AP exclusive: Bills propose new 60k seat stadium by (update - 2025)

[RiotAct]

8 hours ago, purple haze said:

The original report stated the stadium would have an overhang to protect fans from the elements.   That doesn’t seem to be enough for many people though.     I just look forward to the negotiations being completed and a design for the new stadium shown.  I can’t wait for the gnashing of teeth we get when it’s open air like PS&E said it would be.

It will be open-air, and it will be beautiful.

[Estro]

5 hours ago, Nextmanup said:

Why not buy season tickets, go to the first 4 home games or whatever in that nice weather sweet spot, and then sell the rest of them?

 

 

Jesus Christ.  Are you serious?

 

 

I'll give you a reason why. 

Try selling tickets on stubhub to Bills home games in Decenber and January.  I jist sold a set of 4 tickets, lower level, 50 yard line, row 40 behind the Bills bench for $19 each for this Carolina game.  They cost me over $150 each.  

 

There is little to no demand for these brutally cold late season home games.  It's staring to make me reconsider holding onto my season tickets (which I've had for 20 years now) as a fan whos a 7 hour drive from the stadium.

 

I can live with losing a bit but selling tickets for 15 or 20 cents on the dollar is tough......and that's before StubHubs ever increasing fees.

[Beerball]

5 hours ago, Doc Brown said:

It's frustrating because I'd love to buy season tickets again as I gave them up after the '07 season as that Giants game finally broke me.  Plus, I started enjoying watching the game on tv more with the enhanced resolution and screen sizes.  Still doesn't beat the stadium experience though on a decent fall day.  The problem is you get maybe three or four a year of those max.  With the season continuing to trend later into the winter I don't think we're going to attract many free agents who are willing to play here in January and February every year.

Where have you been for the past 30 years? Players go where the money is and/or where they believe they will be put in the best position to win. Stop with the hand wringing. 

[K-9]

14 hours ago, Logic said:

I’m fairly certain I read that it WILL be built in such a way that the field and stands are somewhat wind protected, similar to Seattle’s stadium.

I assume the directional orientation will be the same as to prevent players from having to look directly into the sun at times during a game, but as you point out, there are construction solutions to mitigate the wind issues we have now. Like not building half the stadium below grade, for instance. Glad you mentioned Seattle as an example. I remember seeing a video of how they modeled the winds traveling through the stadium from various directions. Interesting stuff. 

[buffaloboyinATL]

57 minutes ago, nucci said:

it would be crazy to build the same stadium in same location with the current wind problems.

we need one of those stadiums where you can open a certain door and affect the wind whenever your opponent is about to kick.   

[RJ (not THAT RJ)]

1 hour ago, nucci said:

it would be crazy to build the same stadium in same location with the current wind problems.

 

It would. And none of the plans being discussed assume building the same stadium.

[purple haze]

7 hours ago, Doc Brown said:

With the season continuing to trend later into the winter I don't think we're going to attract many free agents who are willing to play here in January and February every year.

The season is trending the same for the entire league.  Buffalo is not the only city that gets cold.   If a player plays in the NFL he’s playing cold weather games no matter where he plays home games.

[eball]

56 minutes ago, RJ (not THAT RJ) said:

 

It would. And none of the plans being discussed assume building the same stadium.

 

Yeah, I think they are looking at unique designs to minimize weather impact on fans in particular, if a dome is out of the question.

[purple haze]

2 hours ago, Since1981 said:

vs CAR

ROC fans 21, 23 yr old girls with me couldn’t feel their toes. Broke out foot warmer packs. Just not worth it multiple wks at this time of year.

 

Stupid not to cover for fans and competitive reasons.  
 

$16 Falcon tix? Marketplace is speaking to the entertainment  value. 

The original stadium report noted that seats will be covered to shield fans from the elements.

 

“Competitive reasons” are a red herring.  Both teams play at the same time.  Go win the game.  Weather was great in Jacksonville; perfect conditions: 6 points.    Perfect weather in Tampa: 3 points in the first half.    They came back, eventually, because they executed better.  Not because of the weather.  MNF, the Pats executed.  The Bills didn’t, especially inside the red zone.  Nothing to do with weather.
 

