Buffalo_Stampede Posted August 10, 2014 Share Posted August 10, 2014 (edited) Tomorrow, it will be 3 1/2 years since Pegula bought the Sabres. The year before Pegula took ownership, under Golisano, the Sabres won the Northeast division with a 61% winning percentage. In the ensuing seasons, that percentage has receded further each season: 58%... 54%... 50%... 31%. Last year was an all-time franchise record low winning percentage. For the time being, I don't think that the argument that Pegula will bring a Superbowl to the Buffalo Bills is anything other than blind optimism. On the other side of the coin, I think that the Harborcenter will be a nice feature to the ongoing Canalside development. It's a great project, but the Harborcenter would likely have fallen through without the $37 million in tax incentives that Pegula lobbied for. Carl Paladino's competing project for the Webster Block may have received similar incentives, but one of Paladino's selling points for the project was that it would be minimally subsidized. Regardless of whether Pegula or Paladino developed the land, and whether it was highly or minimally subsidized by taxpayers, it's nice to see a project nearing completion again at Canalside. Speaking of lobbying, though, I have reservations about the Bills being used as a device to leverage state and county politicians on legislature, in the way that Pegula has used the Sabres. I am glad that other bidders are stepping up, not named Trump or Bon Jovi, that are committed to keeping the team in Buffalo. Competition is a good thing. I would throw out the 1st few years of Pegula's ownership. The Pegula era started when Regier was fired. They made a decision to bottom out. We will see where the team goes from here. But they have the #1 prospects in the NHL for the 1st time. I personally thiink the last couple years have gone perfectly as planned. We just need 1 more year to go as planned. Edited August 10, 2014 by TheTruthHurts Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doc Posted August 11, 2014 Share Posted August 11, 2014 Not sure how you can blame Pegs for what happened with the Sabres. He kept the same GM and coach that had enjoyed tremendous success under Golisano, and gave them a blank check to get the players they wanted Now had he come in and made wholesale changes and/or was cheap, I could see blaming him. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dogbyte Posted August 11, 2014 Share Posted August 11, 2014 Here is a little tiblet for everyone, the NFL will not allow a team to play in a stadium close to a casino! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doc Posted August 11, 2014 Share Posted August 11, 2014 Here is a little tiblet for everyone, the NFL will not allow a team to play in a stadium close to a casino! What is "close"? There are plans to put casinos within 20 miles of Foxboro. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kelly the Dog Posted August 11, 2014 Share Posted August 11, 2014 Here is a little tiblet for everyone, the NFL will not allow a team to play in a stadium close to a casino! I've never been to the Seneca Casino. Does it even have a sports book? That is what the NFL would object to I imagine, not a casino. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Buffalo_Stampede Posted August 11, 2014 Share Posted August 11, 2014 Here is a little tiblet for everyone, the NFL will not allow a team to play in a stadium close to a casino! Not true. What is "close"? There are plans to put casinos within 20 miles of Foxboro. There is a casino behind Sun Life Stadium. There are many casino's in NO. I dont know where he got that from. The NFL frowns upon casinos because they have to. Fans already think games are fixed, imagine if the NFL had business with casinos. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
YoloinOhio Posted August 11, 2014 Share Posted August 11, 2014 This thread is great. See ya'll next week when I check back in! haha - same here. I pop in every now and then but it is honestly a bit overwhelming. As long as they stay in Bflo, I'm good. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jimmy10 Posted August 11, 2014 Share Posted August 11, 2014 Here is a little tiblet for everyone, the NFL will not allow a team to play in a stadium close to a casino! There are casinos all over the Phoenix area. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Senator Posted August 11, 2014 Share Posted August 11, 2014 Aren't you the guy who claimed the Bass Pro, and the New Peace Bridge were DONE DEALS? But I do like Pegula and if anyone can get it done quickly it is he. Still gonna take five years, at least. Mark it down. Nice to see you posting Sen. Hope you are feeling good. Thanks, Deano. I have good days and bad days, but am feeling reasonably well. (Another trip to Roswell Park this Thursday.) I have no doubt that Pegula has experienced stadium architectural, engineering, and construction firms lined up and ready to go to work the day the deal is done. I also recall that RWS was conceived, designed, and built in less than three years. It can be done. Well, hello there! Hey there, BeerSphere!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ET1062 Posted August 11, 2014 Share Posted August 11, 2014 Here is a little tiblet for everyone, the NFL will not allow a team to play in a stadium close to a casino! Rivers Casino is pretty much right next to Heinz Field, they even sell season ticket parking passes. But nice try, cue up Price is Right sound. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dean Posted August 11, 2014 Share Posted August 11, 2014 Here is a little tiblet for everyone, the NFL will not allow a team to play in a stadium close to a casino! What is "close"? There are plans to put casinos within 20 miles of Foxboro. Not true. There is a casino behind Sun Life Stadium. There are many casino's in NO. I dont know where he got that from. The NFL frowns upon casinos because they have to. Fans already think games are fixed, imagine if the NFL had business with casinos. There are casinos all over the Phoenix area. Rivers Casino is pretty much right next to Heinz Field, they even sell season ticket parking passes. But nice try, cue up Price is Right sound. So, dogbyte, what do you have to say for yourself? Seems like you are at best uninformed .and at worst a liar. I've never been to the Seneca Casino. Does it even have a sports book? That is what the NFL would object to I imagine, not a casino. It does not have a sport's book, nor does the Casino in Buffalo (is that Seneca, too?) No sports books in New York State. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kelly the Dog Posted August 11, 2014 Share Posted August 11, 2014 So, dogbyte, what do you have to say for yourself? Seems like you are at best uninformed .and at worst a liar. It does not have a sport's book, nor does the Casino in Buffalo (is that Seneca, too?) No sports books in New York State. That I bet is the key. Do any of the Indian casinos that are close to these stadiums have sports books? Again, that is the only reason the NFL would be against casinos. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dean Posted August 11, 2014 Share Posted August 11, 2014 That I bet is the key. Do any of the Indian casinos that are close to these stadiums have sports books? Again, that is the only reason the NFL would be against casinos. I don't believe there are any sportsbooks outside of Nevada, Oregon, Delaware and maybe Montana. I might be missing a state or two. No state with an NFL team. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
beerme1 Posted August 11, 2014 Share Posted August 11, 2014 Rivers Casino is pretty much right next to Heinz Field, they even sell season ticket parking passes. But nice try, cue up Price is Right sound. Dunh dunh, dunh dunh, Whhhhaaahhhhhhhh Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kelly the Dog Posted August 11, 2014 Share Posted August 11, 2014 I don't believe there are any sportsbooks outside of Nevada, Oregon, Delaware and maybe Montana. I might be missing a state or two. No state with an NFL team. So that's probably it. He could still be correct. They don't like casinos with sports books, mostly because they don't want players, coaches and team officials betting on the games. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dean Posted August 11, 2014 Share Posted August 11, 2014 So that's probably it. He could still be correct. They don't like casinos with sports books, mostly because they don't want players, coaches and team officials betting on the games. Except it has nothing to do with the WNY situation and has never been an issue for any NFL stadium. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Who is Yuri? Posted August 11, 2014 Share Posted August 11, 2014 (edited) Not sure how you can blame Pegs for what happened with the Sabres. He kept the same GM and coach that had enjoyed tremendous success under Golisano, and gave them a blank check to get the players they wanted Now had he come in and made wholesale changes and/or was cheap, I could see blaming him. Everything you said is true. I can't disagree. In the first two years, Pegula kept Ruff and Regier. Pegula was consistent in defending R&R and placed the blame on previous ownership with his "maybe someone was holding the painter's hand while they were doing the painting" quote. I give Pegula full credit for keeping Ruff and Regier while deflecting responsibility. I also give Pegula credit for opening up his checkbook. He gave Regier the financial resources to go after top free agents, and Pegula was even personally involved in recruiting. Whether or not Pegula or Regier deserve credit or blame, the effort netted the team Brad Boyes, Jordan Leopold, Robyn Regehr, Ville Leino, Christian Ehrhoff, and Cody Hodgson the first year. They missed out on Brad Richards, but the Sabres were trying their best to win throughout the 2011-2012 season, and for that I give them credit. No one can refute Pegula's ability to splash the cash. He gave Ruff a multi-year contract extension 22 months before firinghim. He gave Darcy a multi-year contract extension just 10 months before firing him. He signed Rolston to a multi year contract just six months before firinghim. It's no surprise, though, that Pat Lafontaine, sets the benchmark, at four months. Lafontaine holds a lot of Sabres records. He's the Sabres' Jim Kelly. But I also give Pegula credit for creating the strategy that the Sabres used this past year. The team successfully lost this past year. It also looks like he's positioned the team to successfully lose this coming year. I don't think the skill lies in losing, though, because anyone can lose if they really try. The amazing skill, and thing that sets Pegula apart, is his ability to get fans and the media behind him in that losing effort. He's created a real culture of losing in this town, and for that he deserves full credit. I'd expect the same sort of success with the Bills. Edited August 11, 2014 by Franz Kafka Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bowery4 Posted August 11, 2014 Share Posted August 11, 2014 Thanks, Deano. I have good days and bad days, but am feeling reasonably well. (Another trip to Roswell Park this Thursday.) I have no doubt that Pegula has experienced stadium architectural, engineering, and construction firms lined up and ready to go to work the day the deal is done. I also recall that RWS was conceived, designed, and built in less than three years. It can be done. Hey there, BeerSphere!!! Get well Senator!! thoughts and all to you. 19 and 0 baby+ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kelly the Dog Posted August 11, 2014 Share Posted August 11, 2014 Except it has nothing to do with the WNY situation and has never been an issue for any NFL stadium. Right you are, sir. He probably just heard about the casinos thing and assumed it was all casinos. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
beerme1 Posted August 11, 2014 Share Posted August 11, 2014 Everything you said is true. I can't disagree. In the first two years, Pegula kept Ruff and Regier. Pegula was consistent in defending R&R and placed the blame on previous ownership with his "maybe someone was holding the painter's hand while they were doing the painting" quote. I give Pegula full credit for keeping Ruff and Regier while deflecting responsibility. I also give Pegula credit for opening up his checkbook. He gave Regier the financial resources to go after top free agents, and Pegula was even personally involved in recruiting. Whether or not Pegula or Regier deserve credit or blame, the effort netted the team Brad Boyes, Jordan Leopold, Robyn Regehr, Ville Leino, Christian Ehrhoff, and Cody Hodgson the first year. They missed out on Brad Richards, but the Sabres were trying their best to win throughout the 2011-2012 season, and for that I give them credit. No one can refute Pegula's ability to splash the cash. He gave Ruff a multi-year contract extension 22 months before firinghim. He gave Darcy a multi-year contract extension just 10 months before firing him. He signed Rolston to a multi year contract just six months before firinghim. It's no surprise, though, that Pat Lafontaine, sets the benchmark, at four months. Lafontaine holds a lot of Sabres records. He's the Sabres' Jim Kelly. But I also give Pegula credit for creating the strategy that the Sabres used this past year. The team successfully lost this past year. It also looks like he's positioned the team to successfully lose this coming year. I don't think the skill lies in losing, though, because anyone can lose if they really try. The amazing skill, and thing that sets Pegula apart, is his ability to get fans and the media behind him in that losing effort. He's created a real culture of losing in this town, and for that he deserves full credit. I'd expect the same sort of success with the Bills. Well, at least you spelled Sabres right! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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