Mr. WEO Posted February 11, 2014 Share Posted February 11, 2014 (edited) I have to believe this is more for show and graft then anything. A political handshake to supporters upstate and a way to send a message that something will change. I have a hard time believing any part of the state East of Rochester gives two craps about Buffalo. East of Batavia..... Anyway, Cuomo is genetically predisposed to be a shrewd politician. By appointing a large collection of hacks and flunkies to a meaningless commission, he can give the appearance that something is being done and at the same times guarantees nothing will come of this groups existance. He strokes the Buffalo folks while assuring the rest of the state's tax payers that he isn't going to spend any more of their money on a new stadium while he's governor. Edited February 11, 2014 by Mr. WEO Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ALF Posted February 11, 2014 Share Posted February 11, 2014 The state takes away cheap hydro power from WNY , the least they can do is give us a stadium. That hydro power would have kept many jobs here. The most important thing is for the next owner to have deep pockets like TP and will keep the team here. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Over 29 years of fanhood Posted February 11, 2014 Share Posted February 11, 2014 NOTHING gets done privately without government being involved at some level. PTR Right on PTR. Government makes sure a WHOLE LOT of nothing gets done everyday. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheZone78 Posted February 11, 2014 Share Posted February 11, 2014 The group you are referring to is sort of an outlier. It's not government stopping them. Even the Bills are not interested in what that group is saying. And don't kid yourself. NOTHING gets done privately without government being involved at some level. PTR In my eyes, the Bills are playing nice and being politically correct. If they acted with the private group they would alienate a lot of Government allies. Last I heard the current land owners NFTA (I think they were) would not sell the land to the developer. Too bad. It was a visionary idea. I'm aware nothing gets done without Government involvement. That fact alone is so counter productive and a travesty. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fingon Posted February 11, 2014 Share Posted February 11, 2014 Cuomo has to throw Western NY a bone. Paladino showed that WNY has at least some political relevancy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TXBILLSFAN Posted February 11, 2014 Share Posted February 11, 2014 Having lived outside WNY for past 15+ years, I'm not as intimately familiar with the political landscape as most posters, however, I suspect based on what I do read nad here from family and friends, it hasn't changed much in that time. I will say this, I think it's a positive step, I wouldn't get your hopes up that it develops into a concrete plan, but it's positive that the politicians are acknowledging that a process needs to start. Ultimately, a new stadium will involve a NEW owner who has to be committed to WNY and have a chunk of money left after he buys team. It was also involve a NEW FO (which will happen the day a new owner is awarded the team), I think that is one reason why Brandon steers clear of this discussion, he won't be in charge after Ralph passes. Until that time, we live with a refurbished "Ralph" and an uncertain long term (>7 years) future for the team in WNY. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jimmy10 Posted February 11, 2014 Share Posted February 11, 2014 I have to believe this is more for show and graft then anything. A political handshake to supporters upstate and a way to send a message that something will change. I have a hard time believing any part of the state East of Rochester gives two craps about Buffalo. Yeah, the cynic in me thinks this is Cuomo's way to demonstrate he "cares" about WNY, and by "care" I mean give us some form of entertainment after we all work long days fracking underneath each town's new casino. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
respk Posted February 11, 2014 Share Posted February 11, 2014 And that is the reason so little ever gets done compared to what could be if government would just get out of the way The group you are referring to is sort of an outlier. It's not government stopping them. Even the Bills are not interested in what that group is saying. And don't kid yourself. NOTHING gets done privately without government being involved at some level. PTR Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beerball Posted February 11, 2014 Share Posted February 11, 2014 Brandon's statement. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bbb Posted February 11, 2014 Share Posted February 11, 2014 Why are politicians involved at all? There is a private group with a serious proposal on the table that are chomping at the bit to get a multi purpose facility built and yet nobody will listen to them. Amazing. If you put Government in charge of the Sahara Desert in five years you would have a shortage of sand - Milton Friedman Who is the private group? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BillnutinHouston Posted February 11, 2014 Share Posted February 11, 2014 I think it's interesting that, per Brandon's statement, a "substantial renovation of RWS" is still in play as an alternate option to a new stadium. Does anyone know if the recent study done by HOK (I think that's the name of the firm) assessed the viability of this vs. a new venue? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
