Batavia possible stadium site?

[T master]

I don't know why the talk is out side of the Buffalo area . I was just in town last week & drove down the river to where it meets lake Erie there are a ton of empty abandon buildings all along the route & people are bitching about using that land for a stadium ???? HUH ?

 

Is there any huge plans for developing that land ? NO ! Other than it sitting there vacant & losing vital tax revenue for the next lets say 10 yrs what is the beef about the water front as the site ? A stadium would generate jobs , tax revenue , more permanent jobs & tourism dollars !!

 

People in western NY had better wake up & realize that in order to get you have to give or sacrifice something & if you want to continue to be ONE of 32 cities IN THE ENTIRE WORLD that has a NFL franchise your going to need to pony up something !!

 

And by giving that piece of land that would be used to bring more canadian tourism to B/Lo not to mention revitalize another part of Down town to go along with the construction of the hockey complex that is being built around the first Niagara Center, not to mention the casino, that would make that entire part of the city a happening place .

 

But no let's not take a chance of forward thinking & just leave that land sit vacant & MAYBE some one will come along & want to do something with it in the next 20 yrs or after we are all dead & our beloved Bills are in heaven forbid LA ...

 

There just needs to be a renewed thought pattern to get those in Western NY out of the backwards way of thinking ! Move into the future to keep the Bills & more positive growth back into the area !!

[qblax16]

I personally love the Batavia idea, but it's bias, as I fly into Syracuse usually to pick my pops up before heading to orchard park. I can bet that the Syracuse influence would be much heavier, and the Toronto/Canadian influence wouldn't be much different (possibly a slight decrease). It would reagonalize the team to more of central NY.

 

Might even get some Albany Bills fans out????? My uncle lives out that way, and I bet he'd be more likely to come to more games!

[Homey D. Clown]

Not aregueing to argue. Just thought the absolutely no reason statement was blatantly incorrect. But I can see you're back peddling so that's good.

 

 

Nice try on the low brow back peddling comment... not biting, since I'm just not sure how you even came up with or perceived that. I deleted the rest of what you wrote by and large due to my lack of interest moving forward...

[todd]

It further opens up Rochester, Syracuse and other areas east for easy access to games. If Batava was the site of the stadium, the number of season ticket holders from Rochester would increase 10x. I would. It is a 2.5 hour trip home for me after a game to the east side of Rochester. Not great when I need to work the next day.

 

Can someone explain how Batavia is in the mix as a potential new stadium site? I keep thinking this is a joke but it continues to be in the conversation, at least in media reports.

 

I will grant that Batavia has land and good Thruway access, but what else? How does a Batavia site add to Buffalo's or Niagara Falls' critical mass for economic development purposes? How does it entice popular or corporate support from Southern Ontario and put a stake in the heart of Toronto's NFL ambitions (which in my opinion is critical to the long term survival if a Buffalo franchise)?

[voodoo poonani]

I don't think Erie county would allow the Bills to leave even if they're in the area. Plus there is the whole tax base to pay for the stadium. If the counties came to some sort of mutual arrangement, I'd be surprised. It could only be done under pressure from the state.

[mrags]

 

 

Funny how people can only see things in a vacuum. Infrastructure is not an infinitely fixed liability.

 

Investment in a new stadium and supporting commercial/entertainment complexes gives the very reason to do something about it...

we'll said sir. Well said.

 

Same argument I've been saying about a stadium downtown as well. Were not talking about just a new stadium if this thing ever materializes. Were talking about a complete change in the area. Infrastructure will not only be changed, it will be chosen because it needs to be changed. Buffalo, NF, Batavia... Whoever gets this thing, will get not only a billion dollar stadium, but probably another 500-1billion in infrastructure changes. I'm talking subways (real ones, not the joke we have now), roadways, public transportation.

 

Huge changes if this happens.

Edited May 13, 2014 by mrags

[bills1960]

Buffalo deserves the economic benefit of the stadium. Not Batavia, not NF.

[Woody]

I come all the way from the Albany - Schenectady area. Batavia sounds great.

[mrags]

I come all the way from the Albany - Schenectady area. Batavia sounds great.

