CodeMonkey

Is the Ralph still standing?

That link is to the USGS site:

Earthquake baby! 5.5 even.

It's actually only $60 ($53 if you still go get breakfast somewhere) a week you are saving assuming you will still go out after the Bills game.

I actually want to keep the song. The few times that the Bills score you get to watch the inebriated uncoordinated overweight fans attempt to dance to that outdated ridiculous song. Classic.

As bad off as the NYS budget is, there are many many better places for that money. Not firing as many teachers comes to mind immediately. Would Albany use the money wisely? Doubtful, they would probably give each other raises with it.

Even if it was the full 3.8 mil NYS would receive (which it probably is not ... see my previous post), if you read the title of this thread, NYS just gave the Bills 3 million. So in one fell swoop the vast majority of that "massive windfall for NYS" is gone. And that is just one thing the government is paying for.

And he will get it ... until the first time he checks down or misses an open receiver. Then it will be time for the boo birds to sing.

There is no way the things you mentioned makes up for these tax gifts, police on gamedays and other freebies by the local government. We are talking millions of dollars each year here. Also, I am no tax attorney (thank God) but I believe the players and other employees of the Bills pay NYS tax only for the time they are living in NYS. At least that's what it was for me when I was splitting time among two states. Not sure how many have residence in other states for the off season. People like to make arguments that Sports teams are a net positive to a regions bottom line. Unfortunately that generally does not seem to be the case. Sports teams may very well increase the quality of life for those who enjoy that particular sport (generally a small minority of the population) but a economic positive, nah (except for the businesses right around the stadium ... again, a drop in the bucket compared to the entire local economy). However, it may be true in Canada where governments do not subsidize sports teams at all from what I hear. I would prefer the Bills to stay put. But trying to argue a fiscal calamity if they leave makes me giggle Here is a dated but interesting read on the topic.

They are necessary. Sports teams are not a necessity, just entertainment.

We should go after every teams trash.

No sports team should get any money from the state, federal, or local governments. If they cannot support themselves then they should get the !@#$ out.

Wow I actually got a response back from ESPN. I'm not home to check now, but hopefully it has gotten better!

Since that would include probably 90% of the Bills roster of course you are correct

In my opinion the majority of starters in the NFL are grossly overpaid. For example on our own Bills last season: Lee Evans - 9 mil T.O. 6.25 mil Even Roscoe: 2.5 mil And Fitz - not even a starter - at just under 3 mil (with TE at < $500K) Don't think about what "the other guys" around the league are making. Think about this on it's own merit. This is for a 16 game season people. So for example Lee makes $562,500 every freaking regular season game! This is completely outrageous. Player salaries in the NFL are way over the top stupid.

Yuppers. The vuvuzella has been in South America and Africa for many years. It is only news now in the US because more Americans are watching World Cup now than before (due in no small part to the great coverage by ESPN) so more Americans are annoyed by the sound. ESPN really should have implemented a secondary audio stream (like they do with Spanish for example) and had the vuvzella frequencies filtered out or if that was too hard, had just the announcers mics. EDIT: I just emailed ESPN with that suggestion. I'm sure they will get right on it

A silly idea really. We still don't have the O-line and QB that would be able to get the ball to him. I agree that we will need a #1 WR once the rebuild is further along. But signing TO would be a waste of money this season.

Don't have to sit in the rockpile for that. You described the majority of the stadium any given gameday ... the glaring exception being what you mentioned, the club seats.

And .. if you blow off a game for some reason Ralphie already has your parking money.

True Dat.

Did they get a group rate on tickets?

I started a longer reply but man, this post equating Sanchez to any QB on the Bills, Leodis to Revis, as well as Evans to Edwards is just plain silly.

We may have gotten a bit better overall, but not by any great amount. So you must figure 2 AFC East teams are really going to tank this season huh??

I don't see it as a protest as much as expecting quid pro quo. Which the Bills FO has not provided for the last 10 seasons (at least). And it isn't "get out of town" as much as "get your heads out of your asses and field a competitive team". Though the getting out of town might be the end result if the FO does not care to, or does not know how to, field a competitive team. But as I said above, there is a hardcore group of people like yourself as well as the "gameday experience above all else" people that will keep the ticket sales respectable as long as the Bills play at the Ralph. To each his own. And I still say that because some people expect value for their money and choose not to financially support Ralph until he shows the fans a little love it does not make them a "bandwagon jumper". But YMMV.