This is why the Buffalo Bills need to leave Erie County! (New York: loan, transfer)

[FedupWNY]

Originally Posted by Buffalonian4life

What's with you users? This forum is packed with ignorant people. I don't think you understand what a boon for the local economy the Bills are. I don't have the time or patience to explain the many reasons for their important role they play here in WNY. Thanks to Marine for taking some time and patience to go over just some of the important facts that show how the Buffalo Bills need to stay here in Buffalo.

I don't feel as citing the true facts about how taxes continue to increase by keep the Bills in Erie County as ignorance. It's $817,000 per game this year, in 2010 it'll be $900,000 per game that the taxpayers have to pay, not to mention the care of the Ralph, by not ignoring increased taxes doesn't make anyone ignorant.

[Buffalonian4life]

Originally Posted by FedupWNY

I don't feel as citing the true facts about how taxes continue to increase by keep the Bills in Erie County as ignorance. It's $817,000 per game this year, in 2010 it'll be $900,000 per game that the taxpayers have to pay, not to mention the care of the Ralph, by not ignoring increased taxes doesn't make anyone ignorant.

I meant by the fact of ignorance through the amount of people on this forum just wanting the Bills to leave without giving a reasonable explaination. 14 dollars a year isn't going to kill ya, and because you aren't fans..does that mean you can just say you want them to leave? You have misunderstood the importance of the BILLS to our community. That shows some ignorance.

[FedupWNY]

Originally Posted by Buffalonian4life

I meant by the fact of ignorance through the amount of people on this forum just wanting the Bills to leave without giving a reasonable explaination. 14 dollars a year isn't going to kill ya, and because you aren't fans..does that mean you can just say you want them to leave? You have misunderstood the importance of the BILLS to our community. That shows some ignorance.

$12 or $14 or whatever is a small amount upon one person, though it's 12-14 less in my pocket, when added up to $817,000-$900,000 a game, not a year, per game is a pretty big price for the taxpayers to pay so that some have the luxury of cheering a losing team for another season.

Being taxed more and more year after year is the reason the Bills should go. Ralph Wilson needs to get his hands out of the pockets of taxpayers and support his team with his own money, not ours. Does that explain my reasons better?

Though, no one has eplained what a great devastation that would occur if there was no more Bills in Erie County. No one has said how our lives would be in dismay if we no longer have a team here. No one has given details of how important the team is besides just saying it's important.

[Krisps]

If you're not a fan of the NFL and the Bills, it may be hard to understand. For fans, it's a significant part of life for at least 3 months of the year and seems about the only connection of Buffalo to the national scene. If you attend the games, for many people, it's an all-day event, not just the 3 hours of game time.

Judging by the fact that the games are almost always sold out despite the fact that Buffalo is in poor shape economically, has one of the worst teams in the league over the past 10 years, has some of the most difficult winter weather in the league, and has one of the largest seating capacities in the league while having one of the smallest population markets in the league, I think it's safe to say that football is extremely important to the people of Buffalo.

I agree there should be no subsidies, but it's expected from all sports cities now. Relative to the rest of the league, Buffalo doesn't need much with its simple and modest but sufficient stadium.

[aurorawatcher]

Originally Posted by Buffalonian4life

I meant by the fact of ignorance through the amount of people on this forum just wanting the Bills to leave without giving a reasonable explaination. 14 dollars a year isn't going to kill ya, and because you aren't fans..does that mean you can just say you want them to leave? You have misunderstood the importance of the BILLS to our community. That shows some ignorance.

Oh I am not ignorant. I don't believe the taxpayers should be funding the Bills or any there sports teams. Wilson is the only one who makes out on this deal. He has held that over the heads of Erie County for years. That if they don't help he'll move them away. So I say Good Bye thats all.

[UpstaterInBklyn]

First, let me say that I am a Bills fan. During football season, we make a 45-minute trip to a bar in the East Village where we hang out with a bunch of other fans to cheer the team on. It's fun and entertaining, and hanging out with other WNY natives here in NYC is enjoyable.

However, FedUp is completely correct in stating that the Bills (or any other pro sports team), does not deliver any statistically significant economic benefit to the region. In fact, just the opposite is true.

Study after study, as well as very detailed economic data supports this. There have even been entire books written on the subject.

True, losing the bills would be a huge psychological blow to area residents, especially those who misplace their civic pride in a bunch of overpaid mercenaries playing a game, none of whom are from the area and have very little stake in the community. Every player and coach arrived in Buffalo based on nothing more than an employment contract which benefits that individual's career at that moment. Any one of them could have just as easily ended up in Miami, Seattle, Denver, or any other NFL city.

Lots of growing, successful metro areas that are larger than Buffalo/Niagara have no NFL team and apparently don't see obtaining one as a community imperative. Some of these are: Portland OR, San Antonio TX, Columbus OH, Las Vegas NV, Salt Lake City UT, Austin TX, Louisville KY, Oklahoma City and Richmond VA.

True civic pride should not be based in a professional sports team, but must instead come from pride in one's community: Its people, institutions and history. I believe that the regular participants in this forum have this true pride.

However, I believe that I am accurately summarizing FedUp's position by saying it is important not to waste precious tax dollars and other resources in defense of what is in reality an economic drain on the community and one that has not earned the right to be such a critical component of community pride.

[FedupWNY]

Thank you Upstater Your post was great. You mentioned one of the most convincing points that while you're in NYC you enjoy the Bills on tv. Should the Bills move, CBS will still have the AFC and FOX will still run the NFC.

Thank you aurorawatcher, it's true, Ralph Wilson is the only one who gets the best deal. No matter how many games the Bills lose in a season, or how many years the Bills go without a championship, he still gets our money. Something has to break this cycle of taxation in Erie County.

[UpstaterInBklyn]

For me, professional sports is nothing more than pure entertainment, and professional athletes are nothing more than hired entertainers. I like to root for the Bills. When they win, it's fun. But when they lose, it takes me approximately 2.5 seconds to get on with my life, because whether team wins or loses has zero effect on my personal life.

Oh, and when the Bills don't make the playoffs, my attitude is "Go Giants!", who are my "hired entertainers" in my adopted home town. When the Giants won the Super Bowl last year, it was a lot of fun. When they lost in the playoffs to Philly this year, oh well. No big deal. My life is no different.

[mikesuicide]

blah blah blah. They stink, They are above the law (i.e.hit and run), they are a tax drain and their fans are for the most part unbearable. They put us in the national spotlight for being rowdy idiots. If somebody wants to chip in my 14 bucks be my guest.
The only upside is you can shop on Sundays uninterupted.

[MarineFromBuffalo]

I don't care what statistics say because all they are is a mathimatical equation with values already established. You change one varible the equation is going to have a completely different answer. So everyone can say the Bills leaving Buffalo will have no impact on Buffalo all they want.

I am not saying taxing everyone for the Bills is right, but it is $12 a year. Go to the store and buy yourself a nice TV or some new applicances or something like that and you just spent more in a 30 minute shopping trip in taxes then what the Bills is going to cost you all year!

If you don't like the Bills fine don't like them it doesn't bother me at all, I agree that professonal athletes are over paid. I am over hear risking my life and I make next to nothing compared to them. I would play in the NHL for $40,000 a year and be happy.

The only point I am trying to make is the Buffalo Bills are the least of our worries when it comes to taxes.