Would a Buffalo Bills Themed Convention in Downtown Buffalo Work?

[BuffaloRush]

Last month, I spent a weekend downtown for a wedding which also happened to be the same weekend of the Nickel City Comic-Con.   Many of the attendees were staying at the same hotel as I was, and I surprised to see the huge line outside the Convention Center at 8 AM before the doors opened.  You can see the website below to get a flavor of the celebrities and vendors who were attending.  From what I understand the event was a big success.

http://www.nickelcitycon.com/  

 

It made me wonder why no one has put together a Bills related Comic-Con type event.  As evidenced here on this message board, there are Buffalo Bills fans both locally and all over the world.  If a promoter put together a lineup to bring together all of the Bills legends from different era's and schedule autographs signings, Q & A's, and different type of events.  IMO this is the perfect time to do a roast of someone like Marv Levy etc.  Or have a Bills Super Bowl Panel where Kelly, Thurman, Bruce, Andre Reed and whoever else rewatch game and provide commentary.  Or how about Frank Reich, Pete Metzelaars, and Andre talking about the Comeback game versus Houston?   I'm sure there's other ideas that people would come up with as well.  I think there's different ways that you can bring in media personalities to take part as well, and perhaps some members of the national media.

 

It would be a chance for Bills fans to interact and meet their favorite players, get some merchandise signed, and relive some of the great moments in team history.

 

Not to mention there are numerous sports memorabilia dealers or other companies who could serve as vendors. 

 

Is it just me or do you think that an event like this could work?   The Bills fan base is unique and I really think an event like this would go over huge.    If the Bills organization themselves were the ones putting this together - it would be huge!!!

[LeGOATski]

There has to be some kind of endorsement/permission from the Bills and the NFL, right? They hold a lot of their own events already, so I'm assuming that's why something like this hasn't happened.

[BadLandsMeanie]

I think it would work. I think we should do it ourselves though. The Bills would make it too bland. We could sell them a booth. 

And we have to figure out what time of year is best for it.

We would also need somebody with some cash to front it until the profits rolled in. I would, except that I lost all of my nest egg by investing in  Meadcoin.

Edited June 24, 2018 by BadLandsMeanie

[Marv's Neighbor]

Not unless there's a Super Bowl win, or more, involved.

[BuffaloRush]

4 hours ago, LeGOATski said:

There has to be some kind of endorsement/permission from the Bills and the NFL, right? They hold a lot of their own events already, so I'm assuming that's why something like this hasn't happened.

 

There doesn’t necessarily have to be an endorsement.  You could call it BuffaloCon, and never mention Amy trademarks.  Ideally though, it would be good if the team

was cool with it.  I’ve never seen the Bills organization hold anything like this before - outside of training camp at SJFC.  But you opportunities to interact with players is pretty limited only because of practice.  

[Ridgewaycynic2013]

I wonder what OJ gets for an autograph nowadays?

[Kirby Jackson]

I think that Bills fans come in all of the time for events. They come in for games. 

[Mr. WEO]

Bills had been putting on a Comic Con for 17 years...

[BillsPride12]

Interesting ideas but I must say i think the Super Bowl games(especially since we didn't win any of them) and the Comeback game have bean beaten to death already.  Not sure how much of a market there would be for those games to be rehashed yet again. I think most Bills fans are finally ready to move on from 30 years ago.

[Chandler#81]

Well, a broken roller coaster would be apt..

[simpleman]

Why not approach the Bills and have them help sponsor it at the Stadium complex during bye week? It would make it a lot more relevant. The only thing extra it could possibly require might be temporary NFTA shuttle bus routes to and from the stadium during the event. The few overnight visitors could easily be housed in nearby motel/hotel space and their shuttle service.  Between the practice facilities and other stadium facilities, it would make more sense rain or shine.  If you wanted to try to make it larger to make it more economically feasible as a sponsor, you could include the Sabres and work with the Pegulas, holding it at their downtown Sabres facilities. It would be more practical and more feasible than a stand alone event. If you come up with a viable plan and the finances, I can't believe the Pegulas would not gladly work with you on it. They could definitely find many ways to profit and benefit from it.

[Kirby Jackson]

I kind of like it the day before the home opener. It is like homecoming week. The home opener is the game that people from around the country come in for every year. If you had the alumni back and did something like this it would be pretty cool. 

[Augie]

17 minutes ago, Kirby Jackson said:

I kind of like it the day before the home opener. It is like homecoming week. The home opener is the game that people from around the country come in for every year. If you had the alumni back and did something like this it would be pretty cool. 

 

It’s great when we all still have hope, isn’t it? 

