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The thing is, without Rochester, Buffalo wouldn't have the teams they have now. The good news is, if the major upstate cities would swallow some pride, we could have ALL of the pro sports teams with 3-4 million fans
You could include the Niagara Region/Peninsula of Ontario too. That is the thing with sports teams, especially the Buffalo teams, there are other areas with a similar population as the Buffalo metro area right next to it. So, teams really can have a footprint that goes beyond the metro area.
You could include the Niagara Region/Peninsula of Ontario too. That is the thing with sports teams, especially the Buffalo teams, there are other areas with a similar population as the Buffalo metro area right next to it. So, teams really can have a footprint that goes beyond the metro area.
Buffalo might be small compared to other major cities, but with the rest of western New York, it can pull from other places. It could have a footprint as far away from Syracuse.
I have been staying in Southern Ontario for the past month and a half and Buffalo sports are not high on the agenda here. High school and college sports are the thing and of course the Raptors. There are a lot of regional sports here like: hockey, soccer, baseball and basketball. You don't hear of see much about the USA here except for the crazy politics. They even have a curling center here (not for hair).
Buffalo might be small compared to other major cities, but with the rest of western New York, it can pull from other places. It could have a footprint as far away from Syracuse.
They likely would for occasional games/series.
We still can not underestimate that some nearby Canadians would attend as well.
We still can not underestimate that some nearby Canadians would attend as well.
I'm not saying they wouldn't attend games. I'm just looking at this from the perspective of who would support whom first. I think there would be a "Canada first" mentality, particularly if a Buffalo-based MLB team was in the AL. Now, if it was in the NL, that would be a different story. Then there would definitely be more Canadians going to Buffalo to see the games.
But as far as Western New York goes, a Buffalo-based team would have a footprint as far away as Syracuse.
I understand that the business community in Rochester supports the Bills. All I can tell you is my friends, associates, and just in general noticing the surroundings. The Bills aren't that popular. If they start winning, they come out of the woodwork.
I'm not saying they wouldn't attend games. I'm just looking at this from the perspective of who would support whom first. I think there would be a "Canada first" mentality, particularly if a Buffalo-based MLB team was in the AL. Now, if it was in the NL, that would be a different story. Then there would definitely be more Canadians going to Buffalo to see the games.
But as far as Western New York goes, a Buffalo-based team would have a footprint as far away as Syracuse.
I think the fan base would have been similar to that of the Bills, but with the bulk of attendance coming from the immediate area on both sides of the border. Then, if you had a home series with the NYC area teams, Pittsburgh, Toronto or even inter league games with say Cleveland or Boston(yes I know the Yankees and Blue Jays would be interesting league as well), you would likely have good attendance at those games too.
I also think that when Empire and later Time Warner/Spectrum Sports Channel was active, they would have likely broadcasted the games across much or most of Upstate NY.
So, it could become a reality, at least for this year.
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