STUDY: Bills, Sabres face economic hurdles

[Bill Brasky]

Western New York doesn't have enough money to support its two big-league sports franchises comfortably, according to a new study by Business First's parent company.

The income base in the Buffalo area is $27.3 billion smaller than the ideal amount for the Bills and Sabres, says the report from Bizjournals.com, the Internet subsidiary of American City Business Journals.

That doesn't mean that either team will be forced to leave Western New York in the near future. But it's a fairly reliable sign that both franchises can expect continued volatility in attendance and revenues.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/11805422/

Interesting article.

[Bill Brasky]

Re: STUDY: Bills, Sabres face economic hurdles

Even more interesting, Buffalo doesn't even rank 1st in the study, they are 9th. Tampa Bay, according to this study, is the most overextended market...

The best place to expand and start a franchise is Los Angeles, of course.

Suprisingly, Rochester is the 7th best city to start a sports franchise.

I was also able to find this tidbit from another article, written in 2000, with regards to MLB expansion:

Buffalo, which contended for a National League expansion franchise in the early 1990s, ranked 272nd in financial capacity, meaning that 271 metropolitan areas were considered better able to support a new baseball team. The newsletter said that the local economic base is just large enough for the Bills and Sabres.

Funny, how in six years, the market went from being comfortable for the Bills and Sabres, and now it's suffering.

However, in regards to NBA expansion, this article:

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2005/writers/mike_mcallister/05/23/expansion.cities/index.html

seems to hint that though Buffalo cannot support a major league baseball team, it might still be able to support a NBA team:

Other cities worth considering: Louisville, Nashville, Pittsburgh, Tampa Bay, St. Louis, Kansas City, Baltimore, Buffalo.

[BillsSabresB.C.T. Fan]

Re: STUDY: Bills, Sabres face economic hurdles

Bunch of Crock Golisano has plenty of Money to keep the SABRES here and I repeat this again Erie County will find a way to keep the BILLS in WNY! There's no way we'll get a pro basketball team here again we had the BRAVES and they weren't good let's just say that they STUNK the only guy that was good on the team was 2 for McAdoo that's why they moved to LA and became the Clippers. besides we have a basketball team here maybe you've heard of them they're called the Rapids and they can't even find a home they have to play in a HS gym how pathetic

[Mitchy moo]

Re: STUDY: Bills, Sabres face economic hurdles

Well why don't they just raise taxes again. 10% sure is easier to figure out.

[OpIv37]

Re: STUDY: Bills, Sabres face economic hurdles

it's not how much money people have- it's how much they SPEND. When the teams play well, WNY spends every spare cent it has on them, especially the Bills.

Also, was Monroe County (Rochester) considered as part of the Buffalo area in the first article? What about Southern Ontario (Canada)? They support the Buffalo sports franchises as well (well, maybe not the Sabres so much because of the Leafs, but definitely the Bills).

I think this article focused too much on the business definition of the "Buffalo area" and didn't take into account where the money really comes from.

[Bmax]

Re: STUDY: Bills, Sabres face economic hurdles

The bills are a regional franchise...They depend heavily on southern ontario, rochester, and surrounding areas. I don't know itf the study even considered these areas. Football is a specator sport where many of it's fans travel over 200 miles to watch a game on any given sunday.

Bmax

[Bill Brasky]

Re: STUDY: Bills, Sabres face economic hurdles

It said it took into account 6 or 7 surrounding counties (if I remember correctly). I think a more interesting discussion would be the prospect of a MLB or NBA team in "upstate" NY.

Consider this....

Buffalo fell one vote short of landing a MLB team in 1969. They then lost out to Colorado and Florida in the early 90's. And in the later 90's when Arizona and Tampa Bay got franchises, the MLB actually offered Buffalo a team, which they turned down. It's obvious that the MLB wants a team in "upstate" NY, and I know there are people that would like to have a MLB team up there.

