pimp 2 Posted February 17, 2014 Share Posted February 17, 2014 (edited) We're not getting the first two..........Bands aren't big enough any more to warrant many stadium concerts..........UB vs. Syracuse would get about 30K. Here's is today's lead article in the Buffalo News. I personally like the 3rd option - retrofitting the stadium, like Soldier Field and Lambeau. http://www.buffalone...-bills-20140215 Whatever happen to this plan and they even identified some revenue sources...Its like this was never proposed ! http://www.buffalone.../121029746/1109 The Ralph needs to be demolished not rehabbed (may be used as a practice facility)...Can we stop settling for a chance! We need something that's going to be multi use & a draw for other activities. Partnering with the Strong Group and attaching a convention center to attract major conferences (i.e. Ga. Dome & conference center) during our spring & summer months will fill a void in the dormant periods. It's time for this region to come to grips or get off the pot...Major sports want sexy & vibrant Cities NOT ho-hum & boring!!! After a game the region needs to project an image to outsiders that the region is on the upswing, think Indy, KC, Pitts & Minny these stadiums are surrounded by the city most vibrant attractions...NOT in the middle of no where, how does that project on TV, to others or future FA's? This is how the spin cycle in this area kills all creative ideas by sticking with the same ole thing (how's that working out for us?)!!! By brainwashing all to think that we can't...so we don't! Come on haven't we settled enough with the substandard & mediocre ? What's to gain by dreaming "small"? This is the big leagues NOT club sports. Edited February 17, 2014 by pimp 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bbb Posted February 17, 2014 Share Posted February 17, 2014 We've got the best tailgating. Why ruin it? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BillnutinHouston Posted February 17, 2014 Share Posted February 17, 2014 Whatever happen to this plan and they even identified some revenue sources...Its like this was never proposed ! http://www.buffalone.../121029746/1109 The Ralph needs to be demolished not rehabbed (may be used as a practice facility)...Can we stop settling for a chance! We need something that's going to be multi use & a draw for other activities. Partnering with the Strong Group and attaching a convention center to attract major conferences (i.e. Ga. Dome & conference center) during our spring & summer months will fill a void in the dormant periods. It's time for this region to come to grips or get off the pot...Major sports want sexy & vibrant Cities NOT ho-hum & boring!!! After a game the region needs to project an image to outsiders that the region is on the upswing, think Indy, KC, Pitts & Minny these stadiums are surrounded by the city most vibrant attractions...NOT in the middle of no where, how does that project on TV, to others or future FA's? This is how the spin cycle in this area kills all creative ideas by sticking with the same ole thing (how's that working out for us?)!!! By brainwashing all to think that we can't...so we don't! Come on haven't we settled enough with the substandard & mediocre ? What's to gain by dreaming "small"? This is the big leagues NOT club sports. So are you up for PSL's? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BarleyNY Posted February 17, 2014 Share Posted February 17, 2014 I find it hilarious that in a situation where a large amount of government money and planning will be needed that some people are complaining so vehemently about government involvement. On that topic of planning I'll throw out that one large cost component is the utilities (water, sewer, drainage, electricity, etc.) infrastructure that such large structures require. If the stadium is going to be open air, then I think plopping it down next to the current one is the way to go. The land is readily available and the infrastructure is in place (assuming it isn't in need of replacement soon). Parking would suck for a year, but that's a relatively small short term issue IMO. A retractable or permanent dome would make a waterfront stadium more plausible. 8 Sundays a year doesn't bring much to a waterfront, but if a large venue could bring more use then that needs exploring. I'm not sure that it would be worth it, but it might be. I don't see the Ralph getting renovated cost effectively. Eventually stadiums run their course and piecemeal work ends up costing more than a tear down and rebuild. The Ralph is pretty far gone. I went for the first time this past preseason and I was surprised at how run down it looked, especially for a stadium that was new enough to be obstruction free. The lack of premium boxes and seats is certainly a nonstarter as well. That revenue stream is a must in today's NFL. PSLs seem to be the way it is, too. If you want a team then you need a quality stadium. If you want a quality stadium then you're probably going to wind up with PSLs. Rare exceptions to those rules are just that - rare exceptions. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BillnutinHouston Posted February 17, 2014 Share Posted February 17, 2014 I find it hilarious that in a situation where a large amount of government money and planning will be needed that some people are complaining so vehemently about government involvement. On that topic of planning I'll throw out that one large cost component is the utilities (water, sewer, drainage, electricity, etc.) infrastructure that such large structures require. If the stadium is going to be open air, then I think plopping it down next to the current one is the way to go. The land is readily available and the infrastructure is in place (assuming it isn't in need of replacement soon). Parking would suck for a year, but that's a relatively small short term issue IMO. A retractable or permanent dome would make a waterfront stadium more plausible. 