Found this in the SI archives. From January, 1969: http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vau...18/1/index.htm
Figured some would enjoy the read. One part inparticular really stood out to me. From page 5:
First, I never knew the original plan was for a domed stadium... Interesting, given that many fans are now against a dome because they feel it provides a "home field advantage."
However, this quote, which I have bolded and will requote, really rubs me the wrong way:
For the first bolded part here, I'm not a "Buffalonian," but this pisses me off... Unless I'm reading it wrong, he's basically saying "We don't have to worry about being any good or having a good product, we'll make money regardless, because people will still buy tickets." Again, this was his thinking in 1969...
The second bolded part really made me scratch my head... "...although it does get a lot of snow after the 15th of November—when it doesn't really matter."
My initial thought was, "well, back then, the season ended earlier than it does now..." Well, that's true, but still, in 1969 and 1970, the Bills played 2 home games after November 15th. They played 5 games after Nov. 15 in 1969 (The AFL's last season) and 6 games on or after Nov. 15 in 1970, the first season after the merger.
So, the only thing I can translate Ralph's comment of "when it doesn't really matter" to is one of two things...
1: The Bills are out of playoff contention
2: The tickets are sold by then, so I don't really care if fans show up or not
Is it just me? Does anyone else read this differently...?
-Bill
Figured some would enjoy the read. One part inparticular really stood out to me. From page 5:
A man who maintains a large stable of racehorses and has owned a share of the Detroit Lions (with his father) plus a piece of the collapsed Detroit soccer franchise, Wilson is not given to dilettantish dabbling in sports. His AFL team is a profitable enterprise, and he means to keep it that way, even if it means moving to the Yukon. "Buffalo is an excellent sports town, like all major Great Lakes cities, and I don't regret for a minute having located the Bills there, but now they've got to move ahead, develop for the future."
While acknowledging Buffalo's image problem, Wilson firmly denies that it is that bad. "Buffalonians will support a loser as well as any city, and our attendance the past two years has proved it. Despite a losing 1967 season we sold 22,000 season tickets this year, and I'd expect sales to go as high as 45,000 with a new stadium. The city's weather is no worse than a number of other big-league towns, although it does get a lot of snow after the 15th of November—when it doesn't really matter."
Sitting there in Detroit, Wilson symbolized another Buffalo dilemma. "There are very few home-owned industries in Buffalo, and that causes a number of problems. It reduces the number of key local people who can rally big area businesses to the support of sports enterprises and it reduces the number of men who might be traveling around the country selling Buffalo on a national scale."
Despite his awareness of Buffalo's shortcomings, Wilson makes it perfectly clear that he intends to keep the Bills in town if he possibly can. But that means the implementation of a new stadium, and the dirt must begin to fly soon if Wilson and his team are to be kept around. "The present talk centers around a domed stadium, but I've questioned whether a facility of that type might not be too expensive for Buffalo. We've recommended a 'Spartan-type' stadium of about 70,000 seats that would cost around $20 million. However, if they want to build a domed stadium, it's fine by me, although I feel parking and access is critical. I'll tell you one thing, if Buffalo decides to build a domed stadium it'll put that city on the map for the next hundred years."
While acknowledging Buffalo's image problem, Wilson firmly denies that it is that bad. "Buffalonians will support a loser as well as any city, and our attendance the past two years has proved it. Despite a losing 1967 season we sold 22,000 season tickets this year, and I'd expect sales to go as high as 45,000 with a new stadium. The city's weather is no worse than a number of other big-league towns, although it does get a lot of snow after the 15th of November—when it doesn't really matter."
Sitting there in Detroit, Wilson symbolized another Buffalo dilemma. "There are very few home-owned industries in Buffalo, and that causes a number of problems. It reduces the number of key local people who can rally big area businesses to the support of sports enterprises and it reduces the number of men who might be traveling around the country selling Buffalo on a national scale."
Despite his awareness of Buffalo's shortcomings, Wilson makes it perfectly clear that he intends to keep the Bills in town if he possibly can. But that means the implementation of a new stadium, and the dirt must begin to fly soon if Wilson and his team are to be kept around. "The present talk centers around a domed stadium, but I've questioned whether a facility of that type might not be too expensive for Buffalo. We've recommended a 'Spartan-type' stadium of about 70,000 seats that would cost around $20 million. However, if they want to build a domed stadium, it's fine by me, although I feel parking and access is critical. I'll tell you one thing, if Buffalo decides to build a domed stadium it'll put that city on the map for the next hundred years."
However, this quote, which I have bolded and will requote, really rubs me the wrong way:
"Buffalonians will support a loser as well as any city, and our attendance the past two years has proved it. Despite a losing 1967 season we sold 22,000 season tickets this year, and I'd expect sales to go as high as 45,000 with a new stadium. The city's weather is no worse than a number of other big-league towns, although it does get a lot of snow after the 15th of November—when it doesn't really matter."
The second bolded part really made me scratch my head... "...although it does get a lot of snow after the 15th of November—when it doesn't really matter."
My initial thought was, "well, back then, the season ended earlier than it does now..." Well, that's true, but still, in 1969 and 1970, the Bills played 2 home games after November 15th. They played 5 games after Nov. 15 in 1969 (The AFL's last season) and 6 games on or after Nov. 15 in 1970, the first season after the merger.
So, the only thing I can translate Ralph's comment of "when it doesn't really matter" to is one of two things...
1: The Bills are out of playoff contention
2: The tickets are sold by then, so I don't really care if fans show up or not
Is it just me? Does anyone else read this differently...?
-Bill
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