Golden Wheels Posted October 8, 2014 Share Posted October 8, 2014 apparently we need to install pools that overweight woman can swim in during the game...in their jeans, then our "gameday experience" will be up to his standards Maybe he means Billy Buffalo should hold up signs with Ebola jokes. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stony Posted October 8, 2014 Share Posted October 8, 2014 The thing is, when he talks about "fan experience" he's not talking about the game day experience that you are I are talking about. He's not talking about the tailgating or the raucus crowd or screaming until you lose your voice. He is talking about making money. He is looking for things that the owners can charge you for at the stadium to maximize their profits. So everyone sniping about the half empty stadium or Khan's stupidity, while you are correct, you are off base. The new stadium is not really about giving you more fun at the game, its about adding more things that they can charge money for. It will happen, so you should probably get onboard. Ding, ding, ding, ding...we have a winner. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
8-8 Forever? Posted October 8, 2014 Share Posted October 8, 2014 It'll be 10 years before a new stadium opens in the city best case. This is all long term stuff. Who cares. Play football. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ted William's frozen head Posted October 8, 2014 Share Posted October 8, 2014 The RAlph has always been a great place to see a game, but for the life of me, I can't see what the F they spent $130 million on besides making the place a fortification. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
reddogblitz Posted October 8, 2014 Share Posted October 8, 2014 (edited) I've been to games in 7 NFL venues: Cotton Bowl, Texas Stadium (original), Houston Reliant, NO Super Dome, Seattle, Detroit (SB XL), and the Ralph. The Ralph is by far the best. Texas Stadium during the 70s - 80s Cowboys heydey was pretty sweet. However the game presentation and fans at the Ralph are amazing. The Shout Song thing is brilliant. After a Bills score the whole crowd stands up and sings the song. Then after the song is over it's time for the kickoff. Never seen anything like that anywhere else. In Seattle, after a TD they play commercials on the Jumbotron. How lame is that? Watching a football game in an indoor stadium feels so artificial and just not right. And fans at the Ralph you can tell are real fans and have been for a while. In Seattle everyone is in Russell Wilson, Richard Sherman, or BeastMode jerseys. When I used to go to game there around 2005 - 2007, it was all Matt Hasselbeck and Shaun Alexander. At the Ralph I see all kinds of old jerseys. Even guys who were flops and left on inauspicious circumstances like McGahee, Trent, and Whitner. I even saw a guy in a Scott Norwood jersey last game I went to. I was trying to think of the most obscure jersey I have that I could wear to a game. Quinn Early I though. There was a guy in my section in a Qunn jersey. And just the sheer number of fans at a game for a team that hasn't even had a winning season in 9 years. I don't' want a new stadium. I go to watch football, not admire fine art work. The Ralph is right! Edited October 8, 2014 by reddogblitz Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Augie Posted October 8, 2014 Share Posted October 8, 2014 I've been to games in 7 NFL venues: Cotton Bowl, Texas Stadium (original), Houston Reliant, NO Super Dome, Seattle, Detroit (SB SL), and the Ralph. The Ralph is by far the best. The Ralph is right! I've been to about a dozen NFL venues outside of Buffalo. More than half of those are now gone. Hell, I've been to two IN Buffalo, and one is gone. (I'm probably around the triple digit mark in Buffalo according to some quick math but so far away now.) That makes me old, and shows a trend. I love the Ralph for a game, and I'll come back for games before it's gone. Don't fool yourself, it's almost certain to go away. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
reddogblitz Posted October 8, 2014 Share Posted October 8, 2014 Don't fool yourself, it's almost certain to go away. A guy can dream, can't he ?? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Just Jack Posted October 8, 2014 Share Posted October 8, 2014 The excitement at the Jags' stadium is truly palpable in this photo: http://viscariello.c...ute-warning.jpg Looking at the photo full screen, it's the 2 minute warning in the 4th quarter. Chicago is leading 34-3. Not surprised there's all those empty seats. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Augie Posted October 8, 2014 Share Posted October 8, 2014 (edited) A guy can dream, can't he ?? Please know I will never be the one to tell you not to dream! And forgive me if at some point I tell you that you're crazy, but that's just a hypothetical. :-) Edited October 8, 2014 by Augie Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Drewgetz Posted October 9, 2014 Share Posted October 9, 2014 New Stadium = Higher Prices. Long live the Ralph. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Augie Posted October 9, 2014 Share Posted October 9, 2014 New Stadium = Higher Prices. Long live the Ralph. I agree, don't get me wrong. This is what we all hoped would happen, but the cost basis just went from $25,000 to $1,400,000,000. That's a lot more zeros. It will be more expensive. We just have to be thankful it was the Pegula's and not someone else. This is the best case realistic scenario, let's not get greedy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
