Hypothetical New Stadium, Part 1

[GhostsOfTheRockpile]

The off-season (yes, even training camp) is pretty boring around here. Just looking to spark some discussion that doesn't involve Jason Peters.

 

Let's say some random billionaire buys the Bills, wants to keep them in western/upstate New York, and will completely privately fund a new stadium. Where would you want it? Not where do you think it would go (save the Toronto jokes), but where would you want it if you were asked by the new owner for input. A few thoughts:

 

1 - Orchard Park, right next to/on top of the current site of The Ralph... infrastructure is there, training facilities, plenty of parking, easy access to several major highways, etc.

2 - Niagara County, either in the city of Niagara Falls or somewhere in Wheatfield, Lewiston, etc... easier commute for the Canadian base the team is trying to grow.

3 - Buffalo, on the current site of the Perry Projects... plenty of land available for development near HSBC, public transportation, (potentially) the Casino, but would alter tailgating as we know it (perhaps make it more like Cubs games with people flooding bars before and after the game?).

4 - Buffalo, somewhere on the outer harbor... access would be a B word, especially come December, as many fans would be forced to use the skyway.

5 - Lackawanna, on redeveloped brownfields... same problem as #4.

6 - Batavia, or some other point along the 90 in Genesee County... might make seasons tickets or spending corporate dollars on a suite more attractive to people from Rochester, Canandaigua, Syracuse and points east.

 

With the apparent apathy of the Toronto market, I am actually leaning towards #6 in the interests of the long-term financial health of the franchise. I get the feeling more folks from Rochester and points east would go to Bills games and more businesses would be interested in suites/partnerships if they had a significantly shorter commute (not to mention access during non-game days for various events). Moving the stadium near Batavia would cut a good 40 minutes or so off the commute TO the game, and a good hour or so after the game when you consider all the folks that would be fighting to head west to Buffalo.

 

Thoughts?

 

ON EDIT: Assume sufficient funds and the necessary political will to accomplish just about anything... within reason.

[RayFinkle]

Toronto

[hit and marshawn]

i would like it right next to the falls, along with deals with new sports bars to go in around there. THis would be a boost for the economy, and would also provide awesome overhead shots of the stadium pre commercials at the games. This would also attract canadians to come to our side of the pond instead of it being us always going there

[olivier in france]

I'd say 3.

[olivier in france]

i would like it right next to the falls, along with deals with new sports bars to go in around there. THis would be a boost for the economy, and would also provide awesome overhead shots of the stadium pre commercials at the games. This would also attract canadians to come to our side of the pond instead of it being us always going there

 

Not a bad idea... especially if the visiting teams hotels are on the canadian side!

[SuperKillerRobots]

I like the outer harbour idea only if it came along with improved infrastructure for getting there. I would think that the city and state would be enticed to making those improvements with the promise of a a privately funded waterfront stadium.

 

Without the infrastructure, I would say the Perry Projects because it would keep the stadium in the city and possibly allow for a more year round attraction (same as on the outer harbour). They could build the stadium and maybe a restuarant and Bills Hall of Fame - kinda like what the Packers do now, but with, and I hate to say it, less of a football focus. It may sound stupid, but I think if you were to make it a generally fun place to be for people who are not necessarily football fans, it would help to attract more people. Also, the staduim could be used for high school games and stuff like that.

[olivier in france]

Also, the staduim could be used for high school games and stuff like that.

 

and maybe UB football games if the program continues to slowly grow and becomes a competitive team.

[TheMadCap]

i would like it right next to the falls, along with deals with new sports bars to go in around there. THis would be a boost for the economy, and would also provide awesome overhead shots of the stadium pre commercials at the games. This would also attract canadians to come to our side of the pond instead of it being us always going there

 

 

Just got back from there and I have to say that honestly we had a much better time on the US side than the cheap (not so cheap) county fair atmosphere in Canadia...

[stuckincincy]

As long as there is no public money involved, no bond issue burdening the citizenry, no sales tax increase - I don't care where a private, profit-making enterprise builds its' place of business.

[MarkyMannn]

As long as there is no public money involved, no bond issue burdening the citizenry, no sales tax increase - I don't care where a private, profit-making enterprise builds its' place of business.

 

A big "HELL YEAH!!!"

 

I think building in the city would be difficult because where are you going to get all the land necessary?

[Chandler#81]

Jefferson Ave. @ Best Street. again..

[buffalobillsfootball]

The Buffalo Bills future is north - not east. Sorry Rochester and Syracuse - love your support but the population and money just north of the border is huge.

 

My first choice would be downtown Buffalo... preferably near HSBC or along the harbor.

 

If Grand Island didn't have such access issues - I wouldn't mind the stadium being built there - plenty of space - sorta north of beaver island park on the westside of the island - imagine the skyline views of Niagara Falls to the north and Buffalo to the south.