Batavia helps the region. It links Buffalo and Rochester very closely. There's much to gain In this move towards growing both cities together. It also makes Syracuse closer to Rochester.

 

Regionalization.

[Adam]

The more I think about this, the less likely it appears to me that the stadium will be anywhere outside Erie county. All talk of regionalization aside, this is a basic economic reality. The county has put in too much money for too long to allow stadium revenues (such as they are) to slip away, and neither Niagara nor Orleans county has anywhere near the population/political juice to force Erie out. Something in northern Erie County (near UB) would solve many of the transportation issues, and have plenty of highway access, but I also think it likely that something in the Lancaster area, near the Thruway, will get attention. Ironically, probably close to where that mythical early dome was intended to be.

For it to remain inside Erie County, it would have to be inside the I-290 loop or somewhere between Rt. 400 and 219.

[stony]

Nah...you can easily take 63 in/out of town from the east and either route 5 or 33 in/out of town from the west.

 

I grew up just south of Batavia, and think it would be one of the worst sites possible. The whole "midway between Buffalo and Rochester" thing is overrated. Syracuse is a mixed market too.

 

In theory yes. However, 33, 5 and 63 all become the same road through Batavia. It's a pain to drive through on a Friday afternoon at 5. Can't imagine it if 70,000 people converged on it at once.

[Mike in Horseheads]

All I know know is when I come through Batavia cutting up from 390 to get to The Falls it's already a pain in the ass. I can't even imagine putting a stadium there and the mess that would cause. I mean what are you supposed to do build a new toll booth at the exit with 20 gates for 8 times a year.Someone said they already had the hotels, really that nice Comfort Inn at the thruway exit, It's a dump. I seriously doubt it's going to make the cut but it is closer to home without traffic.

...Hey Chemung County down here would be a great place! Right in the the middle of the state, lot's of farm land to build on...or knock down whats left of Elmira and build it there. For canned footage we have a picture of Mark Twain and Ernie Davis. I'm sure it could be done on the cheap!... Just throwing it out there

[Over 29 years of fanhood]

 

 

Nice try on the low brow back peddling comment... not biting, since I'm just not sure how you even came up with or perceived that. I deleted the rest of what you wrote by and large due to my lack of interest moving forward...

 

 

It's not my post you need to read or delete to see the back peddle. Anyway you call NF unintelligent, with no possible argument where I presented loads consider Jim Kelly who apparently inspires you advocates it. Is he unintelligent about this situation?

 

I am all for downtown buf or Niagara Falls stadiums or just leave it where it is... There is a sound argument for, buf or NF to Reclaim some semi-urban wasteland instead of just paving over another cowfield.

 

Yes Batavia will be better for some, worse for others, but the big picture is no more compelling than OP. No ripple effect except for a few different people allowing cars to park in their yards. No real infrastructure opportunities, no collateral growth potential. Just the equivalent of another big box store out in the middle of a remote field.

 

 

[artmalibu]

Batavia would be good in that traffic would be coming from the east and west. Getting in and out of the stadium would be much easier.

[KRT88]

WHY?

 

There is NO point in putting the new stadium in the middle of the country!

 

Stadium needs to be in Buffalo.

 

I have family that lives in Attica and goes to Batavia all the time and that site makes no sense.

[Over 29 years of fanhood]

 

 

I have family that lives in Attica and goes to Batavia all the time and that site makes no sense.

 

What are they in for?

Edited May 13, 2014 by over 20 years of fanhood

[Maguire's Beer]

Erie County has the juice here. They have a full third of the slots on the Stadium Committee, they have the lease, and they appear to be working hand-in-hand with the state on the project. And lest we forget, it's the population center of WNY. That's not to say that things can't change, but as it stands, Erie County is the prohibitive favorite.

 

So where's the most likely spot in Erie County? While good arguments can be made for Amherst near UB, OP, and even the Outer Harbor, I'd bet on the Perry Projects. Why?

 

1) The Municipal Housing Authority wants out of the development, which has something like 50 percent occupancy. IOW, the land will be easily procured, and it's a large enough plot.

