report- Empire State Development downtown stadium proposal

[Patience]

Hate downtown, but if it's picked as the site for the stadium, I won't gripe.  I won't complain about it being located anywhere in Erie County, actually.  I just want my team close by.  

[Einstein]

On 10/21/2021 at 11:50 PM, Augie said:

 

After Nashville last weekend, I have to say I realized how much I LOVED the option of hotels and bars in walking distance. I had been to games there multiple times, but this thread reminds me of how different it could be. Not saying better or worse, just different. I don’t like the whole drinking, driving and parking aspect that requires planning for games in remote areas. Nothing is perfect, but Nashville handled it with ease with packed hotels and bars downtown. It was a blast, once again! 

 

People often fear change, but change can be good. Games in OP are GREAT, but there are other types of experiences that can also be great. People should be open minded, in all ways. 

 

This feels like a bit of “the grass is greener on the other side”. I say that because Titan fans hate their stadium being downtown. It is a consistent gripe on the Titans message board.

 

Among other things, parking sucks and traffic leaving the stadium is horrendous. You likely didn’t have to deal with it because you’re a tourist and can simply walk back to the hotel. Locals don’t want to walk back to a hotel or a bar after the game. They want to go home.

 

They’re currently trying to pass legislation that will add another 100+ acres to the stadium complex which would include more parking, hotels, etc to make the stadium more viable.

 

Summary: The Titan experience is nice for tourists, bad for locals. And Buffalo isn’t exactly a top tourist attraction.

Edited October 23, 2021 by Einstein

[Einstein]

10 hours ago, MAJBobby said:

A dome Downtown preferably. But Dome anywhere is fine with me. 
 

end of the Day. It has to be a Dome. I want my high powered offense to play in the best possible conditions for all home games to include all future 1 seeds. 

 

Since i’m not paying for it and therefore money is no option, I want an LA-type stadium.

 

Meaning, it has a roof but both sides of the endzone are open.

 

This blocks rain and some wind (and in Buffalo, snow) but allows for an outdoor feel.

 

It’ll never happen, but that would be my dream.

[Nitro]

21 hours ago, Hammers Lot said:

Couple of points. The blackout drunks. Where? I definitely don't see it in my Lot or walking into the stadium like I've seen in the past. Restaurants. All round the stadium and many within 2 miles, roughly the same distance as pearl street brewary to the first ward location. I would also think the new Orchard Park stadium will have a restaurant used 365. You can get out of the stadium traffic and head downtown fast if you know where to park. Per Stadium drawing there is a hotel in the background (current stadium location). Don't ask how I know, I ain't telling & for those who know my past, word. The so called billion$ needed for infrastructure, use it for existing roads & bridges (you forget about them needing repair desperately) not concentrated in one area. Sure the politicians need to do their own study. Buffalo common council statement of no buffalo sites (3) considered in the past is ridiculous. First ward residents don't want it in their area sighting the traffic after Sabres games. There will be 3 public meetings if you need to express your feeling (Pegulas  already did this with the questioner/survey in the future. I think location- design of stadium is done and decided. I'm guessing after the Super Bowl an announcement will be made. Side note Pegulas 716 bar is now southern tier brewing, wondering why the Pegulas would give up their bar 🤔 My 35 year season ticket holder local taxpayer unbiased opinion. 

How many Fortune 500 companies are in Indy compared to Buffalo. Went to a Bills Vs Indy game with a Buddy.  The night life- walking around a corner guy getting robbed at gun point. No thanks 

You base this on one incident?  OKAY

[machine gun kelly]

What sucks is the federal government never did anything about all of that land that needed to be revitalized where Bethlehem Steel sat as the EPA would have to spend years cleaning up the land to be resold.  If it was done, it is incredibly prime beautiful real estate and a ton of it.  I don’t see them ever doing anything with that area as it would be too expensive to make it habitable.

 

Downtown would be very expensive, expect the state and Fed’s to put billions in infrastructure if happened so get used to construction on roads and bridges for years and years.  The cost of the game would be a lot more, no tailgating, and is not going to infuse that much money to downtown as it is what 8-10 events a year.  It’s not like they are gone g to go downtown (twice the costs) and then even more if a dome (to get more events). It would never come up with the ROI.

[Doc]

Would putting it downtown allow them to use state funds, like combining it with UB would?  Also, they are apparently working on a lease extension:

 

https://www.wivb.com/sports/buffalo-bills-stadium-discussions/bills-lease-could-be-finalized-before-the-new-year-according-to-erie-co-executive/

[SectionC3]

On 10/7/2021 at 7:24 PM, BillsfaninSB said:

The Panthers are located in another state. 

If Carl wants to pay the difference that’s fine.  He used to maybe be important enough to possibly do something like  this.  Now he’s just a toxic nasty old guy who rails against the government while profiting from his haven’t mentioned contracts.   Carl is small ball in the grand scheme of this deal. 

