Cleveland Browns building a new dome stadium

[Augie]

On 3/25/2025 at 7:52 AM, Jrb1979 said:

I could careless the effect it has the QB or the team. Being protected from ehe elements means more as a fan at the game. If the lack of over hang still means I still am getting snowed or rained then it's a poor design. 

 

….or, maybe you bought the wrong seats. It is what it is, and it will not be a dome. There are seating options for everyone, including on a couch in your family room. Nothing wrong with any of that. 

[BillsfaninChicago]

They should call this place “The Bidet” 💩 🚽 

[SirAndrew]

On 3/24/2025 at 4:07 PM, Miyagi-Do Karate said:

I can’t believe this is even a debate. Who else is seriously building stadiums without roofs anymore? In the last 15 years, maybe just San Fran is open? 
 

I get that Buffalo might not ever host a SB. But can easily get a higher return with a closed stadium. Think of all the major NCAA events, which are now in similar medium-sized cities like Cleveland, Detroit, and Indy. I think Detroit is even hosting the final four in the next year or two! 

It is what it is, so I rarely comment on stadium posts anymore. I’ll probably enjoy the new stadium, and maybe it will offer a better game day experience.
 

However, I agree with you. The defeatist attitudes are something I’ll never understand. Why this assumption we’d never attract large events? It’s Buffalo, so of course we can’t. That’s a misunderstanding of how the event business works. The Dome in Syracuse often held the tournament, and recently attracted major concerts. Maybe those concerts could have been in Buffalo, at a better venue than the old dome in Syracuse. Instead we say that nothing would happen here. I also have zero faith in “studies” that say it wouldn’t benefit the economy. Maybe I’m cynical, but when companies pay for studies, usually the study simply reflects the message they’re trying to convey. 

[boyst]

18 hours ago, DrBob806 said:

You may not know the whole story. 

 

Cliff notes: Modell screws the city over, moves the team to Baltimore after declaring a "moratorium." City sues the NFL, city wins but must field a team with a new stadium within 3 years. 

 

Totally wrong they moved in the first place, totally wrong the NFL imposed such a deadline. 

Nah, not at all. Modell should have been perfectly allowed to move his team.

 

Cleveland was a disaster of a city from like 80-2010.

[In Summary]

Football has become an indoor sport. 

[Augie]

18 hours ago, SirAndrew said:

It is what it is, so I rarely comment on stadium posts anymore. I’ll probably enjoy the new stadium, and maybe it will offer a better game day experience.
 

However, I agree with you. The defeatist attitudes are something I’ll never understand. Why this assumption we’d never attract large events? It’s Buffalo, so of course we can’t. That’s a misunderstanding of how the event business works. The Dome in Syracuse often held the tournament, and recently attracted major concerts. Maybe those concerts could have been in Buffalo, at a better venue than the old dome in Syracuse. Instead we say that nothing would happen here. I also have zero faith in “studies” that say it wouldn’t benefit the economy. Maybe I’m cynical, but when companies pay for studies, usually the study simply reflects the message they’re trying to convey. 

 

I don’t think the problem is attracting events as much as it is who has an extra BILLION they want to throw in for a dome? People are complaining about the cost as-is, so I’m not sure how something much more expensive would have gone over with the locals paying for much of it. 

 

For the record, I wanted a dome downtown, but I’m happy the Bills will remain in WNY.  That’s my bottom line. 

[SoCal Deek]

20 hours ago, Augie said:

 

….or, maybe you bought the wrong seats. It is what it is, and it will not be a dome. There are seating options for everyone, including on a couch in your family room. Nothing wrong with any of that. 

Augie, having toured the entirety of new stadium and then attended the Giants game last week I can tell you, and everyone else, that other than the fact that both stadiums are/will be the home of the Buffalo Bills there is virtually no comparison between the two venues. The new stadium is light years ahead of the existing one with regards to supporting facilities, amenities, etc. Two things struck me the most. First was how enclosed the new stadium feels. The stands and the roof overhang completely surround the field making the ‘feel’ inside the seating bowl very different from the open air feel of ‘Rich’ stadium. Second, the sheer volume of the concourse areas is nothing like the spartan corridor of the current facility. It’s like comparing a modern professional venue to an old school small college facility. 