 

2) There's already substantial development on three sides of the site - the Inner Harbor/Canalside to the east, Larkin District to the west, and Riverbend to the south. And serious developers have been buying up land in the Old First Ward neighborhood immediately south of the Projects.

 

3) Great infrastructure - adjacent to the 190, and extending Metrorail down Perry (or South Park) wouldn't be that hard. Plus the bar infrastructure is already there.

 

Could be wrong, but I like the idea.

[Campy]

As alluring as Monday Quarterback Club meetings at The Polk-A-Dot sounds, no way in bloody hell will the new stadium be be built in Batavia.

 

As they are playing up the Ontario angle, moving it farther away from the border makes zero sense. Personally, I'd like to see it downtown provided parking and tailgating options were well thought out. The tailgate scene at urban stadiums I've been to is pretty bad.

[PearlHowardman]

This move would certainly open the Syracuse market which has no current allegiance to an NFL team.

 

When the Buffalo Bills do well, Syracuse is wall to wall Bills fans.

 

When the Buffalo Bills don't do well, Syracuse just follows the Orange football team and anticipates the upcoming Orange basketball season.

 

I'm glad to hear that posters here realize that having a stadium in Batavia will bring in Bills fans from Buffalo, Rochester, and Syracuse. Games will sell out, easily with the combined population of these three cities and the easy location on the NYS Thruway.

[MarkAF43]

When the Buffalo Bills do well, Syracuse is wall to wall Bills fans.

 

When the Buffalo Bills don't do well, Syracuse just follows the Orange football team and anticipates the upcoming Orange basketball season.

 

I'm glad to hear that posters here realize that having a stadium in Batavia will bring in Bills fans from Buffalo, Rochester, and Syracuse. Games will sell out, easily with the combined population of these three cities and the easy location on the NYS Thruway.

 

A very serious question with no sarcasm intended. How many fans do you think won't go that are living in Niagara Falls, Buffalo, Amherst etc not to mention Canada? Would we still sell out if we lose a good portion of that fan base who won't travel the 40 minutes or so to get to Batavia?

[BillnutinHouston]

I'm amazed to see all the posts talking about how a given site affects the poster. I guess I should have expected as much. But this is about what's best for the Bills franchise, isn't it?

[CodeMonkey]

I'm amazed to see all the posts talking about how a given site affects the poster. I guess I should have expected as much. But this is about what's best for the Bills franchise, isn't it?

How it affects people DOES speak to what's best for the Bills franchise. Making it easier for more people to get there in a shorter period of time, for example, would typically mean the potential for ticket sales to go up.

[The Rev.Mattb74 ESQ.]

I do not want Batavia to be in the running because I am scared it has a legit shot. I love my small community and wouldn't trade it for higher taxes, and all the changes that come with economic development. As far as infrastructure travel would not be an issue you would have to just add an exit or two(anywhere the stadium is placed that would happen). For every person who has a longer ride, two would have a shorter one. Even those coming from Canada would have their ride time increase very little if at all. The real problem comes in essential services, ie. law enforcement, fire, and ems, something Genesee County is not equipped to handle .

[voodoo poonani]

Batavia does make some logistical sense being right in the middle of Rochester and Buffalo. Combining the greater metropolitan areas of Buffalo-Cheektowaga-Niagara Falls and Rochester yields a population in the neighborhood of Charlotte and Pittsburgh. It's mostly farmland, so you can eat up a lot of space with fewer layout restrictions. Getting on/off the 90 will take the most work, plus you don't want everyone to have to stop to get tickets or pay tolls.

[May Day 10]

Getting on/off the 90 will take the most work, plus you don't want everyone to have to stop to get tickets or pay tolls.

 

Perhaps thats an idea for financing some of the stadium?

Edited May 14, 2014 by May Day 10

[BillnutinHouston]

 

How it affects people DOES speak to what's best for the Bills franchise. Making it easier for more people to get there in a shorter period of time, for example, would typically mean the potential for ticket sales to go up.

Right. But do the demographics favor moving east or north?

 

Forget whether the Toronto series worked or not - why do you suppose the team entered into successive deals to play in Toronto and not in the Carrier Dome?

 

If I was making the decision for the Bills, the stadium location decision wouldn't be about making existing customers happy, as I can make them happy with wins. To me, it would be about how I can best increase market share and capture the UNTAPPED market.

