Gov Cuomo: Bills are very important

[Fitzpatrick'sbeard]

2 On Your Side asked the Governor Cuomo while he was in town Tuesday about his thoughts on the state paying for some or all of the of the stadium improvements, as part of a new lease between Erie County and the Buffalo Bills.

"Well, look the Bills are very important," says Cuomo. "Not only to Western New York so I'm looking forward to working with the county and the entire community in finding way to make sure the Bills stay here."

http://www.wgrz.com/news/article/146014/37/Will-the-State-Ante-Up-For-Ralph-Wilson-Stadium-Improvements

[OpIv37]

Re: Gov Cuomo: Bills are very important

The future of the Bills is up to Ralph and the NFL.

Not Cuomo. Not Schumer. Not Clinton. Not whatever crook is currently the Erie County executive. Not Jim Kelly.

I wish it were different, but stump speeches from politicians and good intentions from Jim Kelly will not keep the Bills in Buffalo on their own.

[BertSquirtgum]

Re: Gov Cuomo: Bills are very important

The future of the Billls is up to the new owner when that greedy old man dies.

[better days]

Re: Gov Cuomo: Bills are very important

The future of the Bills is up to Ralph and the NFL.

Not Cuomo. Not Schumer. Not Clinton. Not whatever crook is currently the Erie County executive. Not Jim Kelly.

I wish it were different, but stump speeches from politicians and good intentions from Jim Kelly will not keep the Bills in Buffalo on their own.

Well, it certainly doesn't hurt to have the Government supporting keeping the team & allocating funds to keep the stadium up.

Minnesota may lose the Vikings if that State can not get its act together about funding a new Stadium.

[PromoTheRobot]

Re: Gov Cuomo: Bills are very important

The future of the Billls is up to the new owner when that greedy old man dies.

Let's make way for the greedy NEW man. Meet the new boss, same as the old boss.

PTR

[better days]

Re: Gov Cuomo: Bills are very important

Let's make way for the greedy NEW man. Meet the new boss, same as the old boss.

PTR

Well, the NFL is a business. BIG business. Anyone not happy with that can follow College Football, but that is a business also.

[BertSquirtgum]

Re: Gov Cuomo: Bills are very important

Well, it certainly doesn't hurt to have the Government supporting keeping the team & allocating funds to keep the stadium up.

Minnesota may lose the Vikings if that State can not get its act together about funding a new Stadium.

Minnesota supposedly has an 800 million dollar surplus and they're supposedly working out a deal.

[Historian]

Re: Gov Cuomo: Bills are very important

The future of the Bills is up to Ralph and the NFL.

Not Cuomo. Not Schumer. Not Clinton. Not whatever crook is currently the Erie County executive. Not Jim Kelly.

I wish it were different, but stump speeches from politicians and good intentions from Jim Kelly will not keep the Bills in Buffalo on their own.

True enough OP, but it's worked so far, has it not?

Keep in mind Ralph wanted to move in 1970. Seattle if I'm not mistaken.

The politicos stepped in and built him a SOTA stadium. (for its time)

They did the same thing in 2000. He got his barn, his practice field, his cushy lease, etc.

Can it help this time? I don't know, but there are a lot of forces at work besides Jim Kelly trying to keep the team here.

I'm at least hopeful.

[Johnny Bugmenot]

Re: Gov Cuomo: Bills are very important

Why does he want to subsidize a team that has done nothing but **** on its fans and its supporters almost every year since the last lease renewal?

Maybe this team was worth something back when it was competitive, but not anymore. It's time for people to just let go. It can't compete for free agents, it can't compete on the field, and it can't compete at the box office, especially in December. The Bills' days should be done here.

[OpIv37]

Re: Gov Cuomo: Bills are very important

Why does he want to subsidize a team that has done nothing but **** on its fans and its supporters almost every year since the last lease renewal?

Maybe this team was worth something back when it was competitive, but not anymore. It's time for people to just let go. It can't compete for free agents, it can't compete on the field, and it can't compete at the box office, especially in December. The Bills' days should be done here.

