EDIT: Total cost to taxpayers? Bills select sports firm to represent ownership in building new open air stadium in OP, targeted for 2025

[Patrick Duffy]

1 minute ago, YoloinOhio said:

I’m upset that I subscribe to the athletic, I’m logged in, but it won’t let me read the tim graham article on the stadium stuff. I contacted customer support. Can anyone summarize 

 

Try logging out and then back in if you haven't already. Sometimes it be like that....

[YoloinOhio]

59 minutes ago, Sheneneh Jenkins said:

Try logging out and then back in if you haven't already. Sometimes it be like that....

I tried and it’s so weird. I’m logged in fine, it recognizes me and the articles I want, but it won’t show me the whole thing and keeps telling me to subscribe even though I’m an active subscriber. 

[Blank Stare]

1 minute ago, YoloinOhio said:

I tried and it’s so weird. I’m logged in fine, it recognizes me and the articles I want, but it won’t show me the whole thing and keeps telling me to subscribe even though I’m an active subscriber. 

That happened to me a few weeks back. I emailed customer support and whatever they did/suggested seemed to work. Can’t recall specifically what they said to do. 

[Patrick Duffy]

6 minutes ago, YoloinOhio said:

I tried and it’s so weird. I’m logged in fine, it recognizes me and the articles I want, but it won’t show me the whole thing and keeps telling me to subscribe even though I’m an active subscriber. 

Yeah that's weird. Support is about the only thing you can do then.

[GoBills!]

On 8/9/2021 at 8:55 AM, Rochesterfan said:

 

Nope a hotel attached and restaurants do very little for 350 days a year.  
 

At least downtown those hotels and restaurants can cater to the working people that are there everyday - plus you hit hockey, baseball, festivals, just a ton of potential dates, but in OP - there is nothing to feed it.  
 

You would need to build a stadium, a fan experience, a hall of fame with gift shop, hotel, restaurants, an office complex to help support the restaurants during the off season, some shopping and movie spots to bring customers to the area.  

 

Basically you are building the galleria mall around the stadium and hoping it can bring enough people that it doesn’t collapse on itself with the cost.  You are also doing this at a time that destination shopping and restaurants are starting to go under as people order items from Amazon, Grub Hub, Door Dash, etc.  those exact type of things are going under all over the country.

I think if you had gaming on-site slots, poker, sport betting it would work for at least 22-30 weekends a year once you factor in a few concerts, festivals etc. One reason I haven't been back after living in S.FL is its cheap to see them play in Miami, family friendly environment and the kids can hang in the lounge with the wife without worry. In Buffalo a hotel and entertainment then my wife would be happy to stay in the room watch from above and the kids play or watch tv maybe come down for half the game. 

 

Coming to buffalo now you have crappy hotel options near the stadium, crappy family environment at the game and not so great weather. So if you are going to pull in those families you need better amenities and lodging. Drunk college kids aren't going to spend the money a Dad will with 2-3 kids and wife in tow at the venue and in the town.

 

 

 

[BillnutinHouston]

9 hours ago, Back2Buff said:

Now is the time to get this funding with the governor being from the area.  

 

If someone is going to understand what the Bills mean to the entire area/tourism, it's going to be someone from the area.  Get this done before she leaves office.

 

There is no other option, as the current lease expires in less than 2 years and a deal needs  to be done well before then, to even make an extension viable.

[Victory Formation]

Thing is, I do want a new stadium but we are a small market team. I do not expect the  Bills to spend lavishly. I’d be happy with a $750M stadium! Maybe Terry can go halfsies with NYS. 
 

Tear down RWS stadium and just put up a cost effective dome there! Tailgating stays the same, location stays the same. They can host concerts, WWE events and random other venues in offseason. Have that puppy paid off in 5 or 10 years no problem! Come up with a cool design, cut capacity which will also cut traffic and congestion. Be smart about it.

[BuffaloBills1998]

2 hours ago, Victory Formation said:

Thing is, I do want a new stadium but we are a small market team. I do not expect the  Bills to spend lavishly. I’d be happy with a $750M stadium! Maybe Terry can go halfsies with NYS. 
 

Tear down RWS stadium and just put up a cost effective dome there! Tailgating stays the same, location stays the same. They can host concerts, WWE events and random other venues in offseason. Have that puppy paid off in 5 or 10 years no problem! Come up with a cool design, cut capacity which will also cut traffic and congestion. Be smart about it.

It’s gonna be 50/50, OP is the main place for the new stadium as it’s the cheaper option. The new stadium is probably going to be more than 750 million.

[RiotAct]

3 minutes ago, Buffalo619 said:

If I were Pegs, I would expect 50/50 from state. NFL to pick up half of my 50. Total out of pocket 25% of total cost. Have the city and state throw in a new 6 lane parkway to the stadium and some other perks. I would raise ticket prices 50-60%, PSLs for season holders and cut the price of beer and other concentions* to a doable $6 a pint and $3 teds hotdogs. 