[Coach Klein]

Saw a guy last week taking pictures of the potential Batavia site. 600-acre plot of land that is designated to the town for a developmental project...currently the Ralph sits on a 200-acre plot of land.

[May Day 10]

 

Forget whether the Toronto series worked or not - why do you suppose the team entered into successive deals to play in Toronto and not in the Carrier Dome?

 

 

because nobody was offering a flat $78 million to play in the Carrier Dome?

[jimmy10]

If they can put Foxboro Stadium out in the middle of nowhere with one road in and out of town that's not even a highway, then a Batavia location right off the thruway could make sense.

 

As a Rochester season ticket holder, I am very much in favor of Batavia for my own selfish reasons, but I'm honestly doubtful it happens. However, the more I think about it, the more logical it seems, especially considering the Foxboro model. I'm sure other teams have done it too, thrown their stadiums way out in the middle of nowhere.

 

One advantage to the location is that it would allow for preserving our tradition of wide-open spaces for tailgating. As others have pointed out, the tailgating scene at more densely-packed urban stadiums is kind of a bummer. I've been to Charlotte and Atlanta in particular. Instead of a big community vibe, it's just small groups scattered around various private lots and parking decks.

Edited May 14, 2014 by jimmyo

[dhg]

I'm not questioning the intelligence of those who support the NF idea, but that doesn't make those arguments good. There is nothing strong to support a Niagara Falls move, other than proximity to toronto. The access to that region is beyond terrible, the area is a wasteland where they would put the stadium, the dump would end up in every arial shot of the stadium, the roads, the interstates, the fact that all people from Erie County would have to traverse Grand Island..... yes, that hot mess... it's such a stupid concept, I honestly can't see how anyone with intelligence would support such a stupid location. So to blindly say there is a lot of support for the claim without citing such claims is disagreeing just to disagree.

 

I am a firm supporter of a Buffalo waterfront concept so that the stadium could force the city to improve the access, bringing in more opportunities fro business growth, and city revitalization. It's Buffalo's team and asset, and that's who deserves to benefit from it, and nobody else. I am flat out exhausted by all the opportunities to grow and evolve be stripped away from my home town for pedantic excuses and nonsensical reasons. Erie County has paid heavily to keep the team in WNY, and it's time that franchise starts paying back to the city that bears it's name, and has bled for it for over 50 years.

 

Kinda makes the Niagara falls debate really weak.

 

Excellent post!

[MyHorseAteTheKid]

I am all for an inner city location... Fuhrmann blvd, Tift Farm or tear down the Perry Projects...

[Derelichte]

If the Bills stink it up in Batavia, at least we'll have the Muckdogs to root for

[stony]

I do not want Batavia to be in the running because I am scared it has a legit shot. I love my small community and wouldn't trade it for higher taxes, and all the changes that come with economic development. As far as infrastructure travel would not be an issue you would have to just add an exit or two(anywhere the stadium is placed that would happen). For every person who has a longer ride, two would have a shorter one. Even those coming from Canada would have their ride time increase very little if at all. The real problem comes in essential services, ie. law enforcement, fire, and ems, something Genesee County is not equipped to handle .

 

Batavia wouldn't just "get an exit or two." Those exits already exist in Pembroke and Leroy. And as far as infrastructure is concerned, I respectfully disagree that the city/immediate area could handle the influx of traffic/people. Batavia can be a pain in the ass during "rush hour" afternoon traffic. When I came home over the summer from college, concerts at Darien Lake would create mini-gridlock. Also, there's no way to avoid the merging of traffic on 5, 33 & 63 let alone all the traffic coming from the Thruway onto Rt 98.

 

I think it's a bad idea. Hopefully the committee does their due diligence and realizes it's not a good place to call home.

[Campy]

Saw a guy last week taking pictures of the potential Batavia site. 600-acre plot of land that is designated to the town for a developmental project...currently the Ralph sits on a 200-acre plot of land.

 

Interesting. Where in Batavia was he?

