The state contracts two firms for New Bills Stadium

[Doc]

12 hours ago, PromoTheRobot said:

Don't be shocked if a shared Bills/UB stadium in Amherst re-emerges as an option. UB's stadium is obsolete. NYS could take care of both. Also don't be shocked if they propose a dome.

 

This would be the best possible solution. 

[Punching Bag]

1 hour ago, klos63 said:

The fans have little to do with won/lost records. We lost to Pittsburgh with a really loud crowd. To think we'd go 8-0(9-0) at home because of a dome and loud fans doesn't make much sense. We'll get that record because we have a great team right now.

 

It does not help with crowds when opposing team has many fans because Bills are selling tickets to travel agencies (some out of area in zip codes Bills will not sell season tickets) which sell them to opposing fans.  They used to sell them to Bills Backers Groups.

[purple haze]

15 hours ago, PromoTheRobot said:

Don't be shocked if a shared Bills/UB stadium in Amherst re-emerges as an option. UB's stadium is obsolete. NYS could take care of both. Also don't be shocked if they propose a dome.

A shared stadium why?  UB can’t get 20,000 people now.   Playing in a 62,000 seat stadium won’t improve the atmosphere.

[BigDingus]

17 hours ago, 78thealltimegreat said:

  Being the Bills are one of the better franchises now that’s way to much revenue for upstate New York for them to just let go of it will get done probably have a contractor in place by summertime next year. 

 

Problem is no amount of revenue the Bills make will cover the expenses for the stadium. This has been proven time & time again with other, more highly valued, franchises. Nearly all the money goes to the owner, and the tax revenue generated doesn't ever get close to a fraction of what it cost to build the thing.

 

And that's fine. I think the Bills are too important to the region anyway. Considering how much people pay in taxes towards things they get no value out of, might as well put some taxes towards something you actually do get to enjoy. I'd rather pay to keep an NFL team in town that I care about than many other things my taxes go towards.

[billsfan_34]

6 hours ago, PromoTheRobot said:

 I disagree. Plus there is undeveloped land across from campus on Millersport.

Yes, there is some land, but the Audobon, Millersport, Maple, and the 990 will not be able to support the traffic/congestion. I live right near the campus and I can say with 95 percent certainty that a stadium will not be built at UB or close by.

[Scott7975]

8 hours ago, The Dean said:

 

You simply cannot build a billion plus dollar stadium without spending a good chunk of it on consultants and lawyers. Not going to happen. Expect more. 

 

 

Good point. Josh SUCKED in the wind last week against Washington. Just freaking terrible!!!

 

Seriously you cannot build a stadium to fit the makeup of your current team. That's just insanity.  Plus, the weather impacts BOTH teams and QBs. Who would you rather have throwing in wind and bad weather?  I'll take Josh over most of the other QBs in the league. But that's no reason to build a stadium that purposefully swirls winds. 

 

I would rather have a stadium that I don't have to watch a game that ends 10-3 or some silly number where no one scores for 3 quarters.  Its not a matter of it effecting both QBs equally for me.  Its a matter of it effects both QBs period.  I like defense but not when no one scores like ever.

[Doc]

4 hours ago, purple haze said:

A shared stadium why?  UB can’t get 20,000 people now.   Playing in a 62,000 seat stadium won’t improve the atmosphere.

 

Because it kills 2 birds with one stone: a new stadium for both UB and the Bills.  

[billsfan_34]

5 hours ago, purple haze said:

A shared stadium why?  UB can’t get 20,000 people now.   Playing in a 62,000 seat stadium won’t improve the atmosphere.

A shared stadium is not a bad idea. At least the facility would get more use and there would be more options available for funding of the build and upkeep/maintenance. I have been on record as saying UB North is not a viable option for location. 

[SoCal Deek]

8 minutes ago, billsfan_34 said:

A shared stadium is not a bad idea. At least the facility would get more use and there would be more options available for funding of the build and upkeep/maintenance. I have been on record as saying UB North is not a viable option for location. 

I’m curious. Why do you say Amherst isn’t a viable option? 

[PromoTheRobot]

There's already a plan to extend Metrorail to UB North campus. 

[Ridgewaycynic2013]

16 minutes ago, PromoTheRobot said:

There's already a plan to extend Metrorail to UB North campus. 

I thought Al Savage used those to line his parrot's cage. 🤔

[Bleeding Bills Blue]

8 hours ago, Limeaid said:

 

It does not help with crowds when opposing team has many fans because Bills are selling tickets to travel agencies (some out of area in zip codes Bills will not sell season tickets) which sell them to opposing fans.  They used to sell them to Bills Backers Groups.