 

attract the few local cooperations with state of the art boxes/ suites.  

 

 

Yeah…

 

: whistles :

 

That’s a pretty sweet deal!!!  

 

For the Pegulas.

[Buffalo716]

1 minute ago, Buffalo619 said:

If I were Pegs, I would expect 50/50 from state. NFL to pick up half of my 50. Total out of pocket 25% of total cost. Have the city and state throw in a new 6 lane parkway to the stadium and some other perks. I would raise ticket prices 50-60%, PSLs for season holders and cut the price of beer and other concentions* to a doable $6 a pint and $3 teds hotdogs. 

 

attract the few local cooperations with state of the art boxes/ suites.  
 

build a couple parking garages and offer valet. Offer a no wait line for those who are pre-checked (similar to tsa) for a small monthly fee, $25. Valet for $50. $45 for season ticket holders. 

Put a casino on grounds, with sport betting. A couple bars/ restaurants. Make it an attraction. 

somehow find a way to get a super bowl here. 
 

 

 

If you live in buffalo you know there is 0% chance of the first bolded . 

 

And the second half would only happen if Terry pegula 100% footed that restaurant/casino 

 

 

[Greg S]

12 hours ago, Victory Formation said:

Thing is, I do want a new stadium but we are a small market team. I do not expect the  Bills to spend lavishly. I’d be happy with a $750M stadium! Maybe Terry can go halfsies with NYS. 
 

Tear down RWS stadium and just put up a cost effective dome there! Tailgating stays the same, location stays the same. They can host concerts, WWE events and random other venues in offseason. Have that puppy paid off in 5 or 10 years no problem! Come up with a cool design, cut capacity which will also cut traffic and congestion. Be smart about it.

 

The stadium I could see the Bills getting is something similar to what the Colts have. It's a nice stadium but its not crazy expensive like the Cowboys, Rams, Chargers,  all have. Buffalo is also a tailgating fanbase To have all the bells and whistles of a new stadium like restaurants, bars, and shops would be a waste. Who wants to spend an arm and leg on food, and beer when they can do it much cheaper and have more fun in the parking lot.

[dollars 2 donuts]

I want a parking ramp with one car spot per floor, 12,000 stories high.

 

 

…honestly, you think I could get one dang thing in this life that I want.

[LabattBlue]

I understand the negotiations are done behind closed doors, but it is BS that the designs have not been released for a stadium that is going to be funded by at least 40% taxpayer money.  The stadium study was completed sometime last year.  Even if some of the bells and whistles change going forward, what is it that is so secretive as of today?

[Rochesterfan]

9 hours ago, Buffalo619 said:

If I were Pegs, I would expect 50/50 from state. NFL to pick up half of my 50. Total out of pocket 25% of total cost. Have the city and state throw in a new 6 lane parkway to the stadium and some other perks. I would raise ticket prices 50-60%, PSLs for season holders and cut the price of beer and other concentions* to a doable $6 a pint and $3 teds hotdogs. 

 

attract the few local cooperations with state of the art boxes/ suites.  
 

build a couple parking garages and offer valet. Offer a no wait line for those who are pre-checked (similar to tsa) for a small monthly fee, $25. Valet for $50. $45 for season ticket holders. 

Put a casino on grounds, with sport betting. A couple bars/ restaurants. Make it an attraction. 

somehow find a way to get a super bowl here. 
 

 

 

 

I don’t expect even close to 50/50.  I think the Pegula’s big concession is having the stadium in OP.  I would expect a final split along the way of 75/25 maybe 70/30 public/private with a 40 year lease with pretty good terms and the county/state picking up renovations along the way.

I also would expect part of this to be more land given to the Pegula’s from the ECC lot and I could see them getting most of the parking minus some fees to help cover the cost.

 

I think that helps keep ticket prices slightly lower and keeps PSLs to minimum.  I would also expect to see them work on including parking into ticket prices to begin to limit street/private lot parking.

 

I could see a casino maybe on site, but trying to “make it an attraction” doesn’t really work in OP.  The restaurants and bars would struggle to survive with basically 300+ days of down time between football season.  
 

If it was downtown - at least you could draw festival crowds on weekends and downtown workers during the week, plus Crowds from Baseball games during the summer and Hockey games during the winter.  You suddenly have potential clients most days to help supplement the off season - whereas in OP you have none of that.

 

[CountDorkula]

11 hours ago, Buffalo619 said:

If I were Pegs, I would expect 50/50 from state. NFL to pick up half of my 50. Total out of pocket 25% of total cost. Have the city and state throw in a new 6 lane parkway to the stadium and some other perks. I would raise ticket prices 50-60%, PSLs for season holders and cut the price of beer and other concentions* to a doable $6 a pint and $3 teds hotdogs. 