If the Bills eventually leave, do you think the city would try to land a MLB team if they choose to expand again? Even if they don't leave, I'm one of the crazies that still thinks another team could work in "upstate", perhaps even help turn the images of some of these cities around and help with the "rebuilding" process.

However, it's painfully obvious that economically, Buffalo alone cannot support another major sports franchise, at least at this point in time. But, with the high numbers of attendance in Buffalo, Roch, and Syracuse, maybe the areas should consider pooling together to land a team in Rochester? There's definitely a fan base. I think Rochester could support 1 team, whether baseball or basketball... they're already trying to land a pro soccer team, why not go bigger? If they got put in the AL they have automatic geographic rivals in NYY, Boston, Toronto, Cleveland and Interleague Rivals in Philly and Pitt.

Between the metros of Buffalo, Roch, and Syracuse, that is easily 3 million people, and having a team in Rochester would be centrally located to bring in other markets, like Ithaca and Binghamton.

Call me nuts, but I don't see why it wouldn't work. Maybe if these areas started working together instead of against each other, they'd accomplish more.

[tampabay25690]

Re: STUDY: Bills, Sabres face economic hurdles

Maybe this wouldn't be an issue if half of the people that grow up in Buffalo, Rochester, and Syracuse actually stayed and lived there. Why shouldn't people move away the economy in those areas is PUTRID.........I will always LOVE Buff but the politicians really screwed are great city....

[patmoran2006]

Re: STUDY: Bills, Sabres face economic hurdles

Bunch of Crock Golisano has plenty of Money to keep the SABRES here and I repeat this again Erie County will find a way to keep the BILLS in WNY! There's no way we'll get a pro basketball team here again we had the BRAVES and they weren't good let's just say that they STUNK the only guy that was good on the team was 2 for McAdoo that's why they moved to LA and became the Clippers. besides we have a basketball team here maybe you've heard of them they're called the Rapids and they can't even find a home they have to play in a HS gym how pathetic

Unfortunately It's not just up to Western New York if the Bills stay.......... That will be in the hands of who owns the Bills once Wilson is gone and what their intentions are... I would think that Wilson wants it assured the team will stay here...... I can't stand the ralph o nomics going on at OBD the past few years, but I 'm well aware if it wasnt for him, there wouldnt be a Buffalo bills team to talk about.

ANd freeman as much as i'd love to see it, I dont think you'll ever see a MLB here in Buffalo.

[BillsSabresB.C.T. Fan]

Re: STUDY: Bills, Sabres face economic hurdles

Maybe this wouldn't be an issue if half of the people that grow up in Buffalo, Rochester, and Syracuse actually stayed and lived there. Why shouldn't people move away the economy in those areas is PUTRID.........I will always LOVE Buff but the politicians really screwed are great city....

the person that has really screwed Bufalo is Joel cut everything in the red budget and raise property taxes Giambra . Shure lets cut the fire department, Sheriff's patrol, close parks, lay off people, get rid of snowplows oh and my favorite keep your family and friends working for you Pork and Patronage. good idea Giambra

[SabreEleven]

Re: STUDY: Bills, Sabres face economic hurdles

Actually the Braves moved to San Diego first.

[Bill Brasky]

Re: STUDY: Bills, Sabres face economic hurdles

Maybe this wouldn't be an issue if half of the people that grow up in Buffalo, Rochester, and Syracuse actually stayed and lived there. Why shouldn't people move away the economy in those areas is PUTRID.........I will always LOVE Buff but the politicians really screwed are great city....

http://www.billszone.com/fanzone/showpost.php?p=1411991&postcount=9

i agree with you. the whole "i must get re-elected" bs is the reason "upstate" is a ****ing dump.

[tampabay25690]

Re: STUDY: Bills, Sabres face economic hurdles

the person that has really screwed Bufalo is Joel cut everything in the red budget and raise property taxes Giambra . Shure lets cut the fire department, Sheriff's patrol, close parks, lay off people, get rid of snowplows oh and my favorite keep your family and friends working for you Pork and Patronage. good idea Giambra

Thats exactly what I am saying....My wife worked dowtown and she saw all of this coming. Thats when we went down to Florida and visited, and now I have lived in a very growing city of Tampa. I swear half of Buffalo lives down here....