 

They just let brokers buy seasons - and brokers sell them to whoever pays the most. 

[billsfan_34]

5 hours ago, SoCal Deek said:

I’m curious. Why do you say Amherst isn’t a viable option? 

Not Amherst, but the area surrounding UB. The Millersport, 990, Audobon, Maple, and Sweethome would not be able to support the amount of traffic/people. Would I love a stadium in my “backyard”, sure. I just have a firm understanding of the infrastructure here and I just do not see it. The town of Amherst will never be allowed to encroach on all the businesses (commercial) and homes (residential) that are in much more abundance vs OP. 

[SoCal Deek]

38 minutes ago, billsfan_34 said:

Not Amherst, but the area surrounding UB. The Millersport, 990, Audobon, Maple, and Sweethome would not be able to support the amount of traffic/people. Would I love a stadium in my “backyard”, sure. I just have a firm understanding of the infrastructure here and I just do not see it. The town of Amherst will never be allowed to encroach on all the businesses (commercial) and homes (residential) that are in much more abundance vs OP. 

I thought it was clear when I said Amherst...I meant UB Amherst. (I went to Sweet Home HS a million years ago. I know EXACTLY where UB's located.) 🙂

[DrDawkinstein]

41 minutes ago, billsfan_34 said:

Not Amherst, but the area surrounding UB. The Millersport, 990, Audobon, Maple, and Sweethome would not be able to support the amount of traffic/people. Would I love a stadium in my “backyard”, sure. I just have a firm understanding of the infrastructure here and I just do not see it. The town of Amherst will never be allowed to encroach on all the businesses (commercial) and homes (residential) that are in much more abundance vs OP. 

 

This is exactly what anyone would say if we were just now proposing to put the stadium in OP.

 

"All we have is the 219, Milestrip, and Abbott. No way they can support the traffic."

 

But it do.

[SoCal Deek]

4 minutes ago, DrDawkinstein said:

 

This is exactly what anyone would say if we were just now proposing to put the stadium in OP.

 

"All we have is the 219, Milestrip, and Abbott. No way they can support the traffic."

 

But it do.

Bingo!  If you look at the roadway infrastructure in and around UB, it could easily handle an NFL Stadium crowd. Certainly as easily, if not more so than any other site in WNY. 

[Mat68]

I think if the State and UB get involved. Its a Dome down town. 

[Doc]

9 minutes ago, Mat68 said:

I think if the State and UB get involved. Its a Dome down town. 

 

Will the state want to spend an additional $1.2B for it though?  I think a dome is definitely in the offing but still a non-downtown location.

[ColoradoBills]

2 minutes ago, Doc said:

 

Will the state want to spend an additional $1.2B for it though?  I think a dome is definitely in the offing but still a non-downtown location.

 

The UB site may be a new option.  I don't think we know what final costs for each location (non OP) might be.

It would be best IMO if they take a few months to look at all the options.

 

I would imagine the most important line item would be the eventual breakdown of WNY taxpayer share of the entire project.

I get a sneaky feeling that none of this will be finalized until after the federal infrastructure bill is passed and the possibility of some fed money

is determined.

[DrDawkinstein]

12 minutes ago, Doc said:

 

Will the state want to spend an additional $1.2B for it though?  I think a dome is definitely in the offing but still a non-downtown location.

 

They should.

 

If a new UB stadium is going to cost, what? $500M? Then we are really only looking at an additional $700M.

 

And a lot of that expense that goes into improving and expanding infrastructure is a good spend and not a waste when it is spent downtown where more people are likely to use it on a day-to-day basis.

[Mat68]

Its all alot of money.  Another billion or half sounds stupid but a city stadium with multiple uses may be worth the upfront cost.  Having UB step in help with the cost could help with the programs status having a decent sized stadium.  

 

Im coming to this conclusion of a down town dome stadium by both UB and Buffalo wanting an on campus stadium.  The city option would be the middle ground.  From a state prospective they get more out of it vs building a better stadium across the street.  Maybe in the end thats the decision.  Until than I think alot of options are still on the table.  

[purple haze]

10 hours ago, Doc said:

 

Because it kills 2 birds with one stone: a new stadium for both UB and the Bills.  

I get that.  My question was rhetorical. UB’s issue is lack of support.  How much worse would the atmosphere  be in a bigger stadium?  Unless UB/State is serious about going big time in football.  Then it makes sense. But if they’re cool staying in the MAC no point to them being in on a Bills stadium.