8-8 Forever? Posted October 9, 2014 Share Posted October 9, 2014 He owns the Jags ferchrissakes and he's bragging about his game day experience in Jacksonville? Doesn't the NFL understand that there are two ingredients and only two ingredients necessary for an outstanding game day experience. They are a team and real, committed football fans. If you're going to a game to see the huge video boards or watch whales swim in the sideline pool then you aren't a fan. Does Buffalo need a new stadium? Meh. The Ralph for its age has never bothered me one iota & I feel it's a great place to watch a football game. If a new stadium is built I'm OK with that too because everybody wants something new and shiny, but it's not a must have for me. http://www.buffalone...two-bills-drive buffalo is old school. that's all. totally old school. leave it alone. who cares what some guy from jacksonville thinks. buffalo is beer drinkin trash talkin HS educated football watchin folks. just because the rest of the league actually got beyond 1973 is besides the point. the stands are full and the team is staying,singin the same old silly song, regardless of what the other owners want-- they have no say now that the sale is over. I hope the ralph stands for another 20 years just to spite those guys. some much fun it would be... billion dollar wine soaked stadiums surrounding little old ralph wilson stadium with a bunch of 50 something high schoolers drinkin budweiser and old vienna .... i love it. let it be. totally one of a kind. the land that time forgot. some thing to be said for that. go bills. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pondslider Posted October 9, 2014 Share Posted October 9, 2014 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nitro Posted October 9, 2014 Share Posted October 9, 2014 Kahn is a arrogant donkey but he speaks the truth. The Ralph is old. No matter how much money you put in face lifts, it is still old. It is a good stadium and design but the one thing wrong with it and has been a problem since day one is its location. NFL wants stadiums like Lucas Oil in Indy. Close to hotels, restaurants and entertainment. The Pegulas will have a chance to build a signature stadium that will be part of the downtown Renaissance. Until then the fans will have to listen to guys like Kahn. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
reddogblitz Posted October 9, 2014 Share Posted October 9, 2014 Kahn is a arrogant donkey but he speaks the truth. The Ralph is old. No matter how much money you put in face lifts, it is still old. It is a good stadium and design but the one thing wrong with it and has been a problem since day one is its location. NFL wants stadiums like Lucas Oil in Indy. Close to hotels, restaurants and entertainment. The Pegulas will have a chance to build a signature stadium that will be part of the downtown Renaissance. Until then the fans will have to listen to guys like Kahn. How come Chicago, Green Bay, and KC have old stadiums and don't have to replace them? I hope Terry Pegula, now that he is an approved owner tells the NFL to pound sand and stands pat on the Ralph. I don't think there's anyway the NFL can MAKE him build a new stadium. If I'm wrong, please enlighten me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kirby Jackson Posted October 9, 2014 Share Posted October 9, 2014 (edited) In terms of the stadium conversation I love the Ralph and have SO many great memories there. With that being said they need a new stadium. A facelift will not work. The Bills are currently forgoing so many revenue opportunities that other teams are capitalizing on. You have seen them try to narrow this chasm this year with the new bar, more efficient and better concessions. There is so much money spent before the game that the Bills would love to get a piece of as other teams have. Most importantly though is that the stadium needs to be "rescaled" and that just can't be done at the Ralph. The Bills charge a fraction of the norm in the league and NEED to close that gap. They can't simply raise prices by 50% or even gradually without losing a large segment of their season ticket holders. A new stadium affords them the opportunity to offer varying tiers of pricing and amenities associated with them. People feel a sense of ownership with "their seats" and rarely downgrade, they just quit. A new stadium offers the cover to make those changes without the attrition because no one "owns" a particular seat. We used to call it "right sizing." You need to be able to move high end inventory and then backfill everywhere else. That is the name of the game. Before anyone chimes in with the "club seats aren't all sold" that is because there is a viable alternative (midfield 20 rows up) for 1/3 to 1/4 of the price. The benefits offered aren't worth that difference to many. The best seats in the building need to be priced accordingly. There will be affordable options for everyone to attend but there will be more pricing tiers and benefits associated with them. Edited October 9, 2014 by Kirby Jackson Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doc Posted October 9, 2014 Share Posted October 9, 2014 Should the Bills' future game day experience involve tarps? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
simpleman Posted October 9, 2014 Share Posted October 9, 2014 The thing is, when he talks about "fan experience" he's not talking about the game day experience that you are I are talking about. He's not talking about the tailgating or the raucus crowd or screaming until you lose your voice. He is talking about making money. He is looking for things that the owners can charge you for at the stadium to maximize their profits. Exactly! This is about the league enforcing expectations about what a team is supposed to get from its community. If Buffalo gets away without a new stadium every 30 years, and comfy suites for the visitors, other teams and cities won't feel like they have to provide them either. True. Sadly, this is the real purpose of his comments. It is all about the rich wanting to get richer at our expense. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jimmy10 Posted October 9, 2014 Share Posted October 9, 2014 I am not opposed to a new stadium. The only thing that worries me is the potential for skyrocketing ticket prices and PSLs. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kirby Jackson Posted October 9, 2014 Share Posted October 9, 2014 I am not opposed to a new stadium. The only thing that worries me is the potential for skyrocketing ticket prices and PSLs. There may be PSLs and there will certainly be higher priced tickets but not everywhere. No one will be sitting 20 rows about at the 50 for $70 a game anymore (or whatever it is). With that being said there will be tickets as cheap as probably $45 a game (based on today's value of the $). There will probably be lower level seats as cheap as $70. The prime seats however will be more reflective of market value (my guess is about $200 a game). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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