Kirby Jackson Posted May 21, 2014 Share Posted May 21, 2014 IMO, they are in denial. A new stadium is needed. There is no way around it. I do not think that it is denial. It just is not a realistic option. Where would they play for the season (at least) that it would take to rebuild the stadium? A new stadium is on the horizon and the Bills know that. They just need to not say anything until they have an actual plan in place. They won't be saying much until they have a location, owner, etc... in place. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RealityCheck Posted May 21, 2014 Share Posted May 21, 2014 If the NFL were smart, they would just go right to making 20,000 seat venues with domes and charge top dollar for premium amenities and field proximity while CGIing the backdrop for TV purposes. Why fly to a stadium in London or Paris when you can play stateside and simply superimpose extraordinary backdrops. They could play on the moon, a moon of Saturn, the center of an active volcano, or in a dome at the bottom of the ocean with neon fish checking out the game on the cheap. Better yet, the fans get to chose at home what the backdrop looks like. They could superimpose all kinds of extreme weather if they wished. I think it's the future of home viewing, sooner or later. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Derelichte Posted May 21, 2014 Share Posted May 21, 2014 Whatever they do, I hope the Bills maintain the stadium name as "Ralph Wilson Stadium". Especially after we lost Ralph in 2014 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kirby Jackson Posted May 21, 2014 Share Posted May 21, 2014 Whatever they do, I hope the Bills maintain the stadium name as "Ralph Wilson Stadium". Especially after we lost Ralph in 2014 That is not going to happen long term either. The only way that it will is if they do something like Denver. It could be "Geico Field at Ralph Wilson Stadium" but I doubt it. Naming rights will almost certainly be sold. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
drinkTHEkoolaid Posted May 21, 2014 Share Posted May 21, 2014 I also think as part of this the capacity of the new bills stadium will be greatly reduced from where we are now to the low 60ish thousands. They will sell games out nore easily and be able to change more per ticket. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peter Posted May 21, 2014 Share Posted May 21, 2014 FWIW - I was in Minneapolis for work a couple of years ago during baseball season. The Twins stadium had recently been built in downtown Minneapolis. Target Field holds just under 40,000 fans. I was staying at a Marriott overlooking the area and was extremely impressed with what happens to a downtown area when 40,000 people (who probably would not otherwise be there) are downtown both before and after a game. The whole area came to life and business was booming. As an aside, if you are a baseball fan and find yourself in Minneapolis, you may want to go to a game. We were able to catch one game against the White Sox, and I was very impressed with the stadium. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Over 29 years of fanhood Posted May 21, 2014 Share Posted May 21, 2014 New state of the are stadium, with the ability to host a SB. or Watching fans pass out drunk everywhere and then throw up on themselves. Tough call. Why is it that tailgating is derogatory ? For me it's having a beer with my dad, grandfather and brother while tossing a football with my 4 yr old and grilling Italian sausages in anticipation of the game. It's a great experience with family. If we allow the lowest common denominator to stand as the general representation of every facet of life, then every experience you can think of is corrupted by the stupid and irresponsible into something bad. That said, I AM willing to venture a guess that the bills never would have had the success filling the stadium during the last 15 years of futility if it wasn't for the whole fan game day experience. So if they kill tailgating they best do a dam good job replacing it with another great fan experience, or they are just going to have to perpetually win going forward. I'll take the latter... Sure Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Heitz Posted May 21, 2014 Share Posted May 21, 2014 Even if we get a stadium right downtown they won't completely "kill" tailgating! Jeeze, even in Pittsburgh where you're under a road people still get their grill and talgate on... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
beerme1 Posted May 21, 2014 Share Posted May 21, 2014 If they move the stadium downtown, or NF. Tailgating is over. At least as we know it. It'll be like corporate beer tents for our foreseeable future. Which is why I'd rather perform a Chicago Bears, GB Packers, KC Chiefs type renovation on the Ralph. Add another level over the end zones on top of the scoreboards or something. But keep the team playing where they are. The last thing we need is more seats in another level though. The Ralph replacemnent needs to seat 65K not 90K Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PromoTheRobot Posted May 21, 2014 Share Posted May 21, 2014 That is not going to happen long term either. The only way that it will is if they do something like Denver. It could be "Geico Field at Ralph Wilson Stadium" but I doubt it. Naming rights will almost certainly be sold. Been saying that for years. I don't think it's disrespectful to RW to add a field sponsor. I'm sure Mary Wilson would have the final say, though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BarleyNY Posted May 21, 2014 Share Posted May 21, 2014 Whatever they do, I hope the Bills maintain the stadium name as "Ralph Wilson Stadium". Especially after we lost Ralph in 2014 That is not going to happen long term either. The only way that it will is if they do something like Denver. It could be "Geico Field at Ralph Wilson Stadium" but I doubt it. Naming rights will almost certainly be sold. Too much money to be made on naming rights. By the time a new stadium is built and a new owner is found years will have passed. He should be honored in some way, however. