The New stadium must be a dome

[Doc]

I didn't realize this till just now, but Minnesota's new stadium is not a retractable roof it is a fixed roof put another way it's a building.

 

The cool thing they have designed it with lots of natural light by using glass for the roof and windows. I did read that certain windows open on the sides for a view of the City.

Now where did you hear that?

[SoulMan]

A Retractable Roof facility is what we need, in the Downtown, that can utilize existing infrastructure, Metrorail, bus, Amtrak, hotels etc. Imagine no parking hassles, because the metro drops off right in the new Stadium.

 

This project will likely involve the removal of some buildings, or houses, adding or rerouting a road, making existing parking lots two stories instead of 1 to handle extra cars.

 

Having this kind of facility will allow for the possibility of getting other large events like

 

1. NCAA Bowl games and playoffs.

2. NCAA Basketball Final Four.

3. NCAA Wrestling Championship

4. Democratic National Convention

5. Super Bowl if they keep buildings hotels in the Buffalo Area.

6. The NFL Combine.

7. Neutral site games for NCAA football teams.

 

 

 

If they make it a first class venue, then, you'll attract first class events, even with the cold weather.

 

 

Concur

[Miyagi-Do Karate]

I would be fine with a dome if...and only if...it was engineered to trap and maximize sounds. Some domes are like acoustic vacuums. What fun is that?

 

Just like Seattle. They can fill the stadium with a bunch of fair weather fans who make 1/10th the sound of a normal stadium and can cause an earthquake due to accoustics.

[BillsFan-4-Ever]

Simply, you're wrong. Many people won't even consider a game in November or December now. With a dome they WILL go

 

Really? Then explain for instance why the playoff Houston "comeback" game was not a sell-out? The WEATHER

I'll go back to the first person who prodded me about my comments .... Prove it.

 

the economy is more of a reason for poor December attendance than weather.

 

If you use "The WEATHER" as an excuse for not going then you are either too old or too feeble to handle cold temps.

 

OR you don't have the extra cash.

 

how many sold out games were there in the 90's when the Bills went to 4 straight SB's and the temps were below freezing and sometimes w/a negative temp windchill?

 

http://www.buffalobi...5d-2490123ae81d

 

that's like when people say its too cold to go skiing

 

http://www.pro-footb...99301030buf.htm

 

The Comeback

Weather 34 degrees, relative humidity 69%, wind 14 mph, wind chill 24

Edited May 22, 2014 by BillsFan-4-Ever

[May Day 10]

I have season tickets and once the Bills are eliminated, realistically, there is little to no reason to eat a whole Sunday with crap. I eat the tickets. Weather plays a small part in the decision, but if its a meaningful game, Id go in a blizzard.

 

 

The Houston comeback game is such a laughable comparison with present day. They had 1 week to sell tickets, no internet, injuries and against a team that smoked them, larger capacity, no regionalization into Rochester or Southern Ontario yet.

 

it wasnt the weather.

 

 

 

A dome may be necessary though to justify the funding and effort, unfortunately, as pointed out. I think they are going to have to imagine uses beyond the 10-12 NFL games a year.

[Beerball]

A dome may be necessary though to justify the funding and effort, unfortunately, as pointed out. I think they are going to have to imagine uses beyond the 10-12 NFL games a year.

The new stadium must be multiple use. It will undoubtedly add to the initial costs but it will help pay for itself.

[bladiebla]

Just like Seattle. They can fill the stadium with a bunch of fair weather fans who make 1/10th the sound of a normal stadium and can cause an earthquake due to accoustics.

 

That is up to the current attending fanbase, if they all take their season tickets then the stadium will be crazy loud to the point where it will scare off some casuals (again with the Amsterdam Admirals example, but the organization there had a big issue due to the noise we produced as it was driving the casuals out of the stadium; they actually added a noise free section in the quietest part of the stadium to cater for those people. Then again with the Admirals you HAD to wear earplugs otherwise you'd have ringing ears for a couple of days).

 

The key with the more casual fans that do come to the visit is that often they are just as passionate about the team but are a bit more relucatant to make themselves heard, if everybody is making noise they'll follow suit. The great thing about attending American Football games is that fans can actually influence the game if they trully get behind disrupting the other team it's huddle. If done right the fans are indeed the 12th man on the field.

[Beerball]

That is up to the current attending fanbase,

Not really. Jerrah's new stadium swallows noise, Seahawks stadium enhances noise.

[ALF]

I'am all for a dome . Players will want to stay here for ideal conditions . Fans from the opposing team will travel here , comfort in bad weather .

[CountDorkula]

I'am all for a dome . Players will want to stay here for ideal conditions . Fans from the opposing team will travel here , comfort in bad weather .

