May Day 10

Having a 19,000 seat arena that hosts 41+ sabres games, like 8 bandits games, NCAA Hoops, Concerts, etc downtown is beneficial to the area, which is the goal. Dropping it in Lackawanna (the town between OP and Buffalo) would be extremely foolish and counter-productive Also, remember the Harbor Center is connected to Key Bank Center.

Let me preface this with 'they are not building a new arena' The arena was built on the cheap compared to other venues in the same era (probably the only choice at the time to avoid the Phoenix or Winnipeg Sabres). Building materials are noticeably cheaper. A few major structural problems are the concourses are poorly designed. They are narrow and a lot of choke points. The inside of the arena has that giant bubble roof. It makes for poor acoustics and combined with the gigantic blue wall below it and ductwork, it sucks all the intimacy out of the place. The seating grade is awful. The seats go very far away from the ice, much moreso than other modern arenas I have been to. Especially when you are in the corners, you are very far away from the ice/performance, etc. The way it is built, the approach of and the corners have narrow builds of seats and it gets very cramped and uncomfortable. Also, there are many seats in the 100 level that are really bad and you need to watch much of the game on the scoreboard.

The Kissmas bash is much better served in Key Bank Center, and maybe even a smaller venue because I don't believe it is a huge demand event (judging by seeing pics on social media last year and begging people to buy tickets on radio). No need to move 9-12,000 people to a cavernous 65,000 seat venue. The Hockey Arena can adequately house like 95+% of the events, especially in a 'mid-size' city. There are a few Summer concerts that will go into the Bills' venue, and that is not dependent on a new or indoor stadium. The rest go to canalside or Darien Lake. IMO, money would be very well spent on a brick and mortar amphitheater downtown for Summer concerts.

what concerts?

That's what I mean, and you get it. It wont be easy, and I suspect the Pegulas have done some research as well and the sails have been taken out of the wind on downtown a bit. This study may dig deeper. Then they will need to look at the delta between revenue and additional cost. I think it is negligible to be honest. You would also need a lot of charity from Buffalo, Erie County, and NYS... as well as personal investment. As it is now, the traffic even after a Sabres game is awful. Couldnt imagine getting to and from a Bills game with 4x as many people, others in bars.... and also the possibility of an event happening at the same time at Key Bank Center My rough estimate based on staying at a holiday inn express is: Downtown: $1.7 Billion Adjacent to New Era Field: $750-$800 Million Full Renovation of New Era Field $600 Million IMO, they will build adjacent. A new build provides many more options and freedom and doesnt have to be stuck 40% under ground. You would also possibly need to play a season of games at UB, Toronto, Hamilton, or Syracuse

I think your new stadium estimate is very low.... and downtown will probably be north of $1.5 Billion + when all is included with infrastructure, engineering, and land acquisition.

IMO, we have a very cool and unique thing going. It really "Popped" on the MNF game on TV. Hopefully we can preserve that to some degree

Im thinking there is enough space to build it in an adjacent lot while games still played at NEF. Also, not sure how much the hole in the ground would hold up construction. Build it in ground? Or a backfilling process

The Key Bank Center part of it is interesting... That place is in need of a re-do. Infinite funds, we would be better served with a new arena

this is a real step though.

25 pages

No doubt. I was angry with the pick. Also felt a little bit of disdain for maybin himself for not panning out like a high draft pick, and making all that money and not appearing like his heart was into it. I remember an article about him and his artwork a year or so ago that impressed me a bit. Once i got a more complete image of the person instead of the "high stock" football player's performance it changed my feelings. Watching this feature was uplifting. Its great he is there to be such a positive role model for those kids. I would cheer for him if he led the charge at the game sunday. Maybin's done good

Good for him. I have nothing against the guy for not helping the bills. Glad to hear he has found great purpose.

Brady really needs Gronk out there, especially if they have to endure the inconvenience of actually playing a road playoff game. There really arent any other options from the TE position.

