2006 I don't know who you mean by "we", but Buffalo has its politicians to thank and no one else. The corrupt political elite that has run the City and County for the last 20+ years have drained the wealth out of the area by raising taxes in order to make good on promises to unions that never should have been made, all the while driving out more and more businesses. 662113[/snapback] Don't forget the state...whatever you do...don't forget the state. Outside of NYC, it might as well be South Dakota... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IndyMark Posted April 14, 2006 Share Posted April 14, 2006 I think he meant "we" because we the people keep voting these fools into office. I have no love affair for one party or the other, but when will Buffalo relize they are voting the wrong people in. Nothing ever gets done.This is the reason I and many like me have left Buffalo and are now prospering in cities around the country. 662168[/snapback] Correct. The people in WNY vote, so if you blame politicians you MUST blame the citizenry as that is who put them in office. There is much blame to go around and Ralph is low, very low on that list. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
udonkey Posted April 14, 2006 Share Posted April 14, 2006 I've never voted in WNY, but I definitely spend plenty of money there, so am I to blame? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
beausox Posted April 16, 2006 Author Share Posted April 16, 2006 The options seem to be wait for a white knight in shining armor and cash to burn and he/she doesnt care how much is burnt. Consider you are a multibillionaire. You did not get there by investing 600 million to receive a 10 million return. Consider further that if you are a multibillionaire and have say 5 billion in the bank you are only taxed on the income derived. The 5 billion is yours even if it is under your mattress. Trust babies do not pay taxes on the principal of respective trust but only on the dividend derived. Consider further that while 5 billion is an awful lot of money your lifestyle requires some modest return otherwise other billionaires will leave you relatively behind. Would you if say a billionaire continue to invest in Buffalo given the present rules of operation or move your franchise to a place that will generate great year to year income and result in a measurable increase in the value of your team/franchise merely the result of a change of scenery Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adam Posted April 16, 2006 Share Posted April 16, 2006 How exactly are "we" as football fans, to blame for the Buffalo economy. To date, Bills fans have continued to shell out the asking price for tickets to games. We have also remained in the top 10 in the league when it comes to buying team merchandise. Are we supposed to slip the ticket takers " a little something extra" the next time we go to a game? 662121[/snapback] You ARE to blame- and I don't mean Buffalo fans, I mean YOU specifically. Do not ask me to expalin, as I would be forced to use a dialect that you could not comprehend. I ask that you understand this, and expect that you will comply Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sisyphean Bills Posted April 16, 2006 Share Posted April 16, 2006 Cool! More people flinging themselves off bridges and tall buildings. Got to love it! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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