Ralph Wilson Stadium not in the running for outdoor NHL game

[BillsSabresB.C.T. Fan]

WGRZ News at 6 Stephan Mahilew was down at HSBC Arena and he talked to Mike Gilbert the Director of Public Relations for the Sabres and Stephan asked him about this outdoor hockey game and where it should be held. Gilbert said that "were looking to keep it Downtown we've been talking with the Bisons to have it at Dunn Tire Park the Bisons said that they would let us use Dunn Tire Park for free, we've also thought about having it at One M&T Plaza they have an ice rink already built we've even thought about having it in Lafayette Square build an ice rink right in the middle of the street (Gilbert Chuckles)why not they have Summer Concerts and Gus Macker basketball there why not a hockey game. Then Stephan asked him about RWS and Gilbert said "that the Sabres never even contacted the Buffalo Bills about having it in RWS nothing against the Bills and Ralph Wilson we love them and all but if we have it there the money from ticket sales would go to the Buffalo Bills since it's their place and they're charging admission it would not go to the Buffalo Sabres. We want to keep it down in Buffalo because we want to show that Buffalo is growing we have a new waterfront that's being re-developed and Bass Pro is moving in old buildings are being demolished and new ones are beig built in their place or re-renovated into apartments, the casino is up and running the City of Buffalo is coming back and what better way to tell people than to have an outdoor hockey game here.

[chernobylwraiths]

Re: Ralph Wilson Stadium not in the running for outdoor NHL game

Well, say goodbye to the game then.

Is this more Larry Quinn?

[TheGhostofJimKelly]

Re: Ralph Wilson Stadium not in the running for outdoor NHL game

I agree, it takes place in the Ralph or in Detroit. Then again, Detroit's biggest stadium is indoors. I think Comerica Park holds 40,000 though.

Why don't they take the roof off the Aud and play there. It has to come down anyway.

[chernobylwraiths]

Re: Ralph Wilson Stadium not in the running for outdoor NHL game

Dunn Tire Park only holds about 20,000 or just a couple thousand more than the Arena. This game is supposed to be a showcase and a novelty. Thousands of people will come down just to say "I was there". This is just backwards thinking again. Any other spot they hold it won't have the chance to have half the capacity that Ralph Wilson Stadium could give.

I can't believe they might screw something else up.

[Dr. Lecter]

Re: Ralph Wilson Stadium not in the running for outdoor NHL game

I can't believe they might screw something else up.

Have you really paid attention to Larry Quinn's history?

I can't beelive he would not ask the Bills about hosting it, but only if proceeds are split.

[Philagape]

Re: Ralph Wilson Stadium not in the running for outdoor NHL game

WGRZ's web site says the Ralph:

Can you imagine an ice arena somewhere between the 20-yard lines at Ralph Wilson Stadium, where the Sabres would play the Pittsburgh Penguins with about 70,000 fans in attendance?

The game is actually in the works, although far from becoming official, Ch2 Sports has learned.

The Sabres, the Bills, NBC Sports and anybody else possibly associated with the game is tight-lipped about the proposed game, but sources both in the Sabres organization and in Pittsburgh tell us the wheels are in motion for such a game.

http://www.wgrz.com/sports/sports_article.aspx?storyid=49453

[chernobylwraiths]

Re: Ralph Wilson Stadium not in the running for outdoor NHL game

Have you really paid attention to Larry Quinn's history?

I can't beelive he would not ask the Bills about hosting it, but only if proceeds are split.

Who owns RWS? I thought it was Erie County.

[Dr. Lecter]

Re: Ralph Wilson Stadium not in the running for outdoor NHL game

Who owns RWS? I thought it was Erie County.

The lease, I think, lets the Bills take proceeds (or part of them) from other events held there.

[chernobylwraiths]

Re: Ralph Wilson Stadium not in the running for outdoor NHL game

The lease, I think, lets the Bills take proceeds (or part of them) from other events held there.

Don't think, KNOW!

[Philagape]

Re: Ralph Wilson Stadium not in the running for outdoor NHL game

The Buffalo News says the Ralph

WGR 55 says the Ralph

[chernobylwraiths]

Re: Ralph Wilson Stadium not in the running for outdoor NHL game

The Buffalo News says the Ralph

WGR 55 says the Ralph

Anywhere else would be ridiculous. The ice at one M&T Plaza or in Lafeyette Square wouldn't be practical either since there would be a huge problem with having to erect seating for tens of thousands in the winter.

[Philagape]

Re: Ralph Wilson Stadium not in the running for outdoor NHL game

Anywhere else would be ridiculous. The ice at one M&T Plaza or in Lafeyette Square wouldn't be practical either since there would be a huge problem with having to erect seating for tens of thousands in the winter.

And locker rooms, and media facilities, and TV technology.

This thread is a practical joke, I believe

[Typ0]

Re: Ralph Wilson Stadium not in the running for outdoor NHL game

How long has it been since RWS held a major event other than a football game? The community doesn't want the stadium there they never did. Maybe I'm crazy but my feeling is this whole thing is a political push to pump up downtown buffalo...I'd love to see this game take place but I don't see it happening.

[Philagape]

Re: Ralph Wilson Stadium not in the running for outdoor NHL game

How would this game promote downtown Buffalo? NBC wouldn't give a crap. Every time a Buffalo game is on network TV, they show Niagara Falls. All it would do is piss off any national visitors (and local) because of inadequate facilities.

What's the point of having an outdoor game if not at a football stadium, like every other outdoor game? Demand would be overwhelming.

[Typ0]

Re: Ralph Wilson Stadium not in the running for outdoor NHL game

How would this game promote downtown Buffalo? NBC wouldn't give a crap. Every time a Buffalo game is on network TV, they show Niagara Falls. All it would do is piss off any national visitors because of inadequate facilities.

What's the point of having an outdoor game if not at a football stadium, like every other outdoor game? Demand would be overwhelming.

anything that moves people into downtown buffalo instead of moving them out is promoting downtown bflo. And I can see the baseball stadium being a better venue than RWS too. You don't see a lot of nasty weather in RWS because the events are all held in the fall. Try having one in the winter and see what happens. Not that it's insumountable but you have to realistically look at the possibility the event could be postponed for over a week.