Less Bills games in Buffalo - Ralph Wilson Stadium full subsidy (Collins: sales, how much)

[FedupWNY]

It gets me, Erie County is forced to subsidize everything at Ralph Wilson Stadium, most recently (May 2008) the Erie County Legislature approved $2,800,000 in maintenance funding.

Then I heard the story on Ch 2:

"If we have half, or more of the games here in Buffalo, given the financial realities of the NFL, I would consider that a win," says Collins.

Scott Brown: "It seems like you're saying half a loaf may be better than none when it comes to the Bills?"

Collins: "Whether it's four, five or six games at the Ralph, I think we'd be very glad to have that."

Brown: "Do you think that's going to be a tough pill for Bills fans to swallow?"

Collins: "I don't think so because the reality of them leaving the area has everyone scared to death."

Read the full story here.

The question I have: If our County Exec is interested in the Bills playing more games in Toronto, why is there still a contract for the County to continue fully subsidizing the stadium?

Keep in mind that the Bills have always played 8 home games, Chris Collins would be very glad to hear almost half the home games may be played in a different country, yet the County is still approving millions of dollars to maintain the stadium.

[BuffaloTransplant]

I wish that the team could just be bought from Ralph Wilson and kept in Buffalo. Businessmen have the ability to form a group and do it... I also don't think we should pay 100% of the tab for the stadium. At least when we have snow, people go shovel out the seats -- it isn't like some places where you "shovel your own". I seldom go anymore; we used to when the kids were younger.

[commandc]

Ralph Wilson makes more than enough to pay for the upkeep of his business. Ticket prices are kept low so that he doesn't have to PAY RENT! Government should not provide entertainment instead of providing basic services.

I've started a web site devoted to this subject, visit byebyebuffalobills.com

[CAugust]

so are you saying he should up the prices of the tickets?

[mikesuicide]

If you are a small business you swing in the breeze of the tumultuous economy. If your are a big corporation you threaten to leave unless you get welefare. It makes no logical sense that the rich get subsidized while the struggling get zilch.

[accbqjx]

The County Ececutive may be thinking that the aprox $3 million annual maintenance cost for Ralph Wilson Stadium is a manageable amount. Especially if it means keeping the Bills in WNY a little while longer. We're going to need some creativity to keep the Bills here long term.

[Checkered24]

I am not a fan of subsidizing the Bills either, but from the point of view of the stadium, it still technically would need the bulk of it's usual maintenance and upkeep costs regardless of the exact number of home dates. Things will still need to be done out there, to prevent it from becoming another "Rock Pile."

The issue of keeping the Bills, or not splitting the home schedule with Toronto is a sticky one. The whole NFL wants the Bills to maximize their profits, and they are not happy with Ralph that he doesn't do that. (Through things like not selling stadium naming rights). The league owners loved the Toronto deal, since it increases the Bills revenue, and makes the league as a whole more valuable by starting to tie in another huge market to the NFL.

Keeping the Bills here long term will be extremely difficult. Buying them won't be easy since Ralph Wilson won't sell now, and intends to keep the team until he is gone. Then the estate takes it and will sell it to the highest bidder. Rogers Corp in Toronto has the money to overpay for the franchise to try and prevent a local consortium from keeping the team here.

What happens after that is anybody's guess. Cleveland got an expansion team to replace the Browns when Model moved them to Baltimore. However, I do not know whether the NFL would want to put an expansion team back in Buffalo, instead saving it for more international or larger US markets, and figuring they would still have the Buffalo market with a franchise in TO. Plus, to get the expansion franchise, a new stadium would likely be necessary, and right now I do not see the city, county, or state coming up with half a billion to a billion dollars for a new facility.

[JustinH]

Get rid of the team. Send them wherever, and bulldoze the stadium.

This area can not support a team, its disgusting what we pay in property/sales/income taxes.

I haven't been to a game in ten years.

[ckhthankgod]

Maybe the UB football team can play some games there. They did just win the MAC and is a program on the rise in Division 1. Turner Gill has those guys playing some serious ball and could form a major following in the area too. Heck, maybe if they keep it up, they could move into the Big East some time soon. You could even have some double headers with Buff. State and UB playing there.

[Checkered24]

I have never seen this, but I wonder what the overall economic impact is for having the Bills, and how much money they bring into the area compared to how much goes out in subsidy. I cannot disagree that the county spends a lot of money on the stadium and team to entice them to stay.

On the flip side, there is some positive affect. Visiting teams, pay a lot in hotel rooms, and hospitality taxes 10 times a year (well, 8 or 9 times now), as well as sales tax on food. The Bills players generally buy high value homes, adding to the high end property values and paying property taxes. They buy a lot of stuff locally, cars, items for their homes, etc, which also throws some tax money back. Some even stay after retirement, increasing the number of players or ex-players adding to the local economy (Kelly and Thomas come to mind as big name players who still live locally... although there are far more former hockey players in WNY).

I guess the point is, the team is bringing money into WNY too. Whether it is enough to offset the full subsidy is another question, and probably isn't. However, the net cost is less than the face value of the subsidy too.