[OpIv37]

Re: STUDY: Bills, Sabres face economic hurdles

It said it took into account 6 or 7 surrounding counties (if I remember correctly). I think a more interesting discussion would be the prospect of a MLB or NBA team in "upstate" NY.

Consider this....

Buffalo fell one vote short of landing a MLB team in 1969. They then lost out to Colorado and Florida in the early 90's. And in the later 90's when Arizona and Tampa Bay got franchises, the MLB actually offered Buffalo a team, which they turned down. It's obvious that the MLB wants a team in "upstate" NY, and I know there are people that would like to have a MLB team up there.

If the Bills eventually leave, do you think the city would try to land a MLB team if they choose to expand again? Even if they don't leave, I'm one of the crazies that still thinks another team could work in "upstate", perhaps even help turn the images of some of these cities around and help with the "rebuilding" process.

However, it's painfully obvious that economically, Buffalo alone cannot support another major sports franchise, at least at this point in time. But, with the high numbers of attendance in Buffalo, Roch, and Syracuse, maybe the areas should consider pooling together to land a team in Rochester? There's definitely a fan base. I think Rochester could support 1 team, whether baseball or basketball... they're already trying to land a pro soccer team, why not go bigger? If they got put in the AL they have automatic geographic rivals in NYY, Boston, Toronto, Cleveland and Interleague Rivals in Philly and Pitt.

Between the metros of Buffalo, Roch, and Syracuse, that is easily 3 million people, and having a team in Rochester would be centrally located to bring in other markets, like Ithaca and Binghamton.

Call me nuts, but I don't see why it wouldn't work. Maybe if these areas started working together instead of against each other, they'd accomplish more.

Rochester is a HUGE sports city- their A league soccer franchise sells more seats than most MLS franchises, and their indoor lacrosse team regularly leads the league as well. The Red Wings do well for attendance, although not as well as most MLB teams.

A baseball team in Rochester COULD work, if they could drum up enough support in Buffalo and Syracuse to add to the fan base. They'd probably have to play games in all 3 cities over the course of the season. The best model would probably be a home stadium in Rochester then doing 2-week stints in Buffalo and Syracuse, similar to what the Expos did in Puerto Rico in 2004.

The weather factor is a turn-off for the early spring games. But can the Carrier Dome be set up for baseball? If so, they could start the season there and the indoor aspect will attract the fans there.

[Bill Brasky]

Re: STUDY: Bills, Sabres face economic hurdles

Rochester is a HUGE sports city- their A league soccer franchise sells more seats than most MLS franchises, and their indoor lacrosse team regularly leads the league as well. The Red Wings do well for attendance, although not as well as most MLB teams.

A baseball team in Rochester COULD work, if they could drum up enough support in Buffalo and Syracuse to add to the fan base. They'd probably have to play games in all 3 cities over the course of the season. The best model would probably be a home stadium in Rochester then doing 2-week stints in Buffalo and Syracuse, similar to what the Expos did in Puerto Rico in 2004.

The weather factor is a turn-off for the early spring games. But can the Carrier Dome be set up for baseball? If so, they could start the season there and the indoor aspect will attract the fans there.

And to be quite honest, that would be a great idea. Bisons sell out. Red Wings sell out. And the Sky Chiefs do well. Big deal if the tickets are only $10 for a minor league game (read on). It would be completely unique to the area. Instead of playing all in one concentrated area, they could spread the fan base around... have most of the games in the ROC, and a few in SYR and BLO... it could revolutionize the game. I honestly think it could work, but everytime I say that, I get laughed at. The "upstate" area is basically a winter sport haven... there is nothing to do in the summer... if there was major league baseball that brought the other cities in the region like the Clevelands, the Torontos, etc. it would defintely work...

There's about 1.1 million people in the ROC area... another 1.2 in BUF and just under another million