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mrags Posted May 21, 2014 Share Posted May 21, 2014 The last thing we need is more seats in another level though. The Ralph replacemnent needs to seat 65K not 90K then Ore suites or luxury types of seats with heaters and wait service at yiur seat. Not quite as expensive as a box, but more expensive than the average ticket. More party areas at the end zones like a bar/restaurant that overlooks the action, much like the 200 level in First Niagara. There are plenty of options. FWIW - I was in Minneapolis for work a couple of years ago during baseball season. The Twins stadium had recently been built in downtown Minneapolis. Target Field holds just under 40,000 fans. I was staying at a Marriott overlooking the area and was extremely impressed with what happens to a downtown area when 40,000 people (who probably would not otherwise be there) are downtown both before and after a game. The whole area came to life and business was booming. As an aside, if you are a baseball fan and find yourself in Minneapolis, you may want to go to a game. We were able to catch one game against the White Sox, and I was very impressed with the stadium. the only problem is that this is not baseball. This is football. People can leave work a little early and still catch a baseball game. Football is an all day event. Also, there are 80 games a year in baseball, and only 8 in football. Defeats the purpose a little. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stenbar Posted May 21, 2014 Share Posted May 21, 2014 I don't remember that BUT it's been a while. I can't imagine anyone rolling a keg down Jefferson/Best for very long, even in the 60's. Considering that there was NO convenient parking, if you could get the keg from wherever you were parked, into the Rockpile, UP the ramps etc.etc. I guess you deserved it. My dad went to every game with his brothers and they bought an extra seat to every game for Mr. Keg..lol..now we cant even bring in a Reeses Peanut Butter Cup... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roger Goodell Posted May 21, 2014 Share Posted May 21, 2014 (edited) The NFL is committed to providing a safe and enjoyable atmosphere for all our fans. Edited May 21, 2014 by Roger Goodell Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thebandit27 Posted May 21, 2014 Share Posted May 21, 2014 That is not going to happen long term either. The only way that it will is if they do something like Denver. It could be "Geico Field at Ralph Wilson Stadium" but I doubt it. Naming rights will almost certainly be sold. More than likely they'll sell the naming rights and dedicate a special portion of the stadium to Ralph...i.e. the Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Memorial Family Section. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eball Posted May 21, 2014 Share Posted May 21, 2014 Been saying that for years. I don't think it's disrespectful to RW to add a field sponsor. I'm sure Mary Wilson would have the final say, though. I still like the sound of Ralph Wilson Field at New Era Stadium. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheLynchTrain Posted May 21, 2014 Share Posted May 21, 2014 (edited) I live in Washington, DC and go to a lot of Nationals games. I know baseball is a completely different sport, but you can still have fun without full tailgating per se. When the Nationals moved to DC, the city demolished an entire neighborhood and gave most of the surrounding stadium land to the owners (quite controversial). They built a few high-rise buildings but they left a square block across the street that they converted into an open air venue that's been quite a hit. Yes, its kind of like the "beer tents" we dread but you can drink beer (6-7 bucks I believe), sit at picnic tables, play cornhole and they do have (somewhat passible) bands play on game days. They also use the space for concerts and other events on non-game days. It's obviously not tailgating I know and yes, it is baseball, but friends from out of town always tell me how much more fun Nats "pregamming" is versus their cities' baseball venue. If keeping the Bills in Buffalo forces us to have a stadium downtown or in a venue in a more concentrated urban area with minimal "DIY" tailgating, as long as they do something like the Nationals did, I think I can stomach it. Check ou the pictures on yelp Edited May 21, 2014 by TheLynchTrain Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Over 29 years of fanhood Posted May 21, 2014 Share Posted May 21, 2014 Even if we get a stadium right downtown they won't completely "kill" tailgating! Jeeze, even in Pittsburgh where you're under a road people still get their grill and talgate on... Those are homeless people not tailgaters. Kill means add so many constraints it becomes undesirable to do so. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KollegeStudnet Posted May 21, 2014 Share Posted May 21, 2014 My opinion, it should not change Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Over 29 years of fanhood Posted May 21, 2014 Share Posted May 21, 2014 I live in Washington, DC and go to a lot of Nationals games. I know baseball is a completely different sport, but you can still have fun without full tailgating per se. When the Nationals moved to DC, the city demolished an entire neighborhood and gave most of the surrounding stadium land to the owners (quite controversial). They built a few high-rise buildings but they left a square block across the street that they converted into an open air venue that's been quite a hit. Yes, its kind of like the "beer tents" we dread but you can drink beer (6-7 bucks I believe), sit at picnic tables, play cornhole and they do have (somewhat passible) bands play on game days. They also use the space for concerts and other events on non-game days. It's obviously not tailgating I know and yes, it is baseball, but friends from out of town always tell me how much more fun Nats "pregamming" is versus their cities' baseball venue. If keeping the Bills in Buffalo forces us to have a stadium downtown or in a venue in a more concentrated urban area with minimal "DIY" tailgating, as long as they do something like the Nationals did, I think I can stomach it. Check ou the pictures on yelp That whole naties park area is so well done. Great place to take in a game.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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