May Day 10

its a waste of the outer harbor. push the stadium a bit inland

While it is nice to fantasize a picturesque stadium on the falls, I dont feel like it would accomplish anything except seal off the wonder. This is also why plopping a stadium on the Buffalo waterfront is also stupid. I dont believe people are going to gaze at the Falls all game. Also, how long until some drunk goes over the falls tailgating before/after a game? Those places you listed have ballparks, and/or multiple stadiums where there can be/are >100 dates. Philly is a nice area in the immediate viscinity, but it is south of the thriving downtown area in an industrial part of town. Baltimore is still a hellhole. Plopping a football stadium for 8-10 dates a year will revitalize Niagara Falls as much as that Seneca Casino did. Is Orchard Park thriving? Will the Big Tree Inn relocate to Pine Avenue? I cant figure out why this would play at all in a billion + dollar decision. So a TV network can walk from the stadium at some point to get stock footage to use for the next 5 years? Flood gates of what? They cant even build a hot dog stand in Niagara Falls unless its connected to the Outlet Mall. Politicians and Unions have sucked the city dry and salted the earth. Ask Mark hammister about how incompetent and corrupt the politics are in trying to build anything. I am hoping a new stadium if enclosed will capture more uses. Maybe some UB games, a Bowl Game, some Conventions, etc.... Niagara Falls is not an attractive location though. It is Chemical Plants, urban decay, and Landfills. The air stinks. This is somewhat valid (40%!?!?), but I do not think the extra distance once through customs has a major affect on whether canadians attend or not. While Canadian fans are important, Buffalo is trending the other way. The most important feature for many Canadians is the tailgate and the ability to binge drink. its not big enough to support the entire "campus" as Russ Brandon calls it. It is surrounded by immovable objects. There would have to be extensive demo, hazardous material handling/remediation to start. This Millstein guy also isnt going to give the land away to save the Bills. It will be at cost Im sure. There are also still independent property owners within that 142 acres who still refuse to sell. Niagara Falls sounds nice, heck, I could probably ride a bike to games... but more than 30 seconds of thought should make one ponder a different location. Not saying its impossible, but requires a considerable amount of imagination to upgrade Sal Maglie Stadium to Lucas Oil Stadium in that climate. You got major traffic obstacles, you have to remember that area is tucked into a corner with natural borders.... I would almost think a more likely location would be up toward Wheatfield... but at that point, why? Also remember Niagara County has 200K compared to nearly 1 Million in Erie. http://www.niagarafa.../MAY06/ten.html There is an article discussing the possibility.

I tend to avoid most Darien lake concerts because the drive and the traffic. It's just kind of a nightmare getting there and home

It seems like they are just leaving all possibilities open until proven unfeasible. It seems like this engineering firm will cut the list down to 4 realistic sites this month. From there, they will have a better picture of where a stadium will/can go and what type of facility. Then of course a new owner will be free to pursue other locations, however, they would likely be volunteering significant cost out of pocket (for example Pegula dead-set on a downtown stadium). I still say that common sense leads me to a significant rebuild of the current facility or building a new facility in an adjacent lot. Land and infrastructure is there. That's a huge head start in financing this thing. Of course, the biggest obstacle in a rebuild/renovation is there would be nowhere for the Bills to play for a season (Carrier Dome? is the only possibility) Unless they can complete construction between the AFC Championship Game and, say October 1st (preseason in Syracuse and 1st 4 weeks on the road).

I know. Thats what Im getting at. It seems these highly coveted top TEs dont really pan out like they are billed. It seems like the great TEs seem to come out of nowhere and are elevated by great offenses, coaches, and QB. I really think if Ebron were drafted by the Bills we would be largely disappointed.

