Jim Kelly an advocate for new stadium by the falls

[BillsWin]

LINK

Jim Kelly believes Niagara Falls would be a viable location for a new stadium that could ensure the Buffalo Bills’ future in Western New York, but does not feel the time is right to pursue the issue.

Bills owner Ralph Wilson Jr. has never indicated plans to build a new stadium or move the team out of its current home in Orchard Park, and Kelly said he’s not comfortable discussing what will happen “after Mr. Wilson” while the 91-year-old is still alive.

“He’s the guy that has kept this team in this city, and I thank God for him every day,” Kelly said after giving the commencement address at Niagara County Community College on Saturday.

[BillsWin]

Re: Jim Kelly an advocate for new stadium by the falls

Reading between the lines I'd say Kelly knows someone who is very interested in not only buying the Bills, but keeping them in Buffalo.

I also liked the comment he made about the team surprising people. I remember last year he made no attempt at hiding his doubts about the team and their possible success. I remember one day in the offseason, he was on a radio station and said something to the effect of, "T.O won't make the Bills a winner." and that he was worried the team wasn't ready. He criticized the no-huddle offense and the firing of Turk Schonert so close to the season.

For him to say, "I was out there watching the other day and I think this team might surprise people.” Well, that is a much different tune from the one he was singing last season.

Not saying we are going to the playoffs, but it at the very least, makes me more excited for training camp.

[TacklingDummy]

Re: Jim Kelly an advocate for new stadium by the falls

Not a good time looking for state aid to help build a stadium.

[clumping platelets]

Re: Jim Kelly an advocate for new stadium by the falls

That's a terrible location........it needs to be downtown or in Clarence/Lancaster

[BertSquirtgum]

Re: Jim Kelly an advocate for new stadium by the falls

niagara falls or somwhere in niagara county is a perfect location. it's closer to the rochester fans and canadian fans. they could put the stadium on the land where bell air space used to be right by the airport. there are a lot of options for niagara county. the taxes are also cheaper. i understand people in buffalo would be angry because they would actually travel farther than 20 miles like the rest of us to do now anyway. downtown buffalo would be a huge cluster f**k. it's a madhouse with sabres games. i can't imagine 75,000 people leaving a stadium downtown.

[more cowbell]

Re: Jim Kelly an advocate for new stadium by the falls

A stadium downtown and the bills staying would be the best possible thing next to a superbowl.

but like us winning the superbowl, I dont see it happening anytime soon (even a stadium in niagara falls)

[PromoTheRobot]

Re: Jim Kelly an advocate for new stadium by the falls

Build it the Falls but as close to the Rainbow bridge as possible. Then you don't just build a stadium. You build an entire entertainment/hotel complex with the stadium, something akin to Patriot* Place. Now you have just created a huge attraction right next to one of the wonders of the natural world.

No question NF, NY is a pale sister to NF, ON but building this would level the playing field. NF, ON is never gonna have an NFL team. Now you have a place Canadians will cross over to visit. And speaking of Canada, the Falls are 30 miles closer to Toronto without leaving the USA. Canadian fans could park in Canada and walk across the bridge to the game. In fact I predict a complex like this would get at least one Super Bowl bid. (A domed stadium, of course.)

Frankly putting the Bills into a tourist center would do wonders for the image of the franchise. Glitzy tourist area with casinos, hotels, attractions...oh and we have NFL games too. Imagine bringing in free agents. They'll see a dome, no worries about playing in snow. They see nice hotels and cool stuff right outside the stadium.

And it doesn't end there. NCAA Final Four? Why not? Bowl game? Sure! How about an annual Sabres vs Leafs game in front of 72,000? No weather worries.

Building in the Falls...the way I described it, not in the middle of nowhere Niagara County.... would be the smartest way to keep the Bills in WNY.

PTR

PTR

[BertSquirtgum]

Re: Jim Kelly an advocate for new stadium by the falls

that is a great idea ptr. the stadium wall still sucks though.