8 Sundays a year doesn't bring much to a waterfront, but if a large venue could bring more use then that needs exploring. I'm not sure that it would be worth it, but it might be. I don't see the Ralph getting renovated cost effectively. Eventually stadiums run their course and piecemeal work ends up costing more than a tear down and rebuild. The Ralph is pretty far gone. I went for the first time this past preseason and I was surprised at how run down it looked, especially for a stadium that was new enough to be obstruction free. The lack of premium boxes and seats is certainly a nonstarter as well. That revenue stream is a must in today's NFL. PSLs seem to be the way it is, too. If you want a team then you need a quality stadium. If you want a quality stadium then you're probably going to wind up with PSLs. Rare exceptions to those rules are just that - rare exceptions. How exactly is the stadium run down? Lack of premium boxes and suites? Really, even after the new dugout suites were installed all around the stadium? I think if you ask the sales department, they'll tell you there are more than enough suites and premium seating to more than satisfy the demand. The Buffalo market simply doesn't have the corporate community to warrant more suites. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dwight in philly Posted February 17, 2014 Share Posted February 17, 2014 (edited) We're not getting the first two..........Bands aren't big enough any more to warrant many stadium concerts..........UB vs. Syracuse would get about 30K. Here's is today's lead article in the Buffalo News. I personally like the 3rd option - retrofitting the stadium, like Soldier Field and Lambeau. http://www.buffalone...-bills-20140215 i am in agreement .. best tailgating.. if it worked in green bay it will work here.. the idea of hosting a super bowl because we get a new stadium is unrealistic or any other uses that a multi-purpose stadium would bring.. the ralph is fine and will be fine... Edited February 17, 2014 by dwight in philly Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
uncle flap Posted February 17, 2014 Author Share Posted February 17, 2014 http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2014/02/16/bills-stadium-committee-could-be-advance-political-cover/ What better way to commence the process of covering keisters than to form a committee that will spend the next few years spinning its wheels on the potential but fiscally impractical construction of a new stadium the franchise doesn’t want? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Keukasmallies Posted February 17, 2014 Share Posted February 17, 2014 And then there's the school of thought that Cuomo's appointments and the formation of a "committee" is just a CYA move for when the Bills are sold and move out of the area. At that point the governmental entities can point with pride at the "committee" and attendant chatter to "prove" they did all they could to keep the Bills in WNY. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PastaJoe Posted February 17, 2014 Share Posted February 17, 2014 And then there's the school of thought that Cuomo's appointments and the formation of a "committee" is just a CYA move for when the Bills are sold and move out of the area. At that point the governmental entities can point with pride at the "committee" and attendant chatter to "prove" they did all they could to keep the Bills in WNY. And if they did nothing and the Bills moved people would complain that they should have acted sooner to look at alternatives. I'll side with doing something. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
uncle flap Posted February 17, 2014 Author Share Posted February 17, 2014 (edited) That pft article is somewhat of a stretch. While it may be true that the forming of the committee is a CYA move, one third of the committee is appointed by the Bills, and the formation of the committee was negotiated by the county, the state, and the Bills as a part of the lease. So, 1. Once the Bills appoint their committee members, there will be more talk of refurbishing the stadium and/or projects that the Bills themselves would support, and 2. Florio and others are forgetting that as a practical matter, it is in poor taste for the Bills to comment publicly on Mr. Wilson's demise and the subsequent sale of team except when absolutely necessary. Behind the scenes, the Bills may be more willing to explore the prospect of moving to a new stadium in the area, however publicly discussing prospective future sites undermines the fact that the Bills have already used hundreds of millions of dollars on the Ralph. When trying to get people to buy tickets in 2014, they certainly don't want to allude to their stadium being a dump without a concrete plan for a new stadium on the horizon. Edited February 17, 2014 by uncle flap Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PromoTheRobot Posted February 17, 2014 Share Posted February 17, 2014 This is a curious quote from the Florio article... If the powers-that-be were serious about finding a way to keep the Bills in Buffalo, they’d be working to come up with the kind of solution the team prefers, instead of plotting to build a stadium the team doesn't want. The funny thing is Florio never says what "kind of solution the team prefers?" What is that solution? Turning Buffalo into Los Angeles? If you are going to throw around insinuations at least provide something that anchors your argument. PTR Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CodeMonkey Posted February 17, 2014 Share Posted February 17, 2014 This all seems like much ado about nothing to me. There is no way NYS is going to fund a new stadium in Buffalo, even partially. There is no way Buffalo can afford it even if it was a good idea. The NFL certainly not going to fund it without assurance of a payback in a timely manner, which they could never get. The Ralph is going to have to do until either Buffalo turns into a major market or the Bills leave Buffalo. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
