[SteveM85]

Originally Posted by mdovell

If they want brand new there's no way it would be 100% publicly funded by anyone. The reason I brought up yalebowl is due to the number of seats. The other issue is well...covid. whats the biggest attended venue domestically at the moment?

Kraft supposedly wanted a smaller stadium for the revolution team. THAT might be a better fit. The argument is that they play a stadium where the patriots might much more. As of 2016 average attendance was 20,000. Rentschler Field might work or at least get it half full which with covid might not be that bad.

Right, brand new costs $1.5B now, minimum. It's moot though. They could sell 1 season ticket or 1,000,000, they aren't putting another Big 4 in an already saturated market.

They could do pro soccer, no one cares.

[robr2]

Originally Posted by mdovell

If they want brand new there's no way it would be 100% publicly funded by anyone. The reason I brought up yalebowl is due to the number of seats. The other issue is well...covid. whats the biggest attended venue domestically at the moment?

Kraft supposedly wanted a smaller stadium for the revolution team. THAT might be a better fit. The argument is that they play a stadium where the patriots might much more. As of 2016 average attendance was 20,000. Rentschler Field might work or at least get it half full which with covid might not be that bad.

Kraft wanted to build a smaller stadium near Boston for the Revs. There was a spot in the Dorchester section of Boston where the old Bayside Expo Center was which was taken over by UMass Boston. Kraft would build the stadium on now state-owned site and allow UMass teams to use it at no charge. That deal didn't happen as the neighborhood was concerned about traffic.

Originally Posted by Slipperman

also, didn't they build the convention center in the spot where the Patriots stadium was supposed to go? where would they even have room for a new stadium (in Hartford at least)?

Yes, the convention center is in that area and the explosive growth in the Seaport would preclude a stadium there now.

Kraft was able to develop the area around Gillette into retail, medical, hotels and was able to get the state to open the commuter rail stop there year round. Unfortunately, there's little desire for housing there and it would take up a good chunk of parking around the stadium. My understanding is that at $40 a car, they take in close to $2 million a weekend during the season.

But OT - Hartford Bills ain't gonna happen. There's little support to spend $1 billion plus by the state to give it to a billionaire. Most stadium deals allow for the team owner to develop the area around the stadium into mixed use that can generate year round revenue. A move there can be blocked by 6 teams - there are 3 ready to say no.

Rumors are Austin "and other interested cities" but the former hasn't been approached and the latter is pretty broad. Austin would have the two Texas teams and New Orleans voting no.

IMHO, the Bills aren't going anywhere.

[mdovell]

I don't think we're seeing major teams move. Minor sure. The paw sox went to worcester. If the team moved you'd see a pretty angry fan base and that might not translate into new fans. I don't think the bills are moving. If this is being promoted as a form of development maybe elevate or promote some other sport. Not everyone needs entertainment all the time.

[7 Wishes]

Originally Posted by robr2

Rumors are Austin "and other interested cities" but the former hasn't been approached and the latter is pretty broad. Austin would have the two Texas teams and New Orleans voting no.

IMHO, the Bills aren't going anywhere.

As I explained earlier, I visited the center of "Bills mafia" and their media all of last week and I can tell you from what I've heard there the only way they'd really move is if Pegula sold the team or died (and in the latter case his middle-aged (51) wife who has a 50% ownership stake would probably still own the team and keep it there, he himself is 70 so I think he'll be around awhile anyway) and the first place they'd be tempted to move to to placate their unusual (for a city that size) fanbase is an hour and a half drive over the border to Toronto if the CFL ever allowed it (at one time people in Buffalo thought moving their team to Toronto was an insult, like saying "you're not good enough for us but we'll stay nearby", but with the Blue Jays playing there when COVID prevented them from playing in Toronto, I think they'd reciprocate and accept it more post-COVID, I could even see a situation where home games are split betweeen Buffalo and Toronto)

With the previous owner, there was even from 2008-2012 an agreement where 1-2 Bills "home" games per year were played there, many say as a prelude to an eventual move or more likely a split to playing in two cities. And Pegula when he bought them (after the previous and original (from day 1) owner Ralph Wilson died who also was committed to keeping them in Buffalo even though he was not a native) outbid Jon Bon Jovi who for whatever reason was going to push hard to get the CFL to allow him to move them there. And his first order of business as owner was to end the Toronto games.


Finally they are a contending team right now and a sale/move is more likely if at all when as happens to all teams they go back to some losing times for awhile in a few years. Just imagine how hard it will be to move them right now if they get in and better yet win the Super Bowl this year which is far from impossible, they got to the AFC championship game last year. Case closed.

[SteveM85]

Austins a pipe dream in itself so Hartfords not in any realm of thought in the matter. It's a million light years away from Pegula's brain.
Forget about Kraft, Jerry Jones isn't letting Austin happen either. He already put the San Antoinio alamodome out of business.

[Old Dominionite]

Not having an NFL team and stadium saves the public hundreds of millions of dollars and a lot of headaches.

I was in Connecticut in the 1990s and was glad the state didn't get stuck with the Patriots back then (even though Bob Kraft's overtures were an elaborate charade to coax Massachusetts into action).

I'm in Virginia today and adamantly opposed to the Washington Football Team building a new stadium here. I'm more than happy if Maryland or D.C. wants to saddle themselves with an overpriced and underused boondoggle of a facility (no matter how glitzy it looks) that will never give a positive return on investment.

[mdovell]

All forms of buildings cost money and maintain and that isn't always seen or understood when people talk about creating large venues. Hvax systems, Plumbing, 88 call Amma parking, electrical usage, humidity and adds up and up and up. Maybe two things could be combined here what if some sports League want to build something with the tribes that East Windsor I think I could solve two problems.

[7 Wishes]

Originally Posted by SteveM85

Austins a pipe dream in itself so Hartfords not in any realm of thought in the matter. It's a million light years away from Pegula's brain.
Forget about Kraft, Jerry Jones isn't letting Austin happen either. He already put the San Antoinio alamodome out of business.

I would think so but Florida already has teams in 3 cities and Texas is bigger. But I agree it's extremely unlikely as I've explained earlier.

[robr2]

Originally Posted by 7 Wishes

I would think so but Florida already has teams in 3 cities and Texas is bigger. But I agree it's extremely unlikely as I've explained earlier.

In 1995 when the Jaguars and Panthers entered the league, there was a huge gap in NFL coverage from DC to Tampa and out the to Indianapolis outside of Atlanta. Jacksonville was a long shot but was chosen over Baltimore, St. Louis, or Memphis as they had a stadium agreement in hand.

One other thing to point out - the Bills will have to pay some sort of relocation fee if they move. The Raiders are on the hook for over $380 million with their recent move to Las Vegas. I expect the number to be closer to $400 million this time. If ownership can eat that number, they can invest it in a new stadium.

[ConnecticutSir]

Originally Posted by Slipperman

also, didn't they build the convention center in the spot where the Patriots stadium was supposed to go? where would they even have room for a new stadium (in Hartford at least)?

They can knock down the XL Center and build a brand new Bills NFL stadium in it's place. It's a prime location.