 

I’d prefer to make the effort of getting there for a game over a convention. You’d have to tie the two together. 

[Kirby Jackson]

7 minutes ago, Augie said:

 

It’s great when we all still have hope, isn’t it? 

 

I’d prefer to make the effort of getting there for a game over a convention. You’d have to tie the two together. 

Oh absolutely, no one is going to pick the convention over a game. It would have to tie together. The home opener as homecoming week would be pretty cool though.

[JohnC]

13 minutes ago, Kirby Jackson said:

I kind of like it the day before the home opener. It is like homecoming week. The home opener is the game that people from around the country come in for every year. If you had the alumni back and did something like this it would be pretty cool. 

Time passes on and the nostalgia for the good old SB days becomes less meaningful because a large segment of that population involved in that exciting era has passed on to another pasture. Those who have not passed have become very weathered and are less likely to attend such nostalgic festivities. The reality is that more than a generation has passed since that successful era and thus there is a smaller population of gray beards attached to  those players associated with that very memorable period. 

 

I'm less interested in looking back and more focused on watching the building of a franchise that creates its own successes and memories. A generation of fans have withered because the team was so irrelevant for so long. It's better not to look back and focus more on the future and reconnect with this younger and lost generation of fans. For me the Polian era was exciting and enjoyable. However, I have little interest in looking back. I'm now very hopeful and excited about the present and the not too distant future. 

[BillsPride12]

5 minutes ago, JohnC said:

Time passes on and the nostalgia for the good old SB days becomes less meaningful because a large segment of that population involved in that exciting era has passed on to another pasture. Those who have not passed have become very weathered and are less likely to attend such nostalgic festivities. The reality is that more than a generation has passed since that successful era and thus there is a smaller population of gray beards attached to  those players associated with that very memorable period. 

 

I'm less interested in looking back and more focused on watching the building of a franchise that creates its own successes and memories. A generation of fans have withered because the team was so irrelevant for so long. It's better not to look back and focus more on the future and reconnect with this younger and lost generation of fans. For me the Polian era was exciting and enjoyable. However, I have little interest in looking back. I'm now very hopeful and excited about the present and the not too distant future. 

Your are 100% correct there and that one hits right in the feels

[simpleman]

I always have thought about the modern day marketing opportunities for older players. I wonder how much fans would pay to have a home QB like a Jim Kelly throw a staged, easy goal line chip pass to the fan at the home stadium goal line. Have former players in full uniform as extras on the defense and offense. Announcer voice would say something like “Kelly drops back, throws it, touchdown to “Joe Fan”,(inserting the buyers name). Add in sound effects, stock video of stadium fan reaction. Give them a signed DVD or a stick of the video. You could really quickly crank them out. Modern computerized editing and digitizing would make it economical, quick, easy and very realistic.

 Or even just get an agreement with the players in the video.  Have everything pre- recorded except the fan catching the ball in the endzone. Show the QB drop back, make the throw, then mix in the video made there of the fan actually catching a pass in the end zone of the stadium, along with the stadium reaction and special effects. Have the announcer voice say “Touchdown (Joe Fan)!” It would make a cool video, even if you actually could not honestly say “I caught a touchdown pass from Jim Kelly (or whoever) at “The Cap” like the first possibility”. Again the DVD could still be signed by the NFL players involved if you could arrange it. The possibilities could go way beyond just player M&G and autographs.

[Kirby Jackson]

9 minutes ago, JohnC said:

Time passes on and the nostalgia for the good old SB days becomes less meaningful because a large segment of that population involved in that exciting era has passed on to another pasture. Those who have not passed have become very weathered and are less likely to attend such nostalgic festivities. The reality is that more than a generation has passed since that successful era and thus there is a smaller population of gray beards attached to  those players associated with that very memorable period. 

 

I'm less interested in looking back and more focused on watching the building of a franchise that creates its own successes and memories. A generation of fans have withered because the team was so irrelevant for so long. It's better not to look back and focus more on the future and reconnect with this younger and lost generation of fans. For me the Polian era was exciting and enjoyable. However, I have little interest in looking back. I'm now very hopeful and excited about the present and the not too distant future. 

Oh I hear you. For me, it’s more about a new tradition. People have family reunions every year. Colleges have homecoming week. The Yankees have old timers day. It isn’t so much hearing Frank Reich tell the comeback story for the zillionth time as it is immortalizing these guys as permanent members of the Bills. Once you put on that Bills uniform you are forever a part of that community. The Yankees do a phenomenal job of that.  