 

attract the few local cooperations with state of the art boxes/ suites.  
 

build a couple parking garages and offer valet. Offer a no wait line for those who are pre-checked (similar to tsa) for a small monthly fee, $25. Valet for $50. $45 for season ticket holders. 

Put a casino on grounds, with sport betting. A couple bars/ restaurants. Make it an attraction. 

somehow find a way to get a super bowl here. 
 

 

 

Will never happen with an OP stadium. Especially if open Air and not domed. 

 

Also, not enough infrastructure, hotels being the main piece in the direct area to handle it. 

1 hour ago, Mat68 said:

Timing is everything.  Buffalo just came off AFC Championship game.  Looking like a good team for awhile.  Change in the Gov is the cherry on top.  No politican is going to let a playoff team walk out the state.  Pegulas have 100% of the leverage.  Imo the deal is all but done.  Does the state pay 100% maybe not but the vast majority.

THE NFL DOES NOT CARE, This needs to be said 1000000 more times apparently.

 

Also, please stop acting like politicians are sports fans, how many examples do we need of politicians screwing up player names, team names and events to show that.

 

The NFL wants money, if they don't get money here they will get it somewhere else.

[Mat68]

42 minutes ago, CountDorkula said:

Will never happen with an OP stadium. Especially if open Air and not domed. 

 

Also, not enough infrastructure, hotels being the main piece in the direct area to handle it. 

THE NFL DOES NOT CARE, This needs to be said 1000000 more times apparently.

 

Also, please stop acting like politicians are sports fans, how many examples do we need of politicians screwing up player names, team names and events to show that.

 

The NFL wants money, if they don't get money here they will get it somewhere else.

My point is I expect the State and county to pay.  Politicans dont care about the Bills and Buffalo.  They do care about re election and exposure.  A playoff team possibly championship team brings national exposure.  Keeping the Bills in Buffalo helps re election.  Multiple factors pointing to the state paying.  Thats what makes them stay. 

 

Teams leave when they want to or dont get money they want.  I think Peguals would LIKE to stay.  Now if needed I dont doubt they would move.  I think the money gets worked out.  Buffalo is the only playoff in the State including Jets and Giants.  I dont think the Bills could have drawn up a better circumstance to negotiate a stadium deal.  They have all the leverage. 

 

[BuffaloBills1998]

3 hours ago, CountDorkula said:

Will never happen with an OP stadium. Especially if open Air and not domed. 

 

Also, not enough infrastructure, hotels being the main piece in the direct area to handle it. 

THE NFL DOES NOT CARE, This needs to be said 1000000 more times apparently.

 

Also, please stop acting like politicians are sports fans, how many examples do we need of politicians screwing up player names, team names and events to show that.

 

The NFL wants money, if they don't get money here they will get it somewhere else.

They’re getting the money from here, the Bills aren’t leaving Buffalo and that’s a fact. Pegula would have to give up the Sabres which he isn’t doing and it cost more to move the bills. We’re getting a new stadium and per Tim graham, he confirmed that the Pegulas aren’t expecting the taxpayers to front the whole cost and the whole Austin thing was made up by a reporter cause he wanted clicks. 

[DrDawkinstein]

If this really ends up an open air stadium in OP, I will be semi-disappointed by the bush league, short-sighted move, but not surprised at all as that is typical Buffalo MO.

 

Great to keep the tailgating and weather elements. But really missing out on a opportunity to progress the city.

[Punching Bag]

 

7 hours ago, Rochesterfan said:

 

I think that helps keep ticket prices slightly lower and keeps PSLs to minimum.  I would also expect to see them work on including parking into ticket prices to begin to limit street/private lot parking.

 

 

I do not see the Pegulas doing a $nyder who limited people who could walk into stadium requiring people to either park or talking a shuttle bus which they needed to pay for.

[Rochesterfan]

9 minutes ago, Limeaid said:

 

 

I do not see the Pegulas doing a $nyder who limited people who could walk into stadium requiring people to either park or talking a shuttle bus which they needed to pay for.

 

If either side makes money from parking - why wouldn’t you do everything to make it part of the price.  Why give free money to the side lots?

 

The stadium being out in the middle of the suburbs allowed parking in people’s houses.  You just add a parking fee to the ticket - people can still park wherever, but either the county or the team gets the money.  
 

Then you make the lots free to park - so the neighborhood lots can’t match the price and you open up a big area by the stadium as a party zone with food, drinks, merchandise, games, etc to draw people and if you couple that with opening the lots later - you can get more people to buy your stuff rather than bring their own.

 

The object for the teams is to make money and if people tailgate with their own food and drinks and park in private lots - that is money you lose.  Plus it allows people to get way to drunk before even entering the game.
 

It is not just Snyder- most stadiums are associated with public owned lots that bring good money to the area if you want to park close - if not they have public transport, buses, subway, etc that again give money to the community.