[GaryPinC]

18 hours ago, boyst said:

Nah, not at all. Modell should have been perfectly allowed to move his team.

 

Cleveland was a disaster of a city from like 80-2010.

Model was violating the terms of his lease, which had three years left. So, no he shouldn't have been allowed.   But, Model, the city, and the NFL negotiated the arrangement, plus an 11 mill payment to the city.

 

Having lived in Cleveland since the late 80's, the city was a disaster until about the mid 90's.  The sin tax approval in 1990 culminating with completion of the baseball and basketball complex really turned the tide as everyone realized sometimes you have to invest in your future.  Mayor Mike White finally stepping aside in 2002 was the last vestige of old Cleveland. 

[boyst]

10 hours ago, GaryPinC said:

Model was violating the terms of his lease, which had three years left. So, no he shouldn't have been allowed.   But, Model, the city, and the NFL negotiated the arrangement, plus an 11 mill payment to the city.

 

Having lived in Cleveland since the late 80's, the city was a disaster until about the mid 90's.  The sin tax approval in 1990 culminating with completion of the baseball and basketball complex really turned the tide as everyone realized sometimes you have to invest in your future.  Mayor Mike White finally stepping aside in 2002 was the last vestige of old Cleveland. 

I guess from NWO it was not until 2010ish that Cleveland began to show improvement.

[Breakout Squad]

Building a dome in Orchard Park would’ve been stupid. 

 

[Sierra Foothills]

On 8/16/2025 at 11:45 AM, SirAndrew said:

The defeatist attitudes are something I’ll never understand. Why this assumption we’d never attract large events? It’s Buffalo, so of course we can’t. That’s a misunderstanding of how the event business works. The Dome in Syracuse often held the tournament, and recently attracted major concerts. Maybe those concerts could have been in Buffalo, at a better venue than the old dome in Syracuse. Instead we say that nothing would happen here. I also have zero faith in “studies” that say it wouldn’t benefit the economy. Maybe I’m cynical, but when companies pay for studies, usually the study simply reflects the message they’re trying to convey. 

 

I disagree, Sir Andrew.

 

Probably the reason other metros are building domed stadiums is because the expense is justified.

 

Erie County is the 60th most populous county in the United States.

 

Buffalo is the 82nd largest city.

 

Buffalo is smaller than such "major cities" as Bakersfield and Fresno... Omaha and Corpus Christi... Buffalo has about the same population as Fort Wayne and is barely bigger than Toledo, Ohio.

 

There were how many concerts in Highmark last year? I seriously doubt that there are any stadium-caliber performers who are going to want to come to Buffalo in December to play a concert... even if it's in a domed stadium.

 

I'd bet that when you crunch the numbers and compare the added cost of a domed stadium versus the additional revenues possible from non-NFL events, that the numbers don't pencil out. Comparatively, the Kansas City metro area is over 2 million people. The Chiefs will get a domed stadium if that's what they want.

 

And I'm sure these numbers are well-known to those whose business it is to know them.

 

Bottom line, if the ROI projected favorably, it would get done.

 

Rich people aren't going to pass over a good investment.

 

[BuffaloBillsGospel2014]

The dome of sadness.

[BullBuchanan]

47 minutes ago, Sierra Foothills said:

 

I disagree, Sir Andrew.

 

Probably the reason other metros are building domed stadiums is because the expense is justified.

 

Erie County is the 60th most populous county in the United States.

 

Buffalo is the 82nd largest city.

 

Buffalo is smaller than such "major cities" as Bakersfield and Fresno... Omaha and Corpus Christi... Buffalo has about the same population as Fort Wayne and is barely bigger than Toledo, Ohio.

 

There were how many concerts in Highmark last year? I seriously doubt that there are any stadium-caliber performers who are going to want to come to Buffalo in December to play a concert... even if it's in a domed stadium.

 

I'd bet that when you crunch the numbers and compare the added cost of a domed stadium versus the additional revenues possible from non-NFL events, that the numbers don't pencil out. Comparatively, the Kansas City metro area is over 2 million people. The Chiefs will get a domed stadium if that's what they want.

 

And I'm sure these numbers are well-known to those whose business it is to know them.

 

Bottom line, if the ROI projected favorably, it would get done.

