Buffalo politician: Why wouldn’t you renovate New Era Field

[mrags]

3 hours ago, LabattBlue said:

I’ll be waiting for the list that shows he is taking over downtown(your words, not mine)?  lol 

If you don’t think the development of downtown Buffalo has increased significantly since the Pegulas came to town. If you don’t think they have their hands in more bowls than you listed. If you don’t think their decisions dominate downtown Buffalo. If you don’t think owning multiple sports teams, the domination of the canalside area, the cobblestone district and others is pretty much dominating Downtown Buffalo. I have a bridge to sell you. 

[Kirby Jackson]

13 hours ago, PromoTheRobot said:

 

I know, weird. I have to assume that's standing room attendance. Or maybe many buildings under-report their actual capacity?

It’s probably both (plus any obstructed view seats). We used to report a capacity of 16,188 but there were many a playoff game where we had over 18,000 in the building. 

[Mat68]

New roofed stadium down town.  With the roof Buffalo can attract a Bowl game and possibly a Final 4.  With the new state gambling laws I believe that would be a major incorporation in a new venue.  Grab a beer and place a prop bet during a timeout. In a box with access to NFL redzone place a prop bet on any current game in action live.  A portion of the stadium theoretically could be open all year for a place to lay bets.  

[Just Jack]

On 4/1/2019 at 12:37 PM, ShadyBillsFan said:

Sundays are usually pretty busy days at airports .... So why would you bring in a food joint that is closed on Sunday?  

 

Atlanta has one, also not opened on Sunday. But the rest of the week? Always a line when I would go by it when traveling through there. 

 

13 hours ago, junior12thman92 said:

I'd love to see the attendance on a game-by-game basis.

 

From ESPN

Home game #, attendance, Percentage of capacity, visiting team, date, record after the game

Game 1 - 69,187 - (96%) - Chargers - Sept 16th - 0-2

Game 2 - 68,202 - (95%) - Titans - Oct 7th - 2-3

Game 3 - 70,109 - (98%) - Pats* - Oct 29th - 2-6

Game 4 - 68.749 - (96%) - Bears - Nov 4th - 2-7

Game 5 - 57,799 - (80%) - Jaguars - Nov 25th  - 4-7

Game 6 - 59,119 - (82%) - Jets - Dec 9th - 4-9

Game 7 - 59,110 - (82%) - Lions - Dec 16th - 5-9

Game 8 - 67.420 - (94%) - Dolphins - Dec 30th - 6-10

[junior]

39 minutes ago, Just Jack said:

 

Atlanta has one, also not opened on Sunday. But the rest of the week? Always a line when I would go by it when traveling through there. 

 

 

From ESPN

Home game #, attendance, Percentage of capacity, visiting team, date, record after the game

Game 1 - 69,187 - (96%) - Chargers - Sept 16th - 0-2

Game 2 - 68,202 - (95%) - Titans - Oct 7th - 2-3

Game 3 - 70,109 - (98%) - Pats* - Oct 29th - 2-6

Game 4 - 68.749 - (96%) - Bears - Nov 4th - 2-7

Game 5 - 57,799 - (80%) - Jaguars - Nov 25th  - 4-7

Game 6 - 59,119 - (82%) - Jets - Dec 9th - 4-9

Game 7 - 59,110 - (82%) - Lions - Dec 16th - 5-9

Game 8 - 67.420 - (94%) - Dolphins - Dec 30th - 6-10

 

 

This is AWESOME. Thank you!

 

Overall, it's about what I expected, although I wonder what was so enticing about that Miami game for people to show up in droves. Expats home for the holidays who wanted to see a game? Dirt cheap tickets? People needing a break from seeing their families? The simple fact that it was Miami? The last game of the season? Lots of variables going on there.

Edited April 3, 2019 by junior12thman92

[haroldwaide]

It was Kyle Williams last game

[T master]

I gotta say i'm all about living with in your means & given the economic state of Western NY & really the entire state since i left in 1985 i believe it would be best for all concerned to keep working on improvements to New Era field/ The Ralph !! 