 

But, but, but then you get called a wussy, because you would rather be comfortable and not frezzing sitting in a 25 degree sleet storm...

[LabattBlue]

My 2 cents...

 

1 - It is a myth that the Bills have a "cold weather" advantage. It's not true today, it was not true in the SB years, nor the years before that.

 

2 - Does it make for a more sterile environment? Maybe, but the bottom line from an ownership point of view is filling seats, not making sure the people that do show up are all prepared to scream from start to finish. I seem to remember the King Dome being renowned for being unbelievably loud.

 

3 - I'd prefer a retractable roof stadium, but it it is a fixed roof, that is a 1000x better than what we have today. IMO the biggest problem isn't the snow and the cold, it is the rainy days with temps between 30-50 that can occur from October on.

 

4 Multi-purpose stadium? I'd built it with the guarantee that there will be 10 Bills games a year. Nothing more, nothing less. Anything "substantial" beyond that is pie in the sky. Final Four, BCS Games, and other mega events don't just fall in your lap when a dome is built. It isn't going to be a convention center/stadium like Lucas Oil Stadium, so what other events are going to be held there? The days of huge stadium concerts seem to be over(when was the last time one was held at RWS), so what does that leave? The hotel room total will never be sufficient to attract the major events, and new hotels aren't going to be built that will have low occupancy for 95 percent of the year.

 

 

I have never owned season tickets, but the day an indoor facility is announced, my season ticket deposit will go in the mail.

[stony]

Simply, you're wrong. Many people won't even consider a game in November or December now. With a dome they WILL go

 

 

 

Really? Then explain for instance why the playoff Houston "comeback" game was not a sell-out? The WEATHER

 

That day was actually a nice day for January in WNY. Don't think weather had much to do with it. I honestly think after three straight years to the Super Bowl, that team wasn't counted onto win that game, and subsequently, many stayed home. The Oilers just blew us out, Jimbo was hurt, Thurman was hurt, Biscuit was hurt. Many probably didn't want to see the team lose.

[Doc]

My 2 cents...

 

1 - It is a myth that the Bills have a "cold weather" advantage. It's not true today, it was not true in the SB years, nor the years before that.

 

2 - Does it make for a more sterile environment? Maybe, but the bottom line from an ownership point of view is filling seats, not making sure the people that do show up are all prepared to scream from start to finish. I seem to remember the King Dome being renowned for being unbelievably loud.

 

3 - I'd prefer a retractable roof stadium, but it it is a fixed roof, that is a 1000x better than what we have today. IMO the biggest problem isn't the snow and the cold, it is the rainy days with temps between 30-50 that can occur from October on.

 

4 Multi-purpose stadium? I'd built it with the guarantee that there will be 10 Bills games a year. Nothing more, nothing less. Anything "substantial" beyond that is pie in the sky. Final Four, BCS Games, and other mega events don't just fall in your lap when a dome is built. It isn't going to be a convention center/stadium like Lucas Oil Stadium, so what other events are going to be held there? The days of huge stadium concerts seem to be over(when was the last time one was held at RWS), so what does that leave? The hotel room total will never be sufficient to attract the major events, and new hotels aren't going to be built that will have low occupancy for 95 percent of the year.

 

 

I have never owned season tickets, but the day an indoor facility is announced, my season ticket deposit will go in the mail.

Why do you think that?

[jimmy10]

Interesting viewpoint when two NFL teams in the North that have long played in domes (Seattle & Minnesota) have switched (C-Hawks) or are about to switch (Vikes) to open air stadiums.

 

Yeah, but Seattle doesn't count as a winter weather city. The Pacific NW is relatively warm in the winter.

[CountDorkula]

Yeah, but Seattle doesn't count as a winter weather city. The Pacific NW is relatively warm in the winter.

 

Also Minnesotas stadium is not open air. It has doors that can open, but will be an enclosed stadium.

[WotAGuy]

I'd prefer a stadium with covered seating areas (maybe not all, but at least half under cover) and otherwise be open air. I kind of enjoy snow games, but rain games are a B word.

[RuntheDamnBall]

The home field advantage argument is NOT CRAP, it is a DECISIVE advantage and when we had a good team we were able to capitalize on it. However, 26Corner had an excellent idea about a retractable dome, which I think would kill two birds with one stone. We could attract a super bowl perhaps because we could overcome the crappy weather, and leave it open at our leisure (like when a dome team comes to town, or close it if our qb gets hurt and we need favorable conditions for our backup.) I say take all the land the Ralph is on and make it into hotels, of which the lack thereof is a huge detractor to ever holding a super bowl here. Then devise a public transit infrastructure setup to the new retractable dome AND downtown (First Niagara Center). We have that setup already downtown, it is very convenient for out of towners to get to Sabres games from the hotel. That would make us 150% more attractive to both the league, AND free agents who would appreciate the big investment. Now, while we are all debating this stuff, can we PLEASE HAVE A WINNING SEASON?