 

Rich people aren't going to pass over a good investment.

 

It's the 51st largest metro though, and when you consider the proximity to other significant cities it's not nearly as small a market as people make it out to be.

[GaryPinC]

On 8/16/2025 at 2:45 PM, SirAndrew said:

It is what it is, so I rarely comment on stadium posts anymore. I’ll probably enjoy the new stadium, and maybe it will offer a better game day experience.
 

However, I agree with you. The defeatist attitudes are something I’ll never understand. Why this assumption we’d never attract large events? It’s Buffalo, so of course we can’t. That’s a misunderstanding of how the event business works. The Dome in Syracuse often held the tournament, and recently attracted major concerts. Maybe those concerts could have been in Buffalo, at a better venue than the old dome in Syracuse. Instead we say that nothing would happen here. I also have zero faith in “studies” that say it wouldn’t benefit the economy. Maybe I’m cynical, but when companies pay for studies, usually the study simply reflects the message they’re trying to convey. 

I think one big factor is Buffalo's weather reputation.   You can put a dome in, but who wants to schedule a winter event when there's a real risk of no one being able to get there or get out  through feet of snow?

Syracuse gets more snow but Buffalo and snow are more ingrained in the national psyche. 

 

I do think if they had built downtown or closer to the Falls it would have been a dome, optimally by the Falls.  A lot easier to sell an event there, especially with Toronto closer.

12 hours ago, boyst said:

I guess from NWO it was not until 2010ish that Cleveland began to show improvement.

Ok, l appreciate your perspective.  👍

On 8/16/2025 at 1:22 PM, Sierra Foothills said:

The Browns are building a new domed stadium?

 

How can they afford it? I wonder if they'll change their minds?

 

The last time they tried uncovering something it didn't go well.

 

Haslam is putting in an entire community there.  Condos/apartments and retail.  Part of why he left the lakefront, I suspect.

[SirAndrew]

12 hours ago, Sierra Foothills said:

 

I disagree, Sir Andrew.

 

Probably the reason other metros are building domed stadiums is because the expense is justified.

 

Erie County is the 60th most populous county in the United States.

 

Buffalo is the 82nd largest city.

 

Buffalo is smaller than such "major cities" as Bakersfield and Fresno... Omaha and Corpus Christi... Buffalo has about the same population as Fort Wayne and is barely bigger than Toledo, Ohio.

 

There were how many concerts in Highmark last year? I seriously doubt that there are any stadium-caliber performers who are going to want to come to Buffalo in December to play a concert... even if it's in a domed stadium.

 

I'd bet that when you crunch the numbers and compare the added cost of a domed stadium versus the additional revenues possible from non-NFL events, that the numbers don't pencil out. Comparatively, the Kansas City metro area is over 2 million people. The Chiefs will get a domed stadium if that's what they want.

 

And I'm sure these numbers are well-known to those whose business it is to know them.

 

Bottom line, if the ROI projected favorably, it would get done.

 

Rich people aren't going to pass over a good investment.

 

I get the point, but Buffalo is different geographically and demographically from places like Fresno and Bakersfield. It’s more likely to hold large scale events. As far as concerts, performers play anywhere/anytime if they get payed. Paul McCartney is playing Buffalo in November. I’m sure he isn’t remotely concerned about weather. 

11 hours ago, BullBuchanan said:

It's the 51st largest metro though, and when you consider the proximity to other significant cities it's not nearly as small a market as people make it out to be.

Absolutely, you can’t compare it to larger metro areas that are surrounded by miles of desert land. 

[Sierra Foothills]

10 hours ago, SirAndrew said:

I get the point, but Buffalo is different geographically and demographically from places like Fresno and Bakersfield. It’s more likely to hold large scale events. As far as concerts, performers play anywhere/anytime if they get payed. Paul McCartney is playing Buffalo in November. I’m sure he isn’t remotely concerned about weather. 

Absolutely, you can’t compare it to larger metro areas that are surrounded by miles of desert land. 

 

I'll go back to my original point which is that there are a lot of very smart people working in that special niche of commercial real estate that encompasses stadium development.

 

If there was money to be made by building a domed stadium in Orchard Park, there would have been a big push to get it done.

 

The fact that it was never a possibility tells me that it was not viewed as a good investment.