Niagara Falls and Milstein may figure in future of Buffalo Bills

[Just Jack]

I can write a story about how Antonio Pérez (CEO of Kodak) is going to build a stadium where Kodak Park stands today in Rochester and buy the Bills because it is largely empty and why would Kodak hold on to all of this empty land if they weren't planning on building a stadium there. Does that make it newsworthy? Of coure not, it is crap I pulled out of my ass just like the NF story.

 

Carrier outside of Syracuse just took down a bunch of empty buildings on their land. And there's already parking lots across the street. Plus the Thruway exit is right there, and there's a lot of hotels less than a mile away.

 

Hmmmm.... Syracuse Bills.....

[HOUSE]

I love the possibility

 

Thanks for posting, I must have missed this

[The Senator]

You do know the Bills haven't actually played in Buffalo for 40 years? How far away do you think Niagara Falls is?

 

PTR

 

OMG - I was wondering why it was taking so much longer to get to my seats!!!!

 

What I do know, Promo, is that I routinely made it from my downtown Buffalo domicile to RWS Lot 2 in about 20 minutes - with no tolls and no Grand Island Bridges. (These days, I come from Lancaster in about the same amount of time - maybe 25 minutes or so.) What I also know is that OP is much more central to the entire WNY area than Niagara Falls.

 

Put a new stadium in The Falls and, with one Sunday morning good accident on either northbound bridge span (you need to cross both spans to get on and off Grand Island on your way to NF), no one south of Tonawanda is getting to the game before half time - if they get there at all on game day.

 

(And with only one main northbound thoroughfare to travel for 50,000+ beer-drinking Bills fans all headed in the same direction on a Sunday morning, you KNOW there'll be more the one accident on the bridges, the 190, and the Robert Moses Pkwy.)

 

Granted, the current facility in Orchard Park is not within the Buffalo city limits - any NEW stadium shoud be.

[bills1960]

This would be nothing short of awesome. We wouldn't have to deal with Erie County anymore. We would accommodate our Canadian friends much more easily. It would be something to get used to but what's the difference between a couple miles south and a couple miles north? Might have to be a dome or retractable roof though, the winds off the Falls would be just another hellish factor in late season games.

[Just Jack]

Put a new stadium in The Falls and, with one Sunday morning good accident on either northbound bridge span (you need to cross both spans to get on and off Grand Island on your way to NF), no one south of Tonawanda is getting to the game before half time - if they get there at all on game day.

 

 

Do what they do in NYC during rush hour. Have tow trucks waiting alongside the highway so if an accident happens, they swoop in, pull the vehicles off to the side, and sort it out later.

[The Senator]

Do what they do in NYC during rush hour. Have tow trucks waiting alongside the highway so if an accident happens, they swoop in, pull the vehicles off to the side, and sort it out later.

 

I'm not sure it'd be feasible to stage trucks and perform towing ops on the very narrow northbound 2-lane Grand Island Bridge spans - especially if they're already gridlocked.

 

(It'd be more practical to ship in some hoodlums from the Cross-Bronx Expressway - they could dismantle an entire car and carry it off the bridge in pieces in just a few minutes!)

[bananathumb]

OMG - I was wondering why it was taking so much longer to get to my seats!!!!

 

What I do know, Promo, is that I routinely made it from my downtown Buffalo domicile to RWS Lot 2 in about 20 minutes - with no tolls and no Grand Island Bridges. (These days, I come from Lancaster in about the same amount of time - maybe 25 minutes or so.) What I also know is that OP is much more central to the entire WNY area than Niagara Falls.

 

Put a new stadium in The Falls and, with one Sunday morning good accident on either northbound bridge span (you need to cross both spans to get on and off Grand Island on your way to NF), no one south of Tonawanda is getting to the game before half time - if they get there at all on game day.

 

(And with only one main northbound thoroughfare to travel for 50,000+ beer-drinking Bills fans all headed in the same direction on a Sunday morning, you KNOW there'll be more the one accident on the bridges, the 190, and the Robert Moses Pkwy.)

 

Granted, the current facility in Orchard Park is not within the Buffalo city limits - any NEW stadium shoud be.

 

A stadium downtown NF would be a traffic nightmare. I made the mistake couple wkends ago of crossing on the Rainbow bridge. Unbelievable how long it took me and that was at night. NF, Ontario is also a nightmare to drive through from the QEW. You'd need a helicopter to get to the stadium on a game day.

[Just Jack]

I'm not sure it'd be feasible to stage trucks and perform towing ops on the very narrow northbound 2-lane Grand Island Bridge spans - especially if they're already gridlocked.

 

(It'd be more practical to ship in some hoodlums from the Cross-Bronx Expressway - they could dismantle an entire car and carry it off the bridge in pieces in just a few minutes!)

 

The way you do it is for the bridge is have them waiting on the north side. Accident happens, blocks both lanes. Send the trucks south bound in the north bound lanes, hook up the vehicles, and pull them off the north end of the bridge. Realistically, it should only take 5-10 minutes.