 

NY state has always since i was a kid dumped money into the black hole & it has literally sucked most of the monies from the rest of the state to do so & recently has proved that to be true of the sports landscape of the state hence New Yankee stadium, New Shea or Mets stadium, New Brooklyn Nets Arena, & how much cash went to build the other "New York" football teams stadium in the Meadow lands ?

 

The Bills will always be the last to get any monies from the state to improve or build a new stadium until they either win a Super Bowl or the Pegs put up most of the cash it just ain't gonna happen !! Plus if they did i don't think we as the fans could afford (or want to) all the PSL pricing, ticket prices would have to be raised entirely to much to afford new digs for the Bills !

 

Pressure from Jerrah & the others in the NFL will continue but i hope the Pegs stand strong against them J A's !! The NFL needs today for the new stadiums rather than pay good ole Roge $44 mill a yr or what ever he makes !! Just saying ...

[Mr. WEO]

13 hours ago, mrags said:

If you don’t think the development of downtown Buffalo has increased significantly since the Pegulas came to town. If you don’t think they have their hands in more bowls than you listed. If you don’t think their decisions dominate downtown Buffalo. If you don’t think owning multiple sports teams, the domination of the canalside area, the cobblestone district and others is pretty much dominating Downtown Buffalo. I have a bridge to sell you. 

 

Yet that hockey rink-hotel combo struggles to keep commercial/retail tenants in those spaces.

 

13 hours ago, Mat68 said:

   With the roof Buffalo can attract a Bowl game and possibly a Final 4.

 

Oh here we go....

[Jrb1979]

It amazes me how so many of you want to put lipstick on a pig.  A new stadium is inevitable. Ticket prices will for sure go up. It will probably be inline with what the Browns pay. Their PSL start at $250 for upper level to $6500 for field level.  

[Mat68]

1 hour ago, Mr. WEO said:

 

Yet that hockey rink-hotel combo struggles to keep commercial/retail tenants in those spaces.

 

 

Oh here we go....

There are B.S bowl games all over the place. 

Edited April 3, 2019 by Mat68

[Mr. WEO]

43 minutes ago, Mat68 said:

There are B.S bowl games all over the place. 

 

True.  A “BS” bowl game should fill a couple 10,000 seats every several years.  

 

 

[Mat68]

In the North East, get a middle of the road Big Ten school and you could darn near sell it out no matter the opponent.  Now that and the other stuff will not recoup any substance of the public money.  It would offer more return than a remodel would.  With a new stadium the Peguals will try to attract a different fan than what New Era offers.  They imo dont like the viral tailgate.  If they could get some off the money fans spend on their tailgates and improve the game day experience inside the stadium they would be all for it.  More family friendly pricing like in the Mercedes dome in Atlanta would make sense.  

[Codyny13]

Just to give my 2 thoughts on the subject, as an outside inside perspective. I say that because I am a life-long NYC/metro area resident who has been a Bills fan since I can remember and an 8 year season ticket member. I would like to see the stadium downtown. I say this selfishly, as when I come up for the games I like to stay at harborside, hit a Sabre’s game, go to the casino, hit up 716 and hydraulic hearth, amongst other things. As a “tourist” I think that the downtown area is just so much more appealing to the visiting fan. The revitalization that I remember seeing in the area since my first Visit to Buffalo has been pretty extraordinary.  I personally believe that the area would become something really special, and really bring people to it. That being said, I’m selfish in my thought, I do not live there, I understand the cons, and i do love the Ralph and big tree and the history there. I’ll be at the games no matter where they play em, as long as it’s in Buffalo.

[mrags]

13 hours ago, Mr. WEO said:

 

Yet that hockey rink-hotel combo struggles to keep commercial/retail tenants in those spaces.

That doesn’t take away from the fact that Pegula owns those spaces and will profit from them eventually. My guess is he will start raking in much more cash when he builds a new stadium downtown.