I understand it. Rightfully so, a lot of the media (as well as public) sees the Bills as many pieces away from contending as they are in the midst of 6 straight last place finished. I dont think that is necessarily the case unless the wheels fall off. Everyone has also been conditioned to expect the Bills' pick to land in the top 5 or 10.

this moving the team 10 minutes closer to Toronto idea to get people to go is hogwash. I used to drive 7 hours to go to games. NFL is a Sunday all-day event. The distance traveled is fairly secondary. Its not like an MLB or NHL team where there are many games and a lot take place on weeknights. Niagara Falls would allow me to ride a bike to a game... but no way I want a stadium there. I would rather drive 20 minutes to Orchard Park as opposed to getting stuck in Niagara Falls, USA and breathing the toxic medley. With that said, Batavia seems like a longshot as well. Unless maybe there is a lot of cheap and/or public land there that would allow for all they need. I dont think Erie County lets this team/facility out of their domain without a fight though.

what if Ebron is the next Brandon Pettigrew or Jermaine Gresham?

I highly doubt milhouse is going to give that awful investment property away to the bills, ny, and (niagara) county. Existing property is owned by the county, no? That's a $100 million + head start

Best words ever. I was at a point for years I was determined they were destined for toronto 100%. As that is torn down, I can actually imagine the bills secure here long term... it feels so different and good. I said a lot of negative things about wilson over the years, but if the bills are secured in buffalo, I plan on a steady and tasty diet of crow

They rate it poorly... Basically say the worst move was grabbing arguably the best player in the draft.... I still disagree that spending a 4th and 1st is an overpayment for a player of watkins' caliber/potential. 1st rounders are vastly overvalued and overrated pre-pick. A year after players are picked, their values usually plummet well below a 1st. You miss a 1st? So what. Denver took tim tebow a few years back and that franchise didn't fall into the earth. The only way this bites the bills in the butt is if the wheels fall off in 2014 and the end up in the top 5-8. I believe the gulf between who would be available at 9 and watkins to be major. Mind you, I'm skeptical on ebron. I wish someone would look at their actual picks to grade as opposed to the nonexistent 2015 1st rounder.

Kind of a long shot idea... but the more chatter and people throwing their hats in the ring the better

This is a different time. A few years back, going to games it was obvious the other team just had far superior athletes. They just were incapable of coming up big and winning games against any good teams. Now I would say the Bills have better athletes than many teams and that includes all 3 in their division.

Was really hoping for a player in return

I don't really like it either but I love watkins and with watkins there is no way around this. Williams on the other hand... I dunno. But good for stevie.

Good for stevie. Good luck. Good for the cap and possibly team sanity. Got the 4th back.

Im normally very negative when it comes to the Bills, but I love this. I cant wrap my head around why/how so many are down on it.

I also did lol at the guy(s) who loved the Pats' pick of a DT with 2 torn ACLs

it seems like they are all planning on the Bills to yield a high pick in 2015 (and they could be right). If the Bills are a playoff team, the Bills should come out considerably ahead in this

you cant really hate the move until you: Know where the Bills fall in the 2015 draft order, and also see the players available at that spot. It is kind of a gamble. The Bills are betting on themselves to be decent which I like. I think its time we get over the defeatist attitude as well. Watkins seems like an extremely safe pick with a very high ceiling. Very happy getting him and he adds a lot of octane into the offense. Also has the Clemson connection (and ACC Connection) with a few players which maybe can help gel. There are also 2 "side affects". 1. I wont have to root against the Bills in any way this season for draft spot. 2. We wont have to hear as much draft hype on WGR, etc for months on end when they move the draft to the end of May next year

Van Noy?

I almost made the same thread but worried I would get scolded. I would say 4th round, definitely consider it.

if they are all healthy its going to be an absolute nightmare for defenses. No matter what you think of Manuel.

and thats when you screen it to Watkins and Spiller (and Goodwin)

I dont think the memories/legacies will be that long. The whole Mangini thing and the Sanchez trade didnt really stick. Buffalo and Cleveland are linked mostly because we are close, similar cities and are football teams stink enough year after year to play each other regularly