Darcy Regier was a pretty good austere General Manager. Generally drafted and developed decently, and rarely came out on the bad end of trades. Good hard line negotiating without large purse strings... and not a ton of pressure to 'win now' because he had the "lack of resources" crutch. Lindy Ruff was a perfect head coach to complement that. They both had flaws though and got very stale. Regier did not like making moves, in large part because he was extremely sensitive to the human aspect of it. Golisano had some good ideas. Chopped the STH pricing down low, which ended up creating huge demand and birthed the waiting list... and made the Sabres generally financially solvent for the first time since maybe the early-mid 80s (also thanks to the new CBA/revenue sharing). He also started to reach back into the past that Rigas tried to wipe out/ignore (fancied them in 1996-97 as his/adelphia's expansion team) Golisano is treated very unfairly by Sabres fans. He wasnt the ideal owner, but he did save the team when there was no other buyer and there was a lot of labor uncertainty in the NHL. The Pegulas took over and everyone assumed that Regier's track record, plus unlimited resources would = definite success. But the money just highlighted his flaws and was burning a hole in their pockets. Went in guns ablaze, backing the brinks truck up to Brad Richards, the highest rated UFA. He said no, so they threw a pile of money at Ville Leino, who was #2 on the market. Also other ghastly feel-good moves like Robin Regehr and Christian Ehrhoff. Then they were very indecisive of what to do with Regier and Ruff. Gave out extensions, and later forced Regier to fired Ruff a month into a season that was delayed due to a lockout (when it was clear the move should have been made in April, not February). Then they did the same thing mid-rebuild with Regier, firing him mid-stream in November, reportedly due to a chance meeting with LaFontaine at a concussion banquet. Allowed Lafontaine to go on a 3 month interview bender looking for a GM (mid season and mid rebuild) to settle on another inexperienced guy in Tim Murray. Then the LaFontaine firing/resignation, handing the steering wheel solely to Murray who proceeded to donk off like 85% of the assets they had managed to stockpile for pennies on the dollar. Not to mention the Babcock/Bylsma thing, Ron Rolston, the changes to upper management with his Pennsylvania guys, Ted Black, John Koelmel, Russ Brandon, etc. The embarrassing results havent been shocking. It seems as though Botterill might have stopped the bleeding, stockpiled assets again, and maybe made a few moves to right a toxic lockerroom. I think the team is really set to hit a serious cup-window starting in the Fall of 2020. I think it is also a valid concern of what will happen if/when one or both of these franchises enjoy sustained success. Will it last? Will the Pegulas stand back and allow it to blossom? There is a degree of 'involvement' they like to have and also a history of dysfunction and employees becoming former employees. Can it stay cohesive and humming? Or are we bound to have a "polianesque" event that kills the golden goose?

Yeah. The Motley Crue/Kiss show was 100% pre-choreographed, and frankly boring. Watching Vince Neal talk about "girls" to get a cheap pop from the crowd was the zenith in cheesy things I have witnessed.... until Gene Simmons' "blood" coming out of his mouth to the absolute delight of a few fans during a "solo".

Four Questions. 1) Best Concert You've Ever Seen Pearl Jam - 10/30/2009 in The Spectrum in Philly 2) Worst Concert You've Ever Seen Motley Crue and Kiss - 9/15/2012 Darien Lake (just embarrassing tbh. Gene Simmons said "how ya doin Darien Lake!!!!" and everyone just kind of looked at each other) 3) Bucket List Concert Rage Against the Machine if they do another 1-off. If not, then probably Green Day would be one I mean to hit next time 4) Concert you wish you could see, but can't due to death/bandbreakup etc. Layne Staley / Alice In Chains / Mad Season

After nearly 8 years, a few overtime comeback wins doesnt erase a history of terrible decision making.

it was entertaining, but I'm not sure I want the NFL to look like that on the regular.

They have a variable pricing chart for season tickets starting this season https://nhl.bamcontent.com/images/assets/binary/299844060/binary-file/file.pdf

it was just a perfect storm. Even if everything were equal, beating Ohio on the road was a tough game. Give Ohio the mental edge of coming off a loss that likely cost them the Conference... but able to play for the "morale title" of always looking at themselves as the real Division champs. Ohio came in with a mental edge, eager to prove themselves. UB came off a laugher in which they probably felt invincible, and again receiving a sniff of national attention. No matter what, they probably knew that the didn't "have to" win that game. Despite how much their coach urges them to block it out, that feeling has got to seep in. Then, being outplayed.... any chance to get back in the game by way of a big gain or a first down was undone by unlucky bounces, fumble(s), untimely penalties, and also some questionable calls. They were out-coached as well. And yes, even with that loss, this season still has a realistic chance to be the high point in the history of the program.

I agree. This could really change the landscape of (and improve) the Big 12.

And I agree. The reason I like Fallout (and other similar games) is because it is so immersive, yet you dont need to compete with, play along with, listen to, deal with, etc other people. I have rather limited time to play games these days. I dont need 12 year olds shrieking racial slurs through my tv. I cant invest the time to hone skills, win upgrades (and Im not going to spend money to buy micropurchases/upgrades).

Im not sure if its the exact acronym, but its the mega-multiplayer-online-role-playing-game

IMO, the Saints and/or Rams would/will destroy the Patriots in the Super Bowl... and probably the Chiefs as well (if they make it). The only AFC teams I can imagine having a chance would be Pittsburgh and maybe the Chargers because they can both put up points and have a competent defense. I also dont see New England beating the Chiefs, Chargers, or Pittsburgh on the road. If they again fluke into home field advantage throughout, they will probably advance to the Super Bowl, predicated on whatever hijinks go on there.