There is a fair amount of reality to this post. If the Bills were to leave, the initial shock and sense of betrayal would be tough, but most of us would be happier, healthier people in the long run.

The problem is that there is nothing rational about the fan. We root for a team because of some reason that doesn't make sense in any other aspect of life: we grew up near where they play, our parents liked them, we saw them play a game as a kid or liked a player they had 20 years ago.... something like that. We root for them even when we know about the sport and know they stand a very slim chance of winning. And we keep rooting for them despite the fact that they constantly let us down.

From a logical perspective, it would make a lot of sense to put the Bills out of their misery. From a fan perspective, it would be devastating, and no politician wants that blood on their hands.

[Cleve]

Re: Gov Cuomo: Bills are very important

The taxpayers need to have more of a voice in how this team is run if public funds are being spent to subsidize a private enterprise.

There should be a committee of citizens and experts that can provide feedback on any decisions this Wilson character makes about the team - put Jim Kelly on it, put some knowledgeable football experts on it, put a lawmaker or two on it.

These poor decisions over the last 20 years by a man of 70+ years of age have had a negative impact on the team. When he fired Polian, he was already well past the average retirement age. Wilson is not equipped at his advanced old age and deteriorating physical condition to effective manage a complex 21st century business enterprise of such a magnitude.

This sort of condition should be tied to any monies - if Ralph Wilson Jr. doesn't like the condition, then he can simply elect to spend his own funds for any improvements he desires. But if he uses OUR money, WE get a say in how it's spent. Seems logical to me.

[THRILLHO]

Re: Gov Cuomo: Bills are very important

"Well, look the Bills are very important," says Cuomo. "Not only to Western New York so I'm looking forward to working with the county and the entire community in finding way to make sure the Bills stay here."

Wow. Nothing gives me more confidence than a non-committal, pre-written sentence from a politician.

[Historian]

Re: Gov Cuomo: Bills are very important

We already have Business Backs the Bills.

Unfortunately, their input is more from an outside looking in perspective.

[better days]

Re: Gov Cuomo: Bills are very important

Why does he want to subsidize a team that has done nothing but **** on its fans and its supporters almost every year since the last lease renewal?

Maybe this team was worth something back when it was competitive, but not anymore. It's time for people to just let go. It can't compete for free agents, it can't compete on the field, and it can't compete at the box office, especially in December. The Bills' days should be done here.

Well, if you want to abandon ship, feel free. Don't let the door hit you in the ass on the way out.

MANY teams have had blackout during the year or would have if the team did not purchase the remaining tickets at .34 on the dollar.

S.D. is looking at another blackout this Sunday NIGHT for their 2nd in a row. And that is for a game against the Ravens & coming off a win over Buffalo.

Tampa has been blacked out all year.

So to say the Bills can't compete at the box office is BS.

[better days]

Re: Gov Cuomo: Bills are very important

The taxpayers need to have more of a voice in how this team is run if public funds are being spent to subsidize a private enterprise.

There should be a committee of citizens and experts that can provide feedback on any decisions this Wilson character makes about the team - put Jim Kelly on it, put some knowledgeable football experts on it, put a lawmaker or two on it.

These poor decisions over the last 20 years by a man of 70+ years of age have had a negative impact on the team. When he fired Polian, he was already well past the average retirement age. Wilson is not equipped at his advanced old age and deteriorating physical condition to effective manage a complex 21st century business enterprise of such a magnitude.

This sort of condition should be tied to any monies - if Ralph Wilson Jr. doesn't like the condition, then he can simply elect to spend his own funds for any improvements he desires. But if he uses OUR money, WE get a say in how it's spent. Seems logical to me.

Well, welcome to the REAL World. We have NO SAY in how the Bills are run.

I think people are losing sight of the big picture. Ralph won't be around much longer. We as Bills fans need to put pressure on the polititions to ensure the Bills will stay in Buffalo after Ralph dies & that entails an upgrade of the Stadium NOW.