Home field advantage isn't weather-specific unless you build your team around it. If this were a straight-up power running team I might agree with you.

 

Home field advantage is about having loud fans that fill the stadium.

[PromoTheRobot]

 

Why do you think that?

He tends to be a crumudgeon. The fact is Buffalo already hosts NCAA regionals and hosted the Frozen Four once. It's not that far fetched to end up with a Final Four. I don't know what the required number of hotel rooms is but Buffalo is adding new hotels at a far clip lately so we must be getting closer.

 

And as the Canalside/Cobblstone areas continue to develop you have an area built for visitors emerging. Super Bowl? Unlikely, for sure, but not impossible. Definitely other events like a bowl game, NCAA regionals, etc.

[LabattBlue]

Why do you think that?

Why do I think that a convention center won't be part of it, or why mega events won't be begging to come to Buffalo if a new indoor stadium is built? Convention Center would only be part of it, if new stadium is downtown, and on top of that the added cost combined with the lack of current events for the existing convention center makes it probably a no go.

 

Mega events? How many BCS Bowl games are currently played in the Northeast/MidWest? You think they are going to turn their cheek on New Orleans, Miami, Phoenix, Pasadena, etc...? As far as basketball goes, Buffalo can't even get the regional finals of March Madness despite having a proven track record hosting the first and second round of games four or five times now. Final Four? Pipedream. Same reason there will never be a SB here. Not enough hotels. What does that leave?

 

He tends to be a crumudgeon. The fact is Buffalo already hosts NCAA regionals and hosted the Frozen Four once. It's not that far fetched to end up with a Final Four. I don't know what the required number of hotel rooms is but Buffalo is adding new hotels at a far clip lately so we must be getting closer.

 

And as the Canalside/Cobblstone areas continue to develop you have an area built for visitors emerging. Super Bowl? Unlikely, for sure, but not impossible. Definitely other events like a bowl game, NCAA regionals, etc.

Just being realistic, but I guess that makes me a curmudgeon? :huh: As I just stated, despite having a proven track record in March Madness over the last 10 years, they can't sniff the Sweet 16, but the Final Four is not that far fetched?

[May Day 10]

He tends to be a crumudgeon. The fact is Buffalo already hosts NCAA regionals and hosted the Frozen Four once. It's not that far fetched to end up with a Final Four. I don't know what the required number of hotel rooms is but Buffalo is adding new hotels at a far clip lately so we must be getting closer.

 

And as the Canalside/Cobblstone areas continue to develop you have an area built for visitors emerging. Super Bowl? Unlikely, for sure, but not impossible. Definitely other events like a bowl game, NCAA regionals, etc.

 

I would think the WJC required many rooms. More have been built/are on the way.

 

Anyways, I believe a Final Four is not an impossibility. Hosting a yearly Bowl Game and/or hosting the MAC Championship (switching with Detroit) is not out of the realm of possibility. Buffalo will have to continue the turnaround, it seems like we will have Hafbrauhausen or whatever and various microbreweries and restaurants, attractions, etc that would make a Superbowl in the 2020s strong a possibility IMO if the stadium is downtown. I would also say Wrestlemania could possibly be an event. WM, FF, and SB would all be once in a lifetime though.

The Sabres could also play semi annually or so in the stadium, especially if Pegula is involved in the Bills ownership.

If UB is linked, they could potentially hop conferences and play games there. As pointed out though, NCAA football in a pro town have a tough go. Im sure if they could garner the support, some better conferences would love the Buffalo market and facility.

 

 

 

I prefer outdoor for the Bills. I like the variability and the fact that the weather is an element that gives different games character and properties. If a roof gets it done though, we gotta support that

Edited May 22, 2014 by May Day 10

[bisonbrigade]

THey can build a dome stadium if they can put artificial snow in the stadium during Dolphin games. LOL

[jimmy10]

I prefer outdoor for the Bills. I like the variability and the fact that the weather is an element that gives different games character and properties. If a roof gets it done though, we gotta support that

 

I don't care if they have to play their games on the deck of an aircraft carrier at the Naval yard. If it keeps the Bills here, I will support it.

[CountDorkula]

Why do I think that a convention center won't be part of it, or why mega events won't be begging to come to Buffalo if a new indoor stadium is built? Convention Center would only be part of it, if new stadium is downtown, and on top of that the added cost combined with the lack of current events for the existing convention center makes it probably a no go.