[Doc]

2 hours ago, Mat68 said:

Its all alot of money.  Another billion or half sounds stupid but a city stadium with multiple uses may be worth the upfront cost.  Having UB step in help with the cost could help with the programs status having a decent sized stadium.  

 

Im coming to this conclusion of a down town dome stadium by both UB and Buffalo wanting an on campus stadium.  The city option would be the middle ground.  From a state prospective they get more out of it vs building a better stadium across the street.  Maybe in the end thats the decision.  Until than I think alot of options are still on the table.  

 

I think that the OP non-roofed stadium was determined to be the most cost-effective and popular among Bills fans.  With the state ostensibly getting more involved now, a downtown roofed stadium might be a real possibility since they could/would fund the $900M in infrastructure changes that need to be made.

 

10 minutes ago, purple haze said:

I get that.  My question was rhetorical. UB’s issue is lack of support.  How much worse would the atmosphere  be in a bigger stadium?  Unless UB/State is serious about going big time in football.  Then it makes sense. But if they’re cool staying in the MAC no point to them being in on a Bills stadium.

 

Lack of support is no reason to spend hundreds of millions just to have a separate stadium for UB.  Just have fans in a preset section like between the 30's or something.  Tarp off seats if you need to.  And maybe in the near future, going big time might be an option?

[purple haze]

6 minutes ago, Doc said:

 

I think that the OP non-roofed stadium was determined to be the most cost-effective and popular among Bills fans.  With the state ostensibly getting more involved now, a downtown roofed stadium might be a real possibility since they could/would fund the $900M in infrastructure changes that need to be made.

 

 

Lack of support is no reason to spend hundreds of millions just to have a separate stadium for UB.  Just have fans in a preset section like between the 30's or something.  Tarp off seats if you need to.  And maybe in the near future, going big time might be an option?

That would be absolutely terrible.  UB, if they’re comfortable staying at their current level, need their own building. If they build or renovate, correctly, with amenities, that might help their attendance issues.  They deserve the support.   But putting them in a partitioned stadium or a too big venue would be yuck.  At a certain point money needs to be spent.  Everything can’t be done on the cheap or on a discount. UB will be there for generations.  Their stadium will be definitely be used.

[Doc]

39 minutes ago, purple haze said:

That would be absolutely terrible.  UB, if they’re comfortable staying at their current level, need their own building. If they build or renovate, correctly, with amenities, that might help their attendance issues.  They deserve the support.   But putting them in a partitioned stadium or a too big venue would be yuck.  At a certain point money needs to be spent.  Everything can’t be done on the cheap or on a discount. UB will be there for generations.  Their stadium will be definitely be used.

 

Avoiding "yuck" likely isn't on their minds.  And you can still have a nice time in a larger venue.  A crowd of 10K can make the same amount of noise whether they're in a 29K venue or a 60K one.

 

And who knows?  Maybe having a nice, new state of the art stadium might attract more students, and people in general, to attend?

[billsfan_34]

5 hours ago, DrDawkinstein said:

 

This is exactly what anyone would say if we were just now proposing to put the stadium in OP.

 

"All we have is the 219, Milestrip, and Abbott. No way they can support the traffic."

 

But it do.

Route 5, 400219  close by - quick spur south or to the 90. The 290 cant handle the load.

[The Dean]

26 minutes ago, Doc said:

 

Avoiding "yuck" likely isn't on their minds.  And you can still have a nice time in a larger venue.  A crowd of 10K can make the same amount of noise whether they're in a 29K venue or a 60K one.

 

And who knows?  Maybe having a nice, new state of the art stadium might attract more students, and people in general, to attend?

 

They make the same amount of noise, but it dissipates throughout the cavernous stadium.  The decibel level on the field is dramatically different, I'm guessing. And the visual impact is preposterous. 

 

I agree, the Bulls playing in a huge stadium seems ridiculous, unless and until they grow the program. IF this is a cog in them doing just  that, I welcome that. But I wouldn't put the cart before the horse in this case.

[billsfan_34]

5 hours ago, SoCal Deek said:

I thought it was clear when I said Amherst...I meant UB Amherst. (I went to Sweet Home HS a million years ago. I know EXACTLY where UB's located.) 🙂

Fair enough- cheers 😊

[purple haze]

2 hours ago, Doc said:

 

Avoiding "yuck" likely isn't on their minds.  And you can still have a nice time in a larger venue.  A crowd of 10K can make the same amount of noise whether they're in a 29K venue or a 60K one.

 

And who knows?  Maybe having a nice, new state of the art stadium might attract more students, and people in general, to attend?