[clumping platelets]

Re: Jim Kelly an advocate for new stadium by the falls

Fans east of Buffalo >>> Fans in Canada

Move the stadium northeast of Buffalo.......makes it easier for fans in Rochester and further east, no real change for Canadian fans because the distance from the border to OP is about the same as it is to Clarence/Lancaster, hurts southern tier fans but there are likely fewer fans in that region so the negative aspects is limited

[BertSquirtgum]

Re: Jim Kelly an advocate for new stadium by the falls

moving it to lancaster or clarence would be pointless. might as well leave it in orchard park if that was the case. the falls would be much better, IMO.

[X-Era]

Re: Jim Kelly an advocate for new stadium by the falls

Goat Island would never happen, no way we could get enough people to go along with eating up pretty much all of the park for a stadium and parking lot.

http://maps.google.com/maps?q=niagara+falls+map&oe=utf-8&client=firefox-a&ie=UTF8&hl=en&hq=Niagara+Falls&hnear=Niagara+Falls,+NY&ll=43.082054,-79.070706&spn=0.01423,0.027595&t=h&z=15

Maybe over by Packer Ave. to the west of 190... close to the Airport.

http://maps.google.com/maps?q=niagara+falls+map&oe=utf-8&client=firefox-a&ie=UTF8&hl=en&hq=Niagara+Falls&hnear=Niagara+Falls,+NY&ll=43.100795,-78.999939&spn=0.028452,0.055189&t=h&z=14

http://maps.google.com/maps?q=niagara+falls+map&oe=utf-8&client=firefox-a&ie=UTF8&hl=en&hq=Niagara+Falls&hnear=Niagara+Falls,+NY&ll=43.101234,-78.975735&spn=0.056904,0.110378&t=h&z=13

Personally, I think downtown Buffalo on the water would be cool.

http://maps.google.com/maps?q=niagara+falls+map&oe=utf-8&client=firefox-a&ie=UTF8&hl=en&hq=Niagara+Falls&hnear=Niagara+Falls,+NY&ll=42.861181,-78.870249&spn=0.028563,0.055189&t=h&z=14

or

http://maps.google.com/maps?q=niagara+falls+map&oe=utf-8&client=firefox-a&ie=UTF8&hl=en&hq=Niagara+Falls&hnear=Niagara+Falls,+NY&ll=42.816307,-78.854885&spn=0.057168,0.110378&t=h&z=13

Area is an issue. Using a coarse measurement, the current stadium takes up 3000 feet by 5000 feet. Several of those locations would be tight.

http://maps.google.com/maps?q=Niagara+Falls&oe=utf-8&client=firefox-a&ie=UTF8&hl=en&t=h&sll=42.772471,-78.782315&sspn=0.013514,0.027595&split=1&rq=1&ev=p&radius=0.84&hq=Niagara+Falls&hnear=&ll=42.772566,-78.786564&spn=0.014302,0.027595&z=15

[TacklingDummy]

Re: Jim Kelly an advocate for new stadium by the falls

Who's paying for this stadium?

[jamze132]

Re: Jim Kelly an advocate for new stadium by the falls

I don't think 20 extra miles is going to disapoint too many fans when the alternative is Los Angeles.

[YardRat]

Re: Jim Kelly an advocate for new stadium by the falls

From January...

http://www.billszone.com/fanzone/showthread.php?t=186857

[Mr. Pink]

Re: Jim Kelly an advocate for new stadium by the falls

I advocate Jim Kelly shutting up about anything to do with the team.

He has stupid idea after stupid idea.

I'm sure the people of Niagara County would love to help finance the team through their tax dollars for a team named Buffalo!

Why don't we just throw the team in Batavia and call them the Western New York Bills instead?

And for those who think the stadium downtown is such a dumb idea....how do other cities handle it? The two closest teams to us geographically have...DOWNTOWN STADIUMS! Who woulda thunk it?!?