[PromoTheRobot]

OMG - I was wondering why it was taking so much longer to get to my seats!!!!

 

What I do know, Promo, is that I routinely made it from my downtown Buffalo domicile to RWS Lot 2 in about 20 minutes - with no tolls and no Grand Island Bridges. (These days, I come from Lancaster in about the same amount of time - maybe 25 minutes or so.) What I also know is that OP is much more central to the entire WNY area than Niagara Falls.

 

Put a new stadium in The Falls and, with one Sunday morning good accident on either northbound bridge span (you need to cross both spans to get on and off Grand Island on your way to NF), no one south of Tonawanda is getting to the game before half time - if they get there at all on game day.

 

(And with only one main northbound thoroughfare to travel for 50,000+ beer-drinking Bills fans all headed in the same direction on a Sunday morning, you KNOW there'll be more the one accident on the bridges, the 190, and the Robert Moses Pkwy.)

 

Granted, the current facility in Orchard Park is not within the Buffalo city limits - any NEW stadium shoud be.

 

I-190 is not the only way in or out of Niagara Falls. There's NF Blvd and River Rd/LaSalle Exp. You can also do an end around up 78 and 104.

 

PTR

[Big Turk]

Wow! This story has it all!

 

- "a new stadium is almost a given."

- 140 acres of "prime" real estate that they can't get anyone to develop (not even a "sports museum"!), yet it's worth $1 million an acre!

- an elderly man who is "the deal maker who brought Nik Wallenda to Niagara Falls"! And he is Jim Kelly's form er agent!

- Jim Kelly!

- the Mayor "declined to comment"!

- Indian Casinos!

- the Montreal "Canadians"-- of the NHL!

- a 2 time unsuccesful potential NFL team buyer---from New York City!

- "the cataract city"!

- the potential for Orchard Park to be developed into some thing more valuable than the home of an NFL franchise! (finally!)

 

Nothing but awesome in this article.

Wow! This story has it all!

 

- "a new stadium is almost a given."

- 140 acres of "prime" real estate that they can't get anyone to develop (not even a "sports museum"!), yet it's worth $1 million an acre!

- an elderly man who is "the deal maker who brought Nik Wallenda to Niagara Falls"! And he is Jim Kelly's form er agent!

- Jim Kelly!

- the Mayor "declined to comment"!

- Indian Casinos!

- the Montreal "Canadians"-- of the NHL!

- a 2 time unsuccesful potential NFL team buyer---from New York City!

- "the cataract city"!

- the potential for Orchard Park to be developed into some thing more valuable than the home of an NFL franchise! (finally!)

 

Nothing but awesome in this article.

 

Why is NF called the "cataract city"? Because its an eyesore?

[clayboy54]

BTW, how's that new Peace Bridge project coming along?

[truth on hold]

 

 

A stadium downtown NF would be a traffic nightmare. I made the mistake couple wkends ago of crossing on the Rainbow bridge. Unbelievable how long it took me and that was at night. NF, Ontario is also a nightmare to drive through from the QEW. You'd need a helicopter to get to the stadium on a game day.

I'm sure theres traffic routing to sort out. Just as there were with the Ralph. Which isn't exactly a picnic anyway. NF area has a lot options and highways with under utilized capacity. Could also invest in light rail to the stadium. I'm confident something can be sorted out.

Edited September 20, 2012 by Joe_the_6_pack

[buffalobillsfootball]

Numerous transportation options for Niagara Falls...

 

North Bound Travelers – BUF/Amherst/South towns:

1) Both Grand Island Bridges can be used going North bound during game days before the game and both South bound after the game - traffic not going to the game could be rerouted via NF BLVD, River Road via NT.

2) River Road to LaSalle Expressway also avoids the 190 all together.

3) Niagara Falls BLVD for Amherst/Williamsville folks.

4) Future ferry service between DT Buffalo/Grand Island/NT to Niagara Falls can run on game days.

5) Future Metro Rail Expansion.

 

West Bound Travelers – Lockport/Rochester, etc.

1) RT31 and RT104 for Lockport and Rochester folks.

2) NY Thruway - via Pembroke Exit.

 

Canadian Travelers:

1) Canadians can use the Lewiston Queenston Bridge and arrive via the 190 and go through Hyde Park via Porter/Packard Exit or via Deveaux/104, etc.

2) Canadians can walk or drive across the Rainbow Bridge.

3) Trains from Canada can use the Whirlpool Bridge.

4) There is talk between Niagara on the Lake and Youngstown to offer ferry service between the two towns.

 

And NO - we're not changing the name of the team - they will always be the Buffalo Bills.

 

Edited September 20, 2012 by buffalobillsfootball

[The Senator]

I-190 is not the only way in or out of Niagara Falls. There's NF Blvd and River Rd/LaSalle Exp. You can also do an end around up 78 and 104.

 

PTR

 

And out the window goes your argument that it is a simple and relatively short commute, no worse than getting to OP.

 

Numerous transportation options for Niagara Falls...

