May Day 10

I agree with this. We have to shake the negativity and feeling of inferiority in this town.

The bills are safe in buffalo barring any major catastrophe with the pegula family. I was almost certain they would move too as wilson was in his final years too. They're fine now. Enjoy the security

I agree. I like Jeremy White. I think he is a solid radio guy, strong voice, has good opinions... also 'loves' the work as he still has the passion to attend and watch sports (whereas some of the other hosts there seem almost burdoned by having to watch an odd game). I often dont agree with White but its not because he is an idiot. White IMO cant be with another 'young' guy. It feels like they talk down to the listener for a lack of a better description. I think he needs the older/goofier guy, Simon-like. Maybe he just needs a 'goofier' guy. He does well when Riter is on with him, those 2 are entertaining.

Looks like extra cheating will be in store for the broncos.

If the Bills had a few decent years, I am positive the waiting list would be pretty solid and the Bills would have the ability to raise prices steadily. We are talking a team who hasn't made the playoffs in 16 years and haven't won a playoff game in nearly 20. The Packers have had more than 20 playoff games since we have had one. The Bills haven't hosted a playoff game since I was 18 years old. I'm getting towards 40 years old now. Not only that, we have had one meaningful game in the last week of the season. I also don't want to hear nonsense about December ticket sales in 1992. You know its a completely different animal now with both the NFL and the ticket industry. You just create the perpetual demand and ticket prices can be raised almost indefinitely. The Sabres are proof of this. Couldnt even sell out games in the 89-94-ish era with great teams in the small Aud. I think the Packers also are a beneficiary of playing in a very small venue (by NFL standards) for so long. To just think that the people here in WNY and Southern Ontario will fork over more for amenities and everything will be fixed is a mistake. A competitive team is the most important amenity here. At least hopefully we can see the effect a competitive team can have before any major decisions need to be made and we throw the baby out with the bathwater.

Niagara county is more corrupt, nothing gets done, and has a fraction of the tax base. It's not even in the conversation. Last year was a 100 year weather event. People were in danger. Football takes a back seat

I am pretty certain in will be sterile. Assuming its an indoor stadium, all indoor stadiums seem very sterile to me. On TV and the few I have been to in person. You watch a game from DET, DAL, IND, STL, ATL, it always seems to be muffled, dark, every game is miscellaneous. Anyways, I know Pats fans who long for the day when they can go to their old venue. Some actually go to one Pats game a season and it is the one played here. Like Kirby said... one of the "reasons" will be so they can properly "stratify" the seats. You will have the wealthy closest to the field and on the sidelines. The common fans will be pushed into the corners and far away. This will dampen the atmosphere even more. I'm sure there will also be all sorts of amneties and peripheral B.S. that will take away from the game. How many Sabres fans wish they could have the Aud back? I would probably pay much more than my current STH price for that. We will feel the same way with Ralph Wilson Stadium. Maybe we can get the best of all worlds with RWS? We can keep the nostalgia, site lines, amazing fan involvement... but also revamp it in a way that makes more money for the NFL, and at the same time, keep costs more reasonable. For most of the over the top perks going into these new venues, I do not believe we have enough clientele. The thing that drives the NFL in this town are the common fans. I would say it is similar to Green Bay. Do they have a lot of over-the-top perks at that stadium? I think it is also important to imagine how crazy ticket sales would get if the Bills can crack into the top 1/3 of the league for any period of time. We would absolutely have a locked in waiting list and they would be able to steadily drive ticket prices up each year and people will happily pay. It will also become a destination for all NFL fans like I mentioned.

The Bills (and many posters here) were banging the "continuity" drum hard with him.

I agree on using rws for a retrofit. It's a great place to see a game, and increasingly becoming a destination for all fans and that will increase over time. We have something unique. Many are in a hurry to trade it for a sterile, common place. I don't think we have the high end clientele anyways who will pay top dollar for all the amneties.

I hate the lucky packers

This is horrible news. Have been getting reports from mort for what seems like forever. He seems almost like a personal acquaintance. His voice is etched in my mind and I can hear it on call. Let's hope it can be controlled and he and his friends and family fight hard.

Visionary.

so who do we have left? Fecals, Tampa, San Fran, and Tennessee?

NFL football in the early-mid 90s... (and also all sports) are completely different from a ticket standpoint. That is why all those comparisons between present day and the Bills' December games in 1992 that Russ Brandon used to justify his Toronto Series were not applicable. The LA team will be sold out for the forseeable future. Even a hint of competitive football will sustain the ticket base for a long time in this day and age of internet ticket sales and resales. Everyone can be a broker, especially in a city the size of L.A. Even without a sellout every game, there will be plenty more corporate and celebrity interests that will far offset any slowdowns at the gate (which is shared between the teams anyways). The NFL is 100x more popular now than it was when LA previously had the Rams and Raiders. They will have a honeymoon period of a few years, and probably another bump/honeymoon period with the Inglewood Stadium. After that, if the team hasnt been good and sustained crappiness for a decade, tickets may slow down. That happens most places.

Its all circumstantial now and there is little "sticking" to any rivalry other than ancient history. If Buffalo was in the AFC North and were a 10-11 win team for a few years as was Pittsburgh, there would be a significant rivalry. I feel like the Cleveland/Pittsburgh/Cincy rivalries could be intensified due to what we have in common culturally with those cities as well as proximity for fans to travel. Honestly, Miami might as well be on Mars. The Jets and New England never really feels or felt like a rivalry... at least on their end. I would argue that New England cares more about Baltimore and considers the Colts and Broncos as much more of a rivalry than anyone in the division.

. "I felt a great disturbance in the Force, as if millions of voices suddenly cried out in terror ...

Sal C was speculating that Pegula wouldnt stop the Bills from switching to the AFC North and he says it will happen... just a matter of when.

I completely agree. Bills and Dolphins means nothing to me anymore. Rivalries in the NFL usually are created due to competition. Suddenly Pittsburgh and Cincinnati are a hot rivalry because they are alone in the AFC North and met in the playoffs. Seattle/San Fran had a rivalry until one of them fell off. I have wanted the Bills in the AFC North for a long time.... at least some realignment. Leagues realign periodically, at least subtly... it keeps things fresh. The NFL has had the same configuration for an eternity. Buffalo/Pittsburgh/Cleveland (and Cincinnati) fit together better than Buffalo does with Miami, NYC, and Boston. Put Baltimore with them.

it would be good, i think. With the scheme/communication issues, a guy like Reed with familiarity with the system, and probably respect from the players would be great,

Im not sure I would consider this them 'losing' a team as much as it was a highly motivated owner desiring to create an enterprise in Los Angeles. As far as I know, St. Louis had a pretty legit $1 Billion dollar stadium development in the works. Maybe they can dangle that carrot for Oakland, San Diego, or a future expansion opportunity.

I agree. I hate teams moving... but let's face it, team(s) were moving, it was just determining the configuration. It would have been silly for Pegula to vote against it, just because RW might have. He is his own owner and needs to gain political favor there as the new guy. Kroenke incinerated the bridge to St Louis and if he were not selected, it would have gotten very ugly and probably worse for St Louis fans. Then we would have both San Diego and Oakland also relocating.

I agree on the Rams. I never really got used to the St. Louis thing. The Cardinals, I had more trouble getting used to the Phoenix-Arizona thing. St. Louis will get a crack at the NFL before long.

Ugh.

We'll see. St louis, bay area, San diego, toronto, San antonio, london, etc...

They'll pit a few cities against one another for the best deal