A new Bills stadium? (Buffalo, Orchard Park: hotels, buy, luxury)

[FedupWNY]

Originally Posted by BillsMan

I don't like the waterfront idea, you will lose your tailgating as we know it now, the parking will probably go up, ticket prices will increase, traffic in and out will be a nightmare to say the least and if they build it close to Lackawanna I would have to guess the ground there is, in some way, contaminated from the steel mills. Where is this money coming from? We already have high taxes, put the money into the revitalization of downtown Buffalo, fix the bridges and roads, clean up some of the empty buildings but don't waste it on a stadium.

Agreed. If the Buffalo Bills have to stay, let them do renovations to the Orchard Park stadium.

Seeing how crazy it is after a Sabres, or Bison's game, concerts, etc ... not much has spun off having those teams downtown, except for a few bars here & there that stay open late. A few restaurants, but as for shopping merchants on Main Street, it's all but gone. Event-goers at the end get in their cars/hope on the subway and head out of the city. (this you are probably familiar with, but had to say it for those reading outside of the area).

Has anyone ever been to Cleveland? Their stadium is on the water in the corner of their downtown, as with the Indians ballpark, but they have other downtown attractions too. Food for thought. If we (in Buffalo) had the downtown we did 30 years ago.... a stadium for football might have been plausable.

[FedupWNY]

Since I mentioned Cleveland in my last post, I have a few Cleveland pictures to go along with what I was saying.

[tviz25]

Sorry for my earlier comment. I think Ralph WIlson Stadium is just fine where it is, and another stadium isn't needed, at least at this time. Maybe in a few years they should think about a new one, but it is still a fairly up-to-date stadium.

[FedupWNY]

Originally Posted by tviz25

and another stadium isn't needed, at least at this time. Maybe in a few years they should think about a new one, but it is still a fairly up-to-date stadium.

As long as they don't expect the taxpayers of Erie County to pay for it. Currently, this is some of what our contract looks like with Ralph Wilson stadium:

4.1 General Right to Receive Revenue Generated at the Stadium Complex.

Subject to the terms and conditions of this Stadium Lease, and, in particular Article 2 and Article 4, during the Term, the Bills shall have the exclusive right to contract for, collect, receive and retain all income and revenues of whatever kind or nature realized by, from or in connection with the Stadium Complex, including, without limitation, all revenues, royalties, license fees, concession fees and income and receipts arising from (a) the sale or distribution of admission tickets to Games and Bills’ Events (including admission tickets to Club Level Seats, Luxury Suites and general admission seats); (b) the naming of, or the sale, lease or license of the right to name the Stadium Complex or any portion thereof; (c) the sale, lease or license of the Advertising Rights, including Signage; (d) the sale, lease or license of the Broadcast Rights; (e) the sale of food and beverages at the Stadium Complex; (f) the operation of the Parking Areas; (g) the sale of merchandise, programs and other goods and wares of any nature whatsoever at the Stadium Complex; and (h) the use of Luxury Suites and Club Level Seats. Nothing contained herein or elsewhere in the Stadium Agreements shall be construed as a limitation or curtailment of the general regulatory or police powers of the County or any other Governmental Authority. It is further acknowledged and agreed that the rights of the Bills pursuant to this Article 4 (including, without limitation, any contract entered by the Bills pursuant to this Article 4): (a) shall expire at the end of the Term (regardless of whether the Term ends by reason of the attainment of the Stadium Lease Expiration Date or the earlier termination or cancellation thereof); and (b) shall be subject to Applicable Law (including any obligation imposed on the Bills under Applicable Law to collect and remit all required sales and use taxes).

and....

ARTICLE 9 OPERATION OF THE STADIUM COMPLEX
(a) Operate, repair and maintain the Stadium Complex or cause the Stadium Complex to be operated, repaired and maintained in good condition and repair and otherwise in accordance with Applicable Law and NFL Rules and Regulations, normal wear and tear and the Structural Repair obligations of the County pursuant to Section 10.1 of this Stadium Lease and Section 7.1 of the Master Lease excepted;
(b) Establish and implement an annual preventative maintenance program for the Stadium Complex reasonably satisfactory to the ECSC and the County which shall have as its principal objective minimization of Structural Repairs and Operating Expenses;

food for thought of a County being run at the ok of a control board.