 

We could even build a bridge from the qew right to grand island or provide ferry service for Canadians on game day.

 

If money weren't an issue - Id help fund high speed trains between Toronto and Buffalo. Albany and Buffalo. Cleveland and Buffalo. We need to connect these metro areas and high speed trains are the way to go.

[GhostsOfTheRockpile]

I think building in the city would be difficult because where are you going to get all the land necessary?

 

The land on which the Perry Street Projects currently stand is more than sufficient for a new stadium.

 

You would have to address parking/tailgating, but a creative mind could solve the problem, I'm sure.

[Huuuge Bills]

I'de go with #2 or #3, Both seem like good ideas.

[Billadelphia]

I think that the waterfront is the best way to go, given the way that the rest of the NFL is going with new stadiums. Most are impressive by themselves, but the newer ones also seem to have an aspect to them that sort of emphasizes the cities' waterways & skylines.

I'd love the idea of developing Grand Island into the home of the Bills since you'll have 2 skylines & the waterways surrounding it, but it would be tough to do.

[agilen]

If money weren't an issue - Id help fund high speed trains between Toronto and Buffalo. Albany and Buffalo. Cleveland and Buffalo. We need to connect these metro areas and high speed trains are the way to go.

 

Huh? Who is going to take these trains? The Acela hasn't exactly been a resounding success in the highest population density region of the country. The thruway and other roads do a fine job moving people between the cities you mentioned.

[Cynical]

The off-season (yes, even training camp) is pretty boring around here. Just looking to spark some discussion that doesn't involve Jason Peters.

 

Let's say some random billionaire buys the Bills, wants to keep them in western/upstate New York, and will completely privately fund a new stadium. Where would you want it? Not where do you think it would go (save the Toronto jokes), but where would you want it if you were asked by the new owner for input. A few thoughts:

 

1 - Orchard Park, right next to/on top of the current site of The Ralph... infrastructure is there, training facilities, plenty of parking, easy access to several major highways, etc.

2 - Niagara County, either in the city of Niagara Falls or somewhere in Wheatfield, Lewiston, etc... easier commute for the Canadian base the team is trying to grow.

3 - Buffalo, on the current site of the Perry Projects... plenty of land available for development near HSBC, public transportation, (potentially) the Casino, but would alter tailgating as we know it (perhaps make it more like Cubs games with people flooding bars before and after the game?).

4 - Buffalo, somewhere on the outer harbor... access would be a B word, especially come December, as many fans would be forced to use the skyway.

5 - Lackawanna, on redeveloped brownfields... same problem as #4.

6 - Batavia, or some other point along the 90 in Genesee County... might make seasons tickets or spending corporate dollars on a suite more attractive to people from Rochester, Canandaigua, Syracuse and points east.

 

With the apparent apathy of the Toronto market, I am actually leaning towards #6 in the interests of the long-term financial health of the franchise. I get the feeling more folks from Rochester and points east would go to Bills games and more businesses would be interested in suites/partnerships if they had a significantly shorter commute (not to mention access during non-game days for various events). Moving the stadium near Batavia would cut a good 40 minutes or so off the commute TO the game, and a good hour or so after the game when you consider all the folks that would be fighting to head west to Buffalo.

 

 

#2, without question. If am not mistaken, both Buffalo and Rochester are losing population. Until that problem is corrected, the other options sound nice, but are long term failures waiting to happen.

 

Do not mistake the apathy you see now with the present Toronto deal as a default attitude towards the NFL. Canadians are interested in the NFL, just not the way it is being shoved down their throat.

[ACor58]

The city of Rochester is losing population, but the metro area is roughly the same as it was 10 years ago.

 

I suggest Lancaster right off of the Thruway. Easy for Buffalonians, easy for those of us in Rochester, and easier for our friends to the north.

[apuszczalowski]

Off the lake in Buffalo, around HSBC arena, but it would have to come with a bigger bridge to handle traffic. You are located in buffalo then, right by a border crossing that is at the end of the big highway that goes directly to one of the Largest Cities in Canada that the Bills are trying to market their product to. I find as a Canadian, the biggest problem going to a game is the border crossing, and a new bridge is necessary. Making the stadium a 5-10 drive from the Border will keep the team central to the areas they are trying to market to being Rochester and Toronto. The views of one in Niagara Falls would be nice, but i don't think its going to o much for the team to be located there.

 

The only problem is that the best idea for the stadium to be used for more then just football would be to make it a dome or a retractable roof stadium to allow for things like concerts during the winter months.

[buffalobillsfootball]

Huh? Who is going to take these trains? The Acela hasn't exactly been a resounding success in the highest population density region of the country. The thruway and other roads do a fine job moving people between the cities you mentioned.

 

Where do you live? It's quite popular between BOS and NYC.