Edited June 24, 2018 by Kirby Jackson

[JohnC]

2 minutes ago, Kirby Jackson said:

Oh I hear you. For me, it’s more about a new tradition. People have family reunions every year. Colleges have homecoming week. It isn’t so much hearing Frank Reich tell the comeback story for the zillionth time as it is immortalizing these guys as permanent members of the Bills. Once you put on that Bills uniform you are forever a part of that community. The Yankees do a phenomenal job of that.  

The devoted fans of Mantle, Ford, Yogi etc are long gone and have had little relevance for the fans for quite awhile. Those fans are from a bygone era. I agree with you that they are an important part of the history of that illustrious franchise but those past players mean little to this texting generation of  fans. What is generating excitement and new fans  in NY is the resurgence of success with a new generation of players. My point is that success breeds success and refreshes and invigorates the market with a new generation of fans.  

 

I don't want to come off as a grouch but I have little interest in looking back especially because the product was for so long tarnished. Bill Polian is a HOF GM. He was most responsible for creating a dynasty in our most glorious era. But when I hear him commenting on today's game he seems so out of touch. As I said before I'm excited about the now and the future. That is where my focus is directed. 

[Gigs]

There have been events like this, and I’ve been to them. I don’t think you’ll get the outcome you want. Why would I or anyone want to fly to Buffalo to get autographs? That’s a lot of money to fly to a dead city for a signature. The locals would eat it up tho. 

[BuffaloRush]

11 hours ago, Gigs said:

There have been events like this, and I’ve been to them. I don’t think you’ll get the outcome you want. Why would I or anyone want to fly to Buffalo to get autographs? That’s a lot of money to fly to a dead city for a signature. The locals would eat it up tho. 

 

There have been?  I’ve never seen a Buffalo Bills convention before.  

[PromoTheRobot]

How about an all-Buffalo sports weekend? Bills, Sabres, but also Braves, colleges, hockey Bisons, baseball Bisons, etc?

[elcrusho]

Don't forget about the Buffalo Stampede...

 

1995 Murphy Cup Champions at the Aud.....

 

41 minutes ago, PromoTheRobot said:

How about an all-Buffalo sports weekend? Bills, Sabres, but also Braves, colleges, hockey Bisons, baseball Bisons, etc?

 

[Ridgewaycynic2013]

On 6/23/2018 at 11:28 PM, BuffaloRush said:

Last month, I spent a weekend downtown...

30 years ago it was "last weekend, I spent a month downtown."

 

I'll go sit in the penalty box for a while.

[Bobby Hooks]

I actually think this is a great idea. I agree with the guy that said you should keep it in the fans hands. 

 

Bills would water it down and make it much harder to interact with the alumni. 

 

We shouldnt be able to hug every player, I’m just saying cons are more of a community feel. Could become sterilized with too much interference. 

21 hours ago, Gigs said:

There have been events like this, and I’ve been to them. I don’t think you’ll get the outcome you want. Why would I or anyone want to fly to Buffalo to get autographs? That’s a lot of money to fly to a dead city for a signature. The locals would eat it up tho. 

I was an out of town we up until recently and it sounds like something I’d definitely come in for, especially if it was attached to opening weekend or something of the like. 

 

You don’t have to get autographs. Just hang out, get some merch, eat some wings, drink some local brews while talking to like minded people. 

 

Cornhole games, etc... sounds like it could be awesome, if done right. 

Edited June 25, 2018 by Bobby Hooks

[Just Jack]

On ‎6‎/‎23‎/‎2018 at 11:28 PM, BuffaloRush said:

Or have a Bills Super Bowl Panel where Kelly, Thurman, Bruce, Andre Reed and whoever else rewatch game and provide commentary.  Or how about Frank Reich, Pete Metzelaars, and Andre talking about the Comeback game versus Houston? 

 

Use games that they won, watching a SB loss would not be a crowd pleaser. 

[DCBongo]

On ‎6‎/‎24‎/‎2018 at 9:44 AM, Kirby Jackson said:

I kind of like it the day before the home opener. It is like homecoming week. The home opener is the game that people from around the country come in for every year. If you had the alumni back and did something like this it would be pretty cool. 

 

You would have to do it in the fall or winter far enough away from the season so current players and former players involved with other teams could participate.

[corta765]

On 6/24/2018 at 6:53 AM, Kirby Jackson said:

I think that Bills fans come in all of the time for events. They come in for games. 

 

I live in Rochester (grew up BLO family still there) and my wife and I will come in for events that are non game. We almost game in for a Steve Hauscka Jordan Poyer signing in January but a massive car wreck on the 90 in January stopped that.

 

We also go to training camp regularly but yea if there was an event we'd be there or try at least.