[BillsMan]

Living at the stadium, seriously, I walk around it daily with my dos, there's nothing wrong with it. The fieldhouse is in fine shape, there's not a bad seat in RWS, parking is great, traffic blows but that's after any sporting game in any city when you try and empty 70,000 fans onto the streets and I believe it's located centrally enough to draw fans from all of WNY. Not to mention the I90 is real close and RT5 and the 20 is close too.

Maybe I'm just a homer for the stadium in OP.

[JiminCT]

No offence...but the only new arena for the Bills will be in Toronto. The economy out there cant support a new arena. Not to mention people are continuing to leave WNY in droves.

[ScranBarre]

As someone earlier mentioned:

-1,000,000 in New York are without health care insurance.
-Millions of tax dollars might be invested into a SPORTING VENUE.

Am I the only one that sees something WRONG with these priorities?

No offense to die-hard Bills fans, but what exactly does the team do to "give back" to Greater Buffalo? How much redevelopment has occurred in Downtown Buffalo thanks to the presence of the Bills? How many white-collar career opportunities have been attracted to your MSA thanks to the Bills? It's only FOOTBALL folks. It's nothing special. Those of us who don't understand nor enjoy watching football shouldn't have to foot the bill so people can get drunk and scream "DEFENSE, DEFENSE!"

I say this as Scranton contemplates building a new stadium for our new AAA Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Yankees franchise (that plays against the Bisons). The AAA affilliate of the Phillies (Red Barons) played in Lackawanna County Stadium (now PNC Field) since the late-1980s, and the stadium was given a very expensive overhaul just two years ago to help woo the Yankees here. Now tens of millions might be invested into building a NEW stadium, Yankees-themed hotel, Yankees-themed mall, and Yankees Museum on the same property. It just seems like such an utter waste for a taxing body to spend so many millions on SPORTS when there are children going to bed cold and hungry, when our local roadways are in deplorable condition, and when our local median household income is FAR below the state and national averages. Why don't we fix the REAL problems first before pandering to the sports fanatics? What have the Yankees brought to Scranton, anyways? Probably just as much economic growth that the Bills have brought to Buffalo---very little.

[FedupWNY]

Originally Posted by ScrantonWilkesBarre

No offense to die-hard Bills fans, but what exactly does the team do to "give back" to Greater Buffalo? How much redevelopment has occurred in Downtown Buffalo thanks to the presence of the Bills?

While the Bills' home is in Orchard Park, not much has come from having our Sabres & Bisons in Buffalo's downtown area.

The question that was raised about building a new stadium comes from the politicians pushing waterfront development. Everyone seems to have ideas on what to do, but no one can explain how things will be paid for.

Why don't we fix the REAL problems first before pandering to the sports fanatics?

That is why I brought up the fact that a million New Yorkers are without health insurance.

[jppa]

Just having the new stadiums attracts tourists. The superbowl will be played here if we build a dome. Which adds to revinue. I am young and have the rest of my life in head of me. I dont see it with out the bills. The Bills the Sabres have to stay to ensure there is still excitment in buffalo. Without them i will move and forget about this rat enfested ,poor mans town. They are privlages not burdens. They are also something to build around. Why do you think there are so many bars and resturants in buffalo? The awanser is the sabres mostly. People want to get something to eat and drink before and after the games. If the bills get a new stadium on the water front there will be room for more restarants and bussiness. Which adds more jobs and revinue. The orchard park site is not set up for profit. Its too spread out ,hamburg and orchard park are booming let them have the old site for bussiness and homes. Lets start fresh and lets start by moving the Bills to the water front.

[jppa]

have you ever seen the stadium? next time your there i bet you could find atleast 100 problems with the stadium in the first ten minutes.