TBN: What's the Bills' game plan?

[Johnny Bugmenot]

What's the Bills' game plan? Significant outlay of public dollars will be needed for upgrades to nearly 40-year-old stadium
by Mark Gaughan and Denise Jewell Gee

It's expected the cost of the stadium renovation the Bills want will be a little bit more than $200 million, according to a source familiar with the Bills' stadium study. That is a similar sum to the total amount taxpayers put up the last time the lease was negotiated.

(Bills CEO Russ) Brandon would not disclose the projected cost of the renovation but said talk of a $100 million price tag is way too low.

"The number $100 million has surfaced somehow," Brandon told The Buffalo News. "That was an uninformed, uneducated figure. That number did not come from us. This will be well north of that."

The Buffalo News (http://www.buffalonews.com/city/article811352.ece)

[Johnny Bugmenot]

So we've gone from 40-100, then "over 100," then 130, and now 200. The price continues to escalate and we haven't even reached a deal yet. This is not a good sign for those wanting to keep the team here.

[Skooby]

For $300 Million more we can have a new stadium.

[Johnny Bugmenot]

PS:

I apologize as this article has been posted in another thread.

[THATHURMANATOR]

So we've gone from 40-100, then "over 100," then 130, and now 200. The price continues to escalate and we haven't even reached a deal yet. This is not a good sign for those wanting to keep the team here.
Why isn't this a good sign? We paid over 200 million 15 years ago. Why would it be a problem now? If anything this is a good sign. 200 million is a serious investment but one that is affordable. I couldn't see a 400+ million dollar stadium having any chance of getting built.

If word came out that the Bills were demanding a new stadium I would then be worried.

[mrbojanglezs]

For $300 Million more we can have a new stadium.

a real **** stadium

[THATHURMANATOR]

a real **** stadium
Heinz field cost 281 million (369 million in 2012 dollars)

[clumping platelets]

A brand new stadium would be $700 million to $1 billion

[Skooby]

A brand new stadium would be $700 million to $1 billion

I find that hard to believe, unless of course the local #289 union is building it.

[BLeonard]

Why isn't this a good sign? We paid over 200 million 15 years ago. Why would it be a problem now? If anything this is a good sign. 200 million is a serious investment but one that is affordable. I couldn't see a 400+ million dollar stadium having any chance of getting built.

If word came out that the Bills were demanding a new stadium I would then be worried.

Why not? You do know that the NFL has a program where they will loan teams money to help fund new stadiums... Hell, they just approves a $200 million loan for the 49ers in February: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/02/02/san-francisco-49ers-santa-clara_n_1251328.html

As far as I know, there is no such program for simply renovating a stadium.

I know this is very simplistic, but if the Bills are wanting $200 mil for renovations, why would $400 million for a brand new stadium (with the NFL loan) be out of the question?

Sooner or later, there's gonna come a point where it's either not possible to renovate anymore, or it will be cheaper in the long run to just build a new stadium.

The last renovation cost $200 million... This one is gonna cost around $200 million as well... There's your $400 million right there.

How many times do you spend $200 million to avoid paying $600-$700 million, which, in the end, you're gonna end up paying one way or another?

-Bill

[Skooby]

If the Bills build a new stadium, isn't the franchise worth that much more & is more likely to stay local for the foreseeable future? $200 Million will turn into $240 Million after all is said & done. I'd just as soon see that money increase the franchise value versus putting bandages on the old one.


Why not? You do know that the NFL has a program where they will loan teams money to help fund new stadiums... Hell, they just approves a $200 million loan for the 49ers in February: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/02/02/san-francisco-49ers-santa-clara_n_1251328.html

As far as I know, there is no such program for simply renovating a stadium.

I know this is very simplistic, but if the Bills are wanting $200 mil for renovations, why would $400 million for a brand new stadium (with the NFL loan) be out of the question?

Sooner or later, there's gonna come a point where it's either not possible to renovate anymore, or it will be cheaper in the long run to just build a new stadium.

The last renovation cost $200 million... This one is gonna cost around $200 million as well... There's your $400 million right there.