[Punching Bag]

22 hours ago, Gigs said:

There have been events like this, and I’ve been to them. I don’t think you’ll get the outcome you want. Why would I or anyone want to fly to Buffalo to get autographs? That’s a lot of money to fly to a dead city for a signature. The locals would eat it up tho. 

 

Dead city?  Evidently trolls do not know Buffalo.

15 minutes ago, DCBongo said:

 

You would have to do it in the fall or winter far enough away from the season so current players and former players involved with other teams could participate.

 

I thought about that when Frank Reich was mentioned.  Very few of the old players are involved with the game so I think Saturday before opener is best.  If they want Reich involved he could pre-record a video "I cannot be there because I am still chasing my dream.  Hope yours comes true one day."  Best FIRST one would when Bills get a home opener first week.

[ToGoGo]

On 6/24/2018 at 8:50 AM, BillsPride12 said:

Interesting ideas but I must say i think the Super Bowl games(especially since we didn't win any of them) and the Comeback game have bean beaten to death already.  Not sure how much of a market there would be for those games to be rehashed yet again. I think most Bills fans are finally ready to move on from 30 years ago.

 

Big market. I was watching highlights from the glory days recently and was taken aback by the winning vibe those teams gave off compared to the Bills of the last 20 years. It would do the Bills Mafia good to reconnect with those teams since they have never seen winning of that magnitude since they became fans. 

[4_kidd_4]

Let it all go. All of it. The Superbowls. The  Comeback. The red helmets. Pete Metzelaars mustache.

 

It’s all ancient and irrelevant. Nice memories that need to be tucked away and remembered fondly, instead of conjuring past glory for comfort’s sake. 

 

 

 

 

[Punching Bag]

34 minutes ago, 4_kidd_4 said:

Let it all go. All of it. The Superbowls. The  Comeback. The red helmets. Pete Metzelaars mustache.

 

It’s all ancient and irrelevant. Nice memories that need to be tucked away and remembered fondly, instead of conjuring past glory for comfort’s sake. 

 

irrelevant like this post?

[1stgm1993]

batavia downs has autograph show with a lot of former bills players usually 2 x a year

[The Real Buffalo Joe]

Why not a Buffalo sports one. Sabres, Bills. Maybe Braves. Hell, maybe even some well known alum from our minor league teams. Jeff Manto, Rudy Pikizinzki. Buffalo locals that went on to play pro somehwere else (Besides Jaworski).

[dpberr]

I think it'd need to be almost *strangely* interactive with Buffalo Bills - famous and not so famous.  You'd need to treat all Bills players as the family and have more than the standard autographs and booths and it couldn't be just about football.  You'd need more than Thurman and Bruce.  You'd need some evvveryone.  

 

So here are some ideas off the top of my head...

 

Cooking with JP:  Iron Chef skills competition with you, JP Losman and a few other Bills

Flag Football Tournament with teams made up of players and fans on the same team

Dodgeball (yes, with teams just like the movie)

Skeet Shooting or Three Gun with Mario

Celebrity Jeopardy :  Bills and NFL trivia

Habitat for Humanity Power Block O' Houses Challenge 

Poker Night at the Casino 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Bob Chandler's Hands]

3 hours ago, 4_kidd_4 said:

Let it all go. All of it. The Superbowls. The  Comeback. The red helmets. Pete Metzelaars mustache.

 

It’s all ancient and irrelevant. Nice memories that need to be tucked away and remembered fondly, instead of conjuring past glory for comfort’s sake. 

 

 

 

 

Stupid post of week nominee. 

[eball]

Isn't there a Buffalo Bills themed convention eight times a year in the fall?

 

Sorry, I really don't see the point or purpose of what the OP is suggesting.

[4_kidd_4]

54 minutes ago, Bob Chandler's Hands said:

Stupid post of week nominee. 

 

Graciously accepted.

 

Look toward the future. Let go of the past.

[Augie]

1 hour ago, eball said:

Isn't there a Buffalo Bills themed convention eight times a year in the fall?

 

Sorry, I really don't see the point or purpose of what the OP is suggesting.

 

I hear what you’re saying, yet if I came into town for the home opener, and they had some kind of Saturday event that sounded well thought out, I’d almost certainly give it a shot.....at least once. The quality of the experience would determine if I ever tried it again. 

[JohnC]

1 hour ago, Augie said:

 

I hear what you’re saying, yet if I came into town for the home opener, and they had some kind of Saturday event that sounded well thought out, I’d almost certainly give it a shot.....at least once. The quality of the experience would determine if I ever tried it again. 

Was the event in the practice facility located at the stadium?