[Over 29 years of fanhood]

 

 

A very serious question with no sarcasm intended. How many fans do you think won't go that are living in Niagara Falls, Buffalo, Amherst etc not to mention Canada? Would we still sell out if we lose a good portion of that fan base who won't travel the 40 minutes or so to get to Batavia?

 

Stop with the big picture stuff. Didn't you see there were 6 posters who said Batavia would be better for them?

 

I have to believe if they put a stadium in Batavia, it will be the last one in western NY.

 

 

[respk]

As I live near Rochester I like the Batavia site. From a getting people to the game standpoint it makes the most sense. The needed infrastructure would be far more easy to create there than in either the city of Buffalo or Niagara Falls. However, putting the stadium there adds to no existing destination except itself. Outside of the rural charm of Batavia and Yancy's Fancy nearby there isn't a whole lot there to attract people except for the stadium were it to be built there. Buffalo close to the FN arena, Harbor center and the waterfront the stadium would contribute to the destination that those things are becoming. Niagara Falls is somewhat the same idea, the stadium would help to add to the destination that is already attracting people. I think Buffalo wins out over NF, but neither is going to be easy due to the infrastructure that needs to be torn down and rebuilt. Simple terms do you create a third destination for people near Batavia or do you add to the downtown Buffalo destination or to NF.

Edited May 14, 2014 by respk

[jimmy10]

 

 

Stop with the big picture stuff. Didn't you see there were 6 posters who said Batavia would be better for them?

 

I have to believe if they put a stadium in Batavia, it will be the last one in western NY.

 

As one of those 6, I'd just like to point out I acknowledged it was for my own selfish purposes and that I doubt it will actually happen. I was just glomming onto the idea of a sub-60 minute drive to and fro on game days.

[Over 29 years of fanhood]

If they can put Foxboro Stadium out in the middle of nowhere...

 

So the thought is a stadium 20 miles out of the center of a major metro area with 5 million plus and some of the highest property values in the country between two major highway intersections justifies putting a stadium 35 miles from the center of a million people in the opposite direction of the only real potential market growth play? On the surface it makes sense buf not when you factor in market perspective.

 

Bills either grow their fan base and television market or they move somewhere else. It's really that simple. Ralph got it, Russ gets it, and billionaires with deep enough pocket to buy teams get it. Former bills icons get it...

 

Yes if the whole town of Batavia walked to the game, they'd fill half the lower bowl. God knows it would be easier for them, but that's not keeping a team in WNY.

 

All of western new york has 2.5 million people, Toronto metro is almost 3 times that. Stop worrying about cans in seat. Winning gets that. Anyone who can sell out as many games as they have for a decade is not looking at more sell outs. They want more business buying boxes and more tbd tuned in, Millions of them. Getting a piece of Toronto is the right play here, any way you can. Batavia is not the answer.

[Over 29 years of fanhood]

If they can put Foxboro Stadium out in the middle of nowhere...

 

So the thought is a stadium 20 miles out of the center of a major metro area with 5 million plus and some of the highest property values in the country between two major highway intersections justifies putting a stadium 35 miles from the center of a million people in the opposite direction of the only real potential market growth play? On the surface it makes sense buf not when you factor in market perspective.

 

Bills either grow their fan base and television market or they move somewhere else. It's really that simple. Ralph got it, Russ gets it, and billionaires with deep enough pocket to buy teams get it. Former bills icons get it...

 

Yes if the whole town of Batavia walked to the game, they'd fill half the lower bowl. God knows it would be easier for them, but that's not keeping a team in WNY.

 

All of western new york has 2.5 million people, Toronto metro is almost 3 times that. Stop worrying about cans in seat. Winning gets that. Anyone who can sell out as many games as they have for a decade is not looking at more sell outs. They want more business buying boxes and more tbd tuned in, Millions of them. Getting a piece of Toronto is the right play here, any way you can. Batavia is not the answer.

[Bill in DC]

I am going to take a different angle on the Batavia stadium site. Itcould be an interesting site for possible owners of the Bills, namley Jim Kelly and Thurman Thomas. I know Jim's wife is from the Batavia area and Thurman Thomas is a part owner or involved with the Batavia Downs and the casino operations there. Maybe this ties the personal and business interests of the two to the Batavia talk.