 

Mega events? How many BCS Bowl games are currently played in the Northeast/MidWest? You think they are going to turn their cheek on New Orleans, Miami, Phoenix, Pasadena, etc...? As far as basketball goes, Buffalo can't even get the regional finals of March Madness despite having a proven track record hosting the first and second round of games four or five times now. Final Four? Pipedream. Same reason there will never be a SB here. Not enough hotels. What does that leave?

 

 

Just being realistic, but I guess that makes me a curmudgeon? :huh: As I just stated, despite having a proven track record in March Madness over the last 10 years, they can't sniff the Sweet 16, but the Final Four is not that far fetched?

 

Look at the size difference though between where the Final four is held to where the regionals are held. If Buffalo has a state of the art 60K plus stadium, who's to say they wont be in the running? The FNC for basketball holds about 20K. Imgine 40K more people packed into that place.

[Garion]

 

 

I don't care if they have to play their games on the deck of an aircraft carrier at the Naval yard. If it keeps the Bills here, I will support it.

 

Agreed

[BillnutinHouston]

I think a domed stadium in Niagara Falls would almost guarantee a Super Bowl... Plenty of rooms, great venue. Yes, cold, and probably snowy but it could happen.

I think it's a real stretch to think Buffalo would host a Super Bowl before other cold weather cities with newer stadiums such as New England, Philly, Pittsburgh and Cincinnati. We have to just focus on a multiuse facility that keeps the team in Bflo and that helps spur other economic development.

 

Having said that, people need to understand that as far as hotel rooms for a Super Bowl go, there's a very wide geographic radius in play. When Dallas hosted the Super Bowl, many visitors were staying in towns far away from the actual venue. So if Niagara Falls has enough rooms to host a SB, then Buffalo does as well. I just don't think Buffalo has enough appeal to land a SB even if we do build a new stadium.

[Webster Guy]

Have you ever seen an nfl game in a dome? Its all artificial light, its way darker than open air stadiums, and it feels like arena football.

 

I hate domes. So do Green Bay, NE, Chicago, Cleveland, Pitt and a ton of other northern cities that see football games as an outing with fresh air and the excitement of playing in the elements.

 

I am not a traditionalist at all. Just go to a dome game or two and you'll see the difference, its night and day.

[Beerball]

My 2 cents...

 

4 Multi-purpose stadium? I'd built it with the guarantee that there will be 10 Bills games a year.

If you build a "football only" facility then your guarantee will be correct.

 

If you build a multi-use facility then I guarantee that the likelihood of other events being held there are more likely than in your scenario.

 

I've lived in the DFW area & I realize that Buffalo isn't DFW, but, there is no reason that Buffalo cannot attract events a tier balow what Jerrah's world does.

 

Field of dreams brother, field of dreams.

[machine gun kelly]

Split the difference with a retractable dome and no matter his state of the art, we'll never get a SB unless maybe we build it in Niagara Falls. Cuomo dumps not only money for the stadium, but improves the roads and infrastructure.

 

The closer to the Canadian side the better so we attract the fans who want attractions.

 

In Tampa we always move the Gasparila parade to the week of the SB If we host it. Gasparilla is a parade that celebrates when the Pirate Jose Gaspar invaded Tampa. Basically it's 500,000 people come watch the hundreds of boats who come in and invade Bayshore. There are parties everywhere and open container is lifted. It always attracts the SB fans coming in for the game.

 

buffalo or Niagara Falls would need to put some type of winter activities as getting this game is not just in the game. The city has to create an experience to get the event.

 

Oh, by the way we'd have to build more sky boxes and club seating, as well as make it like other stadiums in the 65,000 sizeso they sell out more, etc.

 

The seat cost will go up.

[Homey D. Clown]

Retractable Dome is the answer.

 

Definitely... I went to the Bills-Dallas game a couple of years ago, and that stadium was lame in every sense of the word. I was really nice out in Dallas that day, and you wouldn't have known it. I was also at the St. Louis game when trentative was starting, and that felt like a football stadium crammed into the old Aud. That place is a shithole

[May Day 10]

[quot

Split the difference with a retractable dome and no matter his state of the art, we'll never get a SB unless maybe we build it in Niagara Falls.

 

honest question: Have you ever been to Niagara Falls, USA?