purple haze Posted February 11, 2014 Share Posted February 11, 2014 East of Batavia..... Anyway, Cuomo is genetically predisposed to be a shrewd politician. By appointing a large collection of hacks and flunkies to a meaningless commission, he can give the appearance that something is being done and at the same times guarantees nothing will come of this groups existance. He strokes the Buffalo folks while assuring the rest of the state's tax payers that he isn't going to spend any more of their money on a new stadium while he's governor. Maybe, but then again Cuomo did provide money to renovate RWS and the renovations are actually being executed as we speak. So maybe the commission has a real purpose. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BuffaloBrad Posted February 11, 2014 Share Posted February 11, 2014 Right or not, the vast majority of NFL stadiums have been built with a significant public subsidy . On average, the public has paid for 65% of the cost of NFL stadiums. Those that were built with private money, like MetLife, receive other subsidies such as property, infrastructure improvements, forgone property taxes, and operating expenses. http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2010/09/08/sports/20100908-stadium-sidebar.html?_r=0 That said, I strongly disagree that he Bills need a new stadium to be viable in WNY. A renovated Ralph with wider concourses, improved concessions, better bathrooms, and improved seating would be competitive with stadiums of similar teams, like Pittsburgh and Cleveland. People that want to put MetLife or AT&T stadium in downtown Buffalo are just delusional. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dubs Posted February 12, 2014 Share Posted February 12, 2014 Campaign Manager: "Sir, we have an election coming up this year" Candidate: "Obviously, I've been campaigning for a year now, how do the polls look" Campaign Manager: "Before we get to the polls, I wanted to remind you that NY State is pretty big and extends all the way past Albany to Lake Erie" Candidate: "Really, what do you mean, I thought that was Ohio or Candada" Campaign Manager: "No sir, that's NY state, we call it "upstate" but it's really western NY. They have Niagara Falls, Wings, and a professional football team" Candidate: "Oh yeah, Buffalo, I forgot about those hillbillies. Is that why they call them the bills? Anyway, let's tell them we are exploring ways to get a new stadium and keep the team around, that'll cover the major issues" Manager: "Exactly sir, playbook 101" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zevo Posted February 12, 2014 Share Posted February 12, 2014 I have no issue where the stadium is currently located....if we could invest 1/4 to 1/2 what it would cost for a new stadium into rehabbing the current one I think that would be the way to go. And being a bills fan I would be ok with paying for it with my tax dollars. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr. WEO Posted February 12, 2014 Share Posted February 12, 2014 Maybe, but then again Cuomo did provide money to renovate RWS and the renovations are actually being executed as we speak. So maybe the commission has a real purpose. That will be his (and other's) excuse NOT to fund a much more expensive new stadium... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ALF Posted February 12, 2014 Share Posted February 12, 2014 I still like the Phoenix, Az stadium with a natural grass field that retracks outside. Outside could be an enclosed climate controlled with sun lamps and watering. I think players would rather have a safer field and ideal conditions inside. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sodbuster Posted February 12, 2014 Share Posted February 12, 2014 That said, I strongly disagree that he Bills need a new stadium to be viable in WNY. A renovated Ralph with wider concourses, improved concessions, better bathrooms, and improved seating would be competitive with stadiums of similar teams, like Pittsburgh and Cleveland. People that want to put MetLife or AT&T stadium in downtown Buffalo are just delusional. This. A downtown stadium requires so much more than just building a stadium, and in this political setting? Forget about it. Are Heinz and Lambeau so much better than the Ralph where the things listed above wouldn't bring us up to par? (This is a real question, because I have never been there.) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dogman Posted February 12, 2014 Share Posted February 12, 2014 We always have plenty of money for sports. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
May Day 10 Posted February 12, 2014 Share Posted February 12, 2014 This. A downtown stadium requires so much more than just building a stadium, and in this political setting? Forget about it. Are Heinz and Lambeau so much better than the Ralph where the things listed above wouldn't bring us up to par? (This is a real question, because I have never been there.) Im sure 1/3-1/2 the price of a new stadium (plus these current improvements) can vault RWS ahead of Pitts/Cincy/Cle We got all the lots there already. Dont lose any (potentially) valuable waterfront poperty downtown. Dont have to add to the public costs by creating additional roads/exits/etc. RWS is going to be a relic... in a good way. Dont we wish they would have somehow been able to renovate the Aud to use it another 40+ years? The biggest key is the structural integrity of the concrete work. I know people disagree with me, but IMO those outdoor December games sell out present day if the team is competitive and the ticket market/resale market structured the way it is. I have Season Tickets and I dont show up to December games, not because the weather, it is because I dont want to invest (another) entire day in a meaningless game in this seemingly endless cycle. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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