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It doesn't matter what anybody but the NFL wants. The visiting owners want more revenue here to share. Therefore a new stadium must be built. Local politicians don't want to touch anything that may jeopardize their jobs so they won't support it.
The primary reason why these highly-priced mega stadiums are built is to increase ticket revenue for the league. Buffalo is one of the cheapest teams to watch from the stands, a mega stadium in the city would command much higher ticket prices, but the team wouldn't benefit from that, really.
I use the St. Louis Rams example as one where the taxpayers got hosed, in fact as of last year they were on the hook for $130M+ left on the bond(s), the team is long gone, and that town's chances of getting another team are about nil. Meanwhile, Las Vegas will soon get the Raiders. The shift in the league is towards stable and growing metros with populations and visitors with adequate disposable incomes.
The primary reason why these highly-priced mega stadiums are built is to increase ticket revenue for the league. Buffalo is one of the cheapest teams to watch from the stands, a mega stadium in the city would command much higher ticket prices, but the team wouldn't benefit from that, really.
I use the St. Louis Rams example as one where the taxpayers got hosed, in fact as of last year they were on the hook for $130M+ left on the bond(s), the team is long gone, and that town's chances of getting another team are about nil. Meanwhile, Las Vegas will soon get the Raiders. The shift in the league is towards stable and growing metros with populations and visitors with adequate disposable incomes.
It is just as much about the owner, as if it was the case of economy, the Lions would have left Detroit a while ago or the Steelers would have left Pittsburgh in the 1980’s. Luckily, the Ford family owns the Lions and the Rooney’s own the Steelers, with both being deeply rooted in those areas.
Also, the stadium plays a big part in terms of revenue and what the Bills will likely have to do is take a regional approach. As mentioned before, there are about 10 million people within a couple hours of Buffalo and that is one of the biggest catchments in the league. So, if the Bills can get a new stadium(again, I say along with including the up and coming UB Football program), they have a large population to actually pull from.
Ridiculous to expect a new stadium anywhere in WNY unless it's going to be 100% paid for by THE OWNERS/TEAM/NFL.
Are you guys crazy? The WNY economy cannot afford something like this. We have more important needs that tax revenue needs to go towards. Also hate the idea of you want, but there's absolutely nothing wrong with the existing structure that is the New Era stadium. For 8 games a year it serves it's function just fine. We don't live in an earthquake prone area and there are hundreds of structures built many decades earlier than this stadium that are still in great shape.
I will say though, that was some idiot that thought it a great idea to build an open air stadium in WNY for the purpose of serving a sport that's primarily played in the fall/winter months!! Freaking genius I tell ya!
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