 

 

 

(assuming a roof) The Super Bowl would come to Buffalo if and only if the development continues downtown and things continue to turn around solidly for another decade. Even then, it is very iffy. Niagara Falls is a toxic wasteland that shows no promise at all. Zero. There is nothing going on there and plopping a stadium in an undersized inaccessible corner of WNY is not going to magically create development, even if NYS drops a few bucks in improving the roads. I work in Niagara Falls and even on major roads I have to swerve around potholes the size of craters. The city has major problems deep in its bones a stadium wont fix, and if anything, it would further highlight its problems.

[Beerball]

You place the stadium.

 

http://www.19ideas.com/stadium/

 

http://www.wgrz.com/story/news/local/2014/05/22/website-lets-you-choose-new-bills-stadium-site/9472271/

[Hapless Bills Fan]

I don't want to hear any crap about tradition in Buffalo or the weather is our advantage BS. It hasn't been an advantage since Kelly retired. Hell Even Ralph Wilson went to the league and asked December games be mostly away because of attendance.

 

So lets cut the crap and get into the 20 teens here and get with the times. New stadium needs to be a DOME. Then we can start getting games in December(you know...playoff run time?) back at our house. We can fill the thing regardless of weather, it will be an attraction to the rest of the NFL fan base AND... Wait for it.... We might even get to host a Superbowl. *GASP*. Why did Minnesota get the superbowl a couple days ago? Because the NFL awards cities with new stadiums that's why.

 

 

Bottom line, screw the cold and build a damn dome already. BTW I am betting some potential FA's worth a damn might actually prefer playing in Buffalo if we had a domed stadium. Just sayin...

 

Dome or no dome, it would help our injury rate if the new stadium had grass not turf.

 

Turf is evil.

[PromoTheRobot]

If the stadium was downtown UB could play their games their too. Students could get to games via the Metro. So there's 6 more dates of use.

[oman128]

The Bills playing in the New facility is the main thing, but there is so much more we can attract to Buffalo.

 

With a new Fixed or Retractable Roof we could host the NFL Draft. Think of all the players coaches and media that swarm to NYC. That is all huge tourism money, that would come to Buffalo (hotels, restaurants, cabs, limos, trips to Niagara Falls etc.) I think given all the new hotel rooms planned and under contruction, there would be more than enough.

 

This size event is big enough and important, If Buffalo does a great job of hosting, the NFL would come back again, and it would create goodwill, and maybe change some hearts and minds about Buffalo NY.

[jimmy10]

Have you ever seen an nfl game in a dome? Its all artificial light, its way darker than open air stadiums, and it feels like arena football.

 

Agree completely. I was at the Bills game in Atlanta in 2009. With the translucent roof on the Georgia Dome, it was like watching a game in a shopping mall under fluorescent lights. Absolutely terrible atmosphere.

 

However, I say again, it matters not to me what the venue is like. If it keeps the Bills here long-term, I am for it.

[Marv's Neighbor]

Funding a new Stadium will be difficult enough BUT Domes are more expensive.

 

I'm not suggesting we do anything "on the cheap" but Domed Stadiums never last as long as a more traditional open version. They're also much more labor/maintenance intensive for their service lives.

 

Keep the BILLS in WNY, but if a Stadium is eventually built, keep it on the more traditional open plan.

[Beerball]

If the stadium was downtown UB could play their games their too. Students could get to games via the Metro. So there's 6 more dates of use.

That kind of tie in would be awesome.

 

You place the stadium.

 

http://www.19ideas.com/stadium/

 

http://www.wgrz.com/...m-site/9472271/

Website Lets You Choose New Bills Stadium Site

Yolo says turnabout is fair play!

[Kellyto83TD]

Again... Domed or a retractable roof. Otherwise its a waste of time and money and the Bills will continue to suffer schedule wise. Time to appeal to a broader audience than a few 'Hard core' fans. Seats need to be filled and filled in November, December and hopefully January.

[26CornerBlitz]

That kind of tie in would be awesome.

 

 

Yolo says turnabout is fair play!

 

Touche

[Kellyto83TD]

The Bills playing in the New facility is the main thing, but there is so much more we can attract to Buffalo.

 

With a new Fixed or Retractable Roof we could host the NFL Draft. Think of all the players coaches and media that swarm to NYC. That is all huge tourism money, that would come to Buffalo (hotels, restaurants, cabs, limos, trips to Niagara Falls etc.) I think given all the new hotel rooms planned and under contruction, there would be more than enough.

 

This size event is big enough and important, If Buffalo does a great job of hosting, the NFL would come back again, and it would create goodwill, and maybe change some hearts and minds about Buffalo NY.

 

Exactly but we have some folks stuck in the 60's-early 90's. Times have vastly changed. Its past time for the Bills to start catching up to the rest of the NFL. Start appealing to a bigger audience, bring in more money, better FA's etc.