What should be on their minds is building something specific to them.  UB had, what, 10-15 g’s for Coastal Carolina and the placed sounded like an abandoned building.  It was embarrassing.  I wouldn’t anticipate that foolishness translating in a bigger venue.

 

if it does happen, hopefully people in the city and the students act like they have a pretty good football program in town. 

[Doc]

17 hours ago, The Dean said:

They make the same amount of noise, but it dissipates throughout the cavernous stadium.  The decibel level on the field is dramatically different, I'm guessing. And the visual impact is preposterous. 

 

I agree, the Bulls playing in a huge stadium seems ridiculous, unless and until they grow the program. IF this is a cog in them doing just  that, I welcome that. But I wouldn't put the cart before the horse in this case.

 

15 hours ago, purple haze said:

What should be on their minds is building something specific to them.  UB had, what, 10-15 g’s for Coastal Carolina and the placed sounded like an abandoned building.  It was embarrassing.  I wouldn’t anticipate that foolishness translating in a bigger venue.

 

if it does happen, hopefully people in the city and the students act like they have a pretty good football program in town. 

 

The theoretical decrease in crowd noise during games is the least of the concerns and not a reason to not do something like this.  Build it and (hopefully) they will come.  If not, UB has a nice new stadium to play in, in front of nobody. Still.

Edited October 2, 2021 by Doc

[clayboy54]

I imagine that UB could get a few non-conference games with the likes of Syracuse,Penn State, Ohio State, West Virginia and maybe even Notre Dame. But, none of those schools are coming in to play in a slightly better than high school stadium, like they currently have. It might help elevate their program in the eyes of the big conferences and then if they want to make the commitment, they could make the leap.

Edited October 2, 2021 by clayboy54

[klos63]

19 hours ago, Doc said:

 

Avoiding "yuck" likely isn't on their minds.  And you can still have a nice time in a larger venue.  A crowd of 10K can make the same amount of noise whether they're in a 29K venue or a 60K one.

 

And who knows?  Maybe having a nice, new state of the art stadium might attract more students, and people in general, to attend?

I would agree with this, and UB has a pretty decent program, this may help it grow as well.

[UConn James]

While we don’t exactly know what caused the “technical difficulties” / broadcast failure today (to go with a number of such failures in recent years — Mylar balloon anyone?) is it safe to say that aged infrastructure probably has something to do with it? You just don’t see this stuff happening anywhere else with such frequency. 

 

The other point today is making is that these kind of games suck for the fans and don’t help the team in a league that is more and more built for the pass. And it reduces the risks of slips as may have contributed to Milano’s hamstring injury. The Buffalo weather takes a beating on structures , if you haven’t seen the condition of even the 8-year-old refurbishments; EIGHT YEAR OLD concrete is literally eroding and they don’t want any part of protecting new construction from the elements?
 

Having a retractable roof on a new stadium isn’t a completely obscene expenditure. It’s pouring 🌧 there almost all game. And the beauty of retractable is that it doesn’t necessarily have to be closed for weather games. I just fail to see how this is a contentious issue. 

 

 

[Doc]

2 hours ago, UConn James said:

While we don’t exactly know what caused the “technical difficulties” / broadcast failure today (to go with a number of such failures in recent years — Mylar balloon anyone?) is it safe to say that aged infrastructure probably has something to do with it? You just don’t see this stuff happening anywhere else with such frequency. 

 

The other point today is making is that these kind of games suck for the fans and don’t help the team in a league that is more and more built for the pass. And it reduces the risks of slips as may have contributed to Milano’s hamstring injury. The Buffalo weather takes a beating on structures , if you haven’t seen the condition of even the 8-year-old refurbishments; EIGHT YEAR OLD concrete is literally eroding and they don’t want any part of protecting new construction from the elements?
 

Having a retractable roof on a new stadium isn’t a completely obscene expenditure. It’s pouring 🌧 there almost all game. And the beauty of retractable is that it doesn’t necessarily have to be closed for weather games. I just fail to see how this is a contentious issue.

 

A retractable roof costs $200M more and they rarely get used.  A fixed roof OTOH is definitely what they should do.

[Greatdane21]

Pegula was seen looking at land north of Fredonia 2000 acres available adjacent to thruway!

[The Dean]

16 minutes ago, Greatdane21 said:

Pegula was seen looking at land north of Fredonia 2000 acres available adjacent to thruway!

 

 

Making a Marx Brothers movie?

[Punching Bag]

22 minutes ago, Greatdane21 said:

Pegula was seen looking at land north of Fredonia 2000 acres available adjacent to thruway!

 

5 minutes ago, The Dean said:

Making a Marx Brothers movie?

 

Fraking to pay for Allen's contract.