 

North Bound Travelers – BUF/Amherst/South towns:

1) Both Grand Island Bridges can be used going North bound during game days before the game and both South bound after the game - traffic not going to the game could be rerouted via NF BLVD, River Road via NT.

2) River Road to LaSalle Expressway also avoids the 190 all together.

3) Niagara Falls BLVD for Amherst/Williamsville folks.

4) Future ferry service between DT Buffalo/Grand Island/NT to Niagara Falls can run on game days.

5) Future Metro Rail Expansion.

 

 

Canadian Travelers:

1) Canadians can use the Lewiston Queenston Bridge and arrive via the 190 and go through Hyde Park via Porter/Packard Exit or via Deveaux/104, etc.

2) Canadians can walk or drive across the Rainbow Bridge.

3) Trains from Canada can use the Whirlpool Bridge.

4) Canadians can walk across the Rainbow Bridge.

5) Talk between Niagara on the Lake and Youngstown to offer ferry service between the two towns.

 

And NO - we're not changing the name of the team - they will always be the Buffalo Bills.

 

 

I love the enthusiasm, but seriously doubt that the Town of Grand Island and the NYSTA would have no objections to designating that entire section of the 190, along with all 4 Grand Island bridge spans (2 on, 2 off) unidirectional.

 

(Grand Island is indeed an island, with no alternate route on and off except the I-190. The 20,000-plus folks who live on it are all going to agree to stay home on game days???)

 

 

As for the concept of Metrorail expansion - perhaps you have either forgotten or are too young to know that it took over 10 years just to place a few Adirondeck chairs on the lawn out at Canalside.

 

And I won't comment on the safety of offering ferry service to large numbers of drunken Bills fans except to say that, if I'm the Captain, most of 'em are not getting on my boat.

 

 

As for the Canadian fans, you seem to have that covered. Unfortunately, you don't need to - unless they are already Bills fans, there will not be vast numbers of new Canadian fans clamoring to buy Bills tickets just because they play in Niagara Falls.

[buffalobillsfootball]

And out the window goes your argument that it is a simple and relatively short commute, no worse than getting to OP.

 

 

 

I love the enthusiasm, but seriously doubt that the Town of Grand Island and the NYSTA would have no objections to designating that entire section of the 190, along with all 4 Grand Island bridge spans (2 on, 2 off) unidirectional.

 

(Grand Island is indeed an island, with no alternate route on and off except the I-190. The 20,000-plus folks who live on it are all going to agree to stay home on game days???)

 

 

As for the concept of Metrorail expansion - perhaps you have either forgotten or are too young to know that it took over 10 years just to place a few Adirondeck chairs on the lawn out at Canalside.

 

And I won't comment on the safety of offering ferry service to large numbers of drunken Bills fans except to say that, if I'm the Captain, most of 'em are not getting on my boat.

 

 

As for the Canadian fans, you seem to have that covered. Unfortunately, you don't need to - unless they are already Bills fans, there will not be vast numbers of new Canadian fans clamoring to buy Bills tickets just because they play in Niagara Falls.

 

It's time to stop living in the past - that's half the reason why Buffalo Niagara cannot move forward. We get it - it takes forever for things to change - but if you're talking about a billion dollar private investment - things will get done and most will not stand in the way of it because it will be driven by Cuomo; not mickey mouse guys like Higgins and Mayor Brown or the Mayor of NF.

 

Yes, people can argue over the Peace Bridge (for good reason) or the waterfront (whatever - there is plenty of it besides that smidgen near the Skyway) - but things will get done - just let go of the past.

 

And to address your question about Grand Island - it was just suggestion - not a be all end all - like to see u come up with something instead of just B word - oh, and the damn bridges can open up during the game. GI residents are used to dealing with the bridges - they chose to live there - so get over it.

[Awwufelloff]

What ever keeps the team within an hour or two of Buffalo and I will be happy. I just want them to keep the Name Buffalo Bills. I cannot even imagine what it would be like for this team to be moved across the country. A part of me and the city would be lost and never found again... =( I really hope there is some truth to this.

[Shoutbox]

It sure looks like The Senator is going 19-0 in this thread! Posluszny!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

I fail to see how moving a new stadium 30 minutes north of the Queen City is going to substantially increase ticket sales from the Rochester and Toronto folks.

 

And I REALLY fail to see how a name change will help in any way as well (Niagara Rapids?! LMFAO).

 

The best way to gain more Canadian fans and keep the Bills in WNY is to start committing to a winning football culture. Spend money on a quality coaching staff, hire good scouts, sign quality free agents, make the playoffs once every decade, etc...

 

53-year tradition aside, keeping the Bills located in the Buffalo metro area is just sound logistics. Over half of the ticket-purchasing fanbase still comes from this one area. About an additional 1/6th comes from Rochester, another 1/6th comes from Canada, and the rest are out-of-towners. The Queen City is still a nice central location between Rochester and Toronto. A Niagara Falls stadium isn't a bad idea, but it should only be thought of as a back-up plan if a downtown Buffalo stadium never materializes.