[Patience]

15 minutes ago, Doc said:

Would putting it downtown allow them to use state funds, like combining it with UB would?  Also, they are apparently working on a lease extension:

 

https://www.wivb.com/sports/buffalo-bills-stadium-discussions/bills-lease-could-be-finalized-before-the-new-year-according-to-erie-co-executive/

 

What this says to me is the stadium deal is closer to being done than most realize, if not already done but just unannounced.  I recall a PSE exec stating a month or two ago that a new lease won't be signed until a stadium deal is completed.  I'm thinking both are announced at the same time, or least in close proximity to each other. 

[Doc]

32 minutes ago, Patience said:

What this says to me is the stadium deal is closer to being done than most realize, if not already done but just unannounced.  I recall a PSE exec stating a month or two ago that a new lease won't be signed until a stadium deal is completed.  I'm thinking both are announced at the same time, or least in close proximity to each other. 

 

Yeah, a new stadium was always coming.  The only questions were "where?" and "who would pay what?"

 

Again I think that having NYS share in the cost of a combined Bills/Bulls (domed) stadium would make the most sense overall, assuming the infrastructure can/could (with improvements) handle it.

Edited October 23, 2021 by Doc

[Augie]

11 hours ago, Einstein said:

 

Summary: The Titan experience is nice for tourists, bad for locals. 

 

We used to own a place in Nashville, and I’ve been there as a “local”, as well. This is simply not true. It’s a piece of cake compared to getting in and out of the lots in OP. This is coming from a guy who honestly doesn’t care where the new stadium goes. I’m just a guy who has has both experiences and knows the difference. 

[Einstein]

2 minutes ago, Augie said:

 

We used to own a place in Nashville, and I’ve been there as a “local”, as well. This is simply not true. It’s a piece of cake compared to getting in and out of the lots in OP. This is coming from a guy who honestly doesn’t care where the new stadium goes. I’m just a guy who has has both experiences and knows the difference. 

 

I suppose I can only say that your experience varies quite differently to the thousands who post on the Titans forum. As with everything in life, perspective is everything.

[Patience]

5 minutes ago, Doc said:

 

Yeah, a new stadium was always coming.  The only questions were where and who would pay what.

 

And when.  I think this article is pretty significant in clarifying that aspect.  Good news!

[Augie]

5 minutes ago, Einstein said:

 

I suppose I can only say that your experience varies quite differently to the thousands who post on the Titans forum. As with everything in life, perspective is everything.

 

Have those same people tried to get into and out of the lots in OP. I’ve done both. Yes, all things are relative. 

[Einstein]

4 minutes ago, Augie said:

 

Have those same people tried to get into and out of the lots in OP. I’ve done both. Yes, all things are relative. 

 

I can get out of OP and onto the interstate in about 15 to 25 minutes. it’s really not bad at all. Nashville is far worse. Carolina is bad too. Miami is bad but better that both.

[BuffaloBills1998]

So this really sounds like Downtown is the direction we’re going. While I prefer OP I’m glad Buffalo is starting to think bigger instead of smaller

[Doc]

9 minutes ago, BuffaloBills1998 said:

So this really sounds like Downtown is the direction we’re going. While I prefer OP I’m glad Buffalo is starting to think bigger instead of smaller

 

Not necessarily.  If I'm NYS, I'm thinking reduplicating stadiums is a waste of money and would look to combine them so the Pegulas pay a portion.  But doing so means a specific location which isn't downtown.  Although I suppose they can force UB to play there.

Edited October 23, 2021 by Doc

[Augie]

34 minutes ago, Einstein said:

 

I can get out of OP and onto the interstate in about 15 to 25 minutes. it’s really not bad at all. Nashville is far worse. Carolina is bad too. Miami is bad but better that both.

 

You must have a helicopter. I was 12 cars back trying to get into Hammers lot for the opener at 7:12am. At 7:35 we were still 3 cars back when someone intervened by walking into the road and stopping traffic. It took us more than 20 minutes to go about 50 feet.

 

AGAIN, I don’t care where the stadium goes as long as it remains in WNY. But let’s not pretend we don’t have a traffic issue with the lots in OP.  

[Doc]

If you leave early enough...

 

 

[Einstein]

11 minutes ago, Augie said:

 

You must have a helicopter. I was 12 cars back trying to get into Hammers lot for the opener at 7:12am. At 7:35 we were still 3 cars back when someone intervened by walking into the road and stopping traffic. It took us more than 20 minutes to go about 50 feet.

 

AGAIN, I don’t care where the stadium goes as long as it remains in WNY. But let’s not pretend we don’t have a traffic issue with the lots in OP.  

 

Ahh, yes, I don’t have much experience with Hammers lot. I can see it being difficult to navigate out of there. I try to park on California. Very easy out.

[BuffaloBills1998]

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