buffalobillsfootball Posted February 17, 2014 Share Posted February 17, 2014 http://www.buffalonews.com/sports/bills-nfl/can-buffalo-afford-a-new-stadium-for-bills-20140215 I know not much will happen on this front until we have a new owner; but it's important that we keep articles like this on the forefront and post comments on these articles in support of the Bills. Always seems like the naysayers come out in droves on the Buffalo News... Just my two cents... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mrags Posted February 17, 2014 Share Posted February 17, 2014 There are multiple threads discussing this very topic. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FLFan Posted February 17, 2014 Share Posted February 17, 2014 This is a curious quote from the Florio article... [/size] The funny thing is Florio never says what "kind of solution the team prefers?" What is that solution? Turning Buffalo into Los Angeles? If you are going to throw around insinuations at least provide something that anchors your argument. PTR That statement by Florio simply proves his ignorance of the situation. The announced committee is part of the negotiated agreement on the new lease and will include representatives of the Bills. Had he bothered to do any homework, he could have easily found that out. Pretty typical for Florio. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Keukasmallies Posted February 17, 2014 Share Posted February 17, 2014 That pft article is somewhat of a stretch. While it may be true that the forming of the committee is a CYA move, one third of the committee is appointed by the Bills, and the formation of the committee was negotiated by the county, the state, and the Bills as a part of the lease. So, 1. Once the Bills appoint their committee members, there will be more talk of refurbishing the stadium and/or projects that the Bills themselves would support, and 2. Florio and others are forgetting that as a practical matter, it is in poor taste for the Bills to comment publicly on Mr. Wilson's demise and the subsequent sale of team except when absolutely necessary. Behind the scenes, the Bills may be more willing to explore the prospect of moving to a new stadium in the area, however publicly discussing prospective future sites undermines the fact that the Bills have already used hundreds of millions of dollars on the Ralph. When trying to get people to buy tickets in 2014, they certainly don't want to allude to their stadium being a dump without a concrete plan for a new stadium on the horizon. It's not a credible CYA unless you get all parties involved and stir up a whole lot of what-if good stuff. And if they did nothing and the Bills moved people would complain that they should have acted sooner to look at alternatives. I'll side with doing something. Oh, they'll do something; in fact, they'll do a lot of somethings, but if needed in the eleventh hour it'll be CYA as sure as kiss a duck. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
K-9 Posted February 17, 2014 Share Posted February 17, 2014 Nothing the pols can do to keep them in Buffalo, anyway. Nothing to cover their asses for as a result. Bills have asked for renovations vs. a new stadium and the pols are making that happen. The feasibility committee is for the sake of a new owner that might insist on a new stadium as a condition for staying. That's not so much CYA as is it having foresight. GO BILLS!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RuntheDamnBall Posted February 18, 2014 Share Posted February 18, 2014 Nothing the pols can do to keep them in Buffalo, anyway. Nothing to cover their asses for as a result. Bills have asked for renovations vs. a new stadium and the pols are making that happen. The feasibility committee is for the sake of a new owner that might insist on a new stadium as a condition for staying. That's not so much CYA as is it having foresight. GO BILLS!!! I just got this pitchfork all nice and polished, though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DFITZ1 Posted February 18, 2014 Share Posted February 18, 2014 (edited) From bbb - "First two will never happen (SB or NCAA Championship)... What makes you believe that the first two are impossible with a new domed stadium? Super Bowls have been held in Detroit (twice) and Minneapolis, not to mention Indianapolis. For the NCAA Championship, a large venue could attract the Final Four and Buffalo has demonstrated success with the first 4 rounds. I never said either was a slam dunk, but with effective planning, I can happen. Good thing Ralph Wilson didn't think nothing could happen here some 50+ years ago. Edited February 18, 2014 by DFITZ1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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