The marketplace is speaking to an appearance by the sorry, no name, Falcons.  And that stadium will likely be mostly full just like it was for Carolina. 65,000 people showed up.   The way some on the board talk one would think the stadium is half full or worse after November.  The new stadium, as reported, being 60-62,000 would mean a few thousand of those fans won’t even be able to get in in future years.  

[Peevo]

35 minutes ago, RJ (not THAT RJ) said:

 

It would. And none of the plans being discussed assume building the same stadium.

 

 

To be honest I haven't seen much on the structure built to negate winds in the stadium.

 

Rainy, windy, and slick conditions are more commonplace than snow in that building.  I don't have the analytics on this, but I think it's hard to argue the wind and rain have been detrimental to the fan experience all season.

 

I honestly think last Sunday was the first dry game of the year.  

 

I know it's outrageously expensive to build a dome, but if you're spending $1.5 billion, why not just spend $3 billion and get guaranteed conditions 8 / 9 games a year?

 

If I were a fan of the Vikings, I'd be happy my team plays in a dome 10 (!) games a year.  It's nice!  I don't honestly understand why this is so controversial.  Every hockey and basketball game is played inside.

 

Nearly every indoor concert I've seen is preferable to the outdoor ones.  This is subjective.  But I prefer a more immersive, intimate experience.

 

Eliminating a negative variable that can affect change in the game is smart, in my opinion.  Poor weather is not an advantage. 

[Matt_In_NH]

16 minutes ago, Peevo said:

Every hockey and basketball game is played inside.

 

Yeah but golf is exclusively outside.  Lets built a golf course dome!

[Boatdrinks]

Almost certainly going to be in OP now. I’d prefer a dome, but covered stands design not awful and they surely won’t go with any kind of sunken field like the current one, which help create those infamous swirling winds 

Edited December 21, 2021 by Boatdrinks

[Logic]

I'll say it again, because many probably skimmed past it:

I read -- ( https://apnews.com/article/kathy-hochul-sports-nfl-business-buffalo-bills-77b347e94170316c76a9c9bd380b80ae ) -- that the plan for the new stadium in Orchard Park is to be built in such a way as to protect the field and the fans from the winds and the elements, similar to Seattle's stadium. I've attended a game there late in the year, and despite it being a cold and windy day, you couldn't really tell from the stands. 

This type of construction doesn't COMPLETELY mitigate the cold, but it makes it VASTLY more tolerable than it is at Highmark Stadium.

Here's the pertinent quote from the Wawrow article above: "The new venue would not include a roof, but it would be designed so that a majority of the seats would be protected from the elements, the person said."

Edited December 21, 2021 by Logic

[Greg S]

1 hour ago, purple haze said:

The original stadium report noted that seats will be covered to shield fans from the elements.

 

“Competitive reasons” are a red herring.  Both teams play at the same time.  Go win the game.  Weather was great in Jacksonville; perfect conditions: 6 points.    Perfect weather in Tampa: 3 points in the first half.    They came back, eventually, because they executed better.  Not because of the weather.  MNF, the Pats executed.  The Bills didn’t, especially inside the red zone.  Nothing to do with weather.
 

The marketplace is speaking to an appearance by the sorry, no name, Falcons.  And that stadium will likely be mostly full just like it was for Carolina. 65,000 people showed up.   The way some on the board talk one would think the stadium is half full or worse after November.  The new stadium, as reported, being 60-62,000 would mean a few thousand of those fans won’t even be able to get in in future years.  

 

PSL fees and raised ticket prices will price many out of being able to afford going to the games. Here in NJ both the Jets and Giants used to have a waiting list at Giants Stadium for season tickets. Since MetLife that isn't an issue anymore.