How many times do you spend $200 million to avoid paying $600-$700 million, which, in the end, you're gonna end up paying one way or another?

-Bill

[mrbojanglezs]

Heinz field cost 281 million (369 million in 2012 dollars)

standard inflation may not apply, would need to do an analysis of raw material costs such as metals

but if they can do a nice stadium for under 400mm then I agree they should

[Blacksheep71]

The Reliant Stadium in Houston holding 71,500 seats cost in 2012 terms $455 million.

Of this cost - $300m was provided by Reliant Industries in return for naming rights for 32years. The actual cost of the Reliant to Houston at that time was $52m only.

And Buffalo could use a version of that design saving millions in design costs.

In addition the NFL have a fund for new stadia and have recently given both LA and San Francisco $200m each towards new stadiums.

Assuming we get $200m from the NFL, half the naming rights that Houston got say $150m, the cost to the city of Buffalo would start at $105m.

[Blacksheep71]

standard inflation may not apply, would need to do an analysis of raw material costs such as metals

but if they can do a nice stadium for under 400mm then I agree they should

Its not standard inflation costs only. Essentially over 10 years the cost of a new stadium increases by 25% to 30% taking into account the variation of raw materials.

A bigger variation is often the cost of land. However if a downtown venue was built this would be offset by demolishing the Ralph and selling the land for development.

[Skooby]

The Reliant Stadium in Houston holding 71,500 seats cost in 2012 terms $455 million.

Of this cost - $300m was provided by Reliant Industries in return for naming rights for 32years. The actual cost of the Reliant to Houston at that time was $52m only.

And Buffalo could use a version of that design saving millions in design costs.

In addition the NFL have a fund for new stadia and have recently given both LA and San Francisco $200m each towards new stadiums.

Assuming we get $200m from the NFL, half the naming rights that Houston got say $150m, the cost to the city of Buffalo would start at $105m.

Houston has huge money around it, I mean huge. There's probably more corporate money made every year there than earned in Buffalo in 20 years.

[Oaf]

So... what's being done for $200M? Will they start serving wings at games?

[Extremebillsfan247]

Wow, they are talking PSL's in order to purchase season tickets in that article, jacking up ticket prices etc., if the Bills have to go the route of a new stadium. That's tough. Brandon is in a very unique situation that can go really well, or extremely bad. This bears paying some attention to in the coming year. I think THATHURMANTOR is right, if the Bills start talking demands for a new stadium, it's time to start worrying. JMO

[THATHURMANATOR]

So... what's being done for $200M? Will they start serving wings at games?
Oh I hope!

[BertSquirtgum]

Where have you guys been? It's been 200 million the whole time.

[Johnny Bugmenot]

Where have you guys been? It's been 200 million the whole time.
I've followed this story since the lease negotiations began and this is the first time the number has been as high as $200M.

[Nighthawk]

Putting $200million into an out of date stadium that is falling apart doesn't make sense to me. If you want to really make a commitment to keeping them here, then build a new stadium and put it downtown. Otherwise, this is just another band-aid on the situation of keeping the Bills in Buffalo longterm.

[THATHURMANATOR]

Putting $200million into an out of date stadium that is falling apart doesn't make sense to me. If you want to really make a commitment to keeping them here, then build a new stadium and put it downtown. Otherwise, this is just another band-aid on the situation of keeping the Bills in Buffalo longterm.
Stadium is not falling apart atvall

[PromoTheRobot]

It costs money to be in the NFL and no stadium lasts forever. If $200M is too rich for Bills fans, Phil Anshutz can bring a convoy of moving vans up from L.A. Phil blows his nose with $200-million dollar bills. Maybe he can toss Erie County and extra $20M to demolish RWS. Then we can have matching holes in the ground with the old Aud.

PTR

[Skooby]

It costs money to be in the NFL and no stadium lasts forever. If $200M is too rich for Bills fans, Phil Anshutz can bring a convoy of moving vans up from L.A. Phil blows his nose with $200-million dollar bills. Maybe he can toss Erie County and extra $20M to demolish RWS. Then we can have matching holes in the ground with the old Aud.

PTR

It's a Billion $ business, so this is so true.