[buffblue]

32 minutes ago, Logic said:

I'll say it again, because many probably skimmed past it:

I read -- ( https://apnews.com/article/kathy-hochul-sports-nfl-business-buffalo-bills-77b347e94170316c76a9c9bd380b80ae ) -- that the plan for the new stadium in Orchard Park is to be built in such a way as to protect the field and the fans from the winds and the elements, similar to Seattle's stadium. I've attended a game there late in the year, and despite it being a cold and windy day, you couldn't really tell from the stands. 

This type of construction doesn't COMPLETELY mitigate the cold, but it makes it VASTLY more tolerable than it is at Highmark Stadium.

Here's the pertinent quote from the Wawrow article above: "The new venue would not include a roof, but it would be designed so that a majority of the seats would be protected from the elements, the person said."

Works for me

[Helpmenow]

At least it’s not going be built near Batavia 

[cba fan]

1 hour ago, mattynh said:

 

Yeah but golf is exclusively outside.  Lets built a golf course dome!

they only play in warm climates not in winter.

'

[4_kidd_4]

14 minutes ago, Helpmenow said:

At least it’s not going be built near Batavia 

 

Hey now, I think there’s still some ongoing high level meetings…

[cba fan]

2 hours ago, purple haze said:

The original stadium report noted that seats will be covered to shield fans from the elements.

 

“Competitive reasons” are a red herring.  Both teams play at the same time.  Go win the game.  Weather was great in Jacksonville; perfect conditions: 6 points.    Perfect weather in Tampa: 3 points in the first half.    They came back, eventually, because they executed better.  Not because of the weather.  MNF, the Pats executed.  The Bills didn’t, especially inside the red zone.  Nothing to do with weather.
 

The marketplace is speaking to an appearance by the sorry, no name, Falcons.  And that stadium will likely be mostly full just like it was for Carolina. 65,000 people showed up.   The way some on the board talk one would think the stadium is half full or worse after November.  The new stadium, as reported, being 60-62,000 would mean a few thousand of those fans won’t even be able to get in in future years.  

this is completely backwards planning. Vocal minority of fans who want open air keep saying they want the weather experience. 

Why cover the fans? Cover the field and block the wind from the field. Impossible obviously.

 

Must be dome or Bills will regret it just like Bears do now. This open air will be a 50 year mistake preventing pass oriented offense, which are all of the Super Bowl contenders, that is the way teams are built now and for foreseeable future they all want scoring. You want a JA Super Bowl? Must build a dome. Even WFT is planning a dome.

 

Roof only cost 3 to 6 million or so prorated out for life of dome. Will more than pay for itself in tix sales alone not to mention other events: final four, bowl game, HS games, UB games, concerts, trade shows, motorcross, truck shows, frozen four, NCAA regional, Sabres game, combines for NHL or even NFL if they rotate some day, conventions if combined with convention center downtown........

 

Lucas Oil Filed is the model (w new MN Sofi LV translucent roof feels like you are outside)to follow and must be 70k or lose home field advantage also. Soldier Field is not loud at all. Been there numerous times. Pathetic.

 

Edited December 21, 2021 by cba fan

[May Day 10]

2 hours ago, purple haze said:

The original stadium report noted that seats will be covered to shield fans from the elements.

 

“Competitive reasons” are a red herring.  Both teams play at the same time.  Go win the game.  Weather was great in Jacksonville; perfect conditions: 6 points.    Perfect weather in Tampa: 3 points in the first half.    They came back, eventually, because they executed better.  Not because of the weather.  MNF, the Pats executed.  The Bills didn’t, especially inside the red zone.  Nothing to do with weather.
 

The marketplace is speaking to an appearance by the sorry, no name, Falcons.  And that stadium will likely be mostly full just like it was for Carolina. 65,000 people showed up.   The way some on the board talk one would think the stadium is half full or worse after November.  The new stadium, as reported, being 60-62,000 would mean a few thousand of those fans won’t even be able to get in in future years.  

 

IMO Carolina was one of the best-weather games of the season.

 

I admit, I passed on going and donated our tickets.  Nobody in our group was feeling it.  It wasnt necessarily a weather thing.  For me, my kid had a hockey game, the opponent was an abysmal opponent with nothing to get excited for.  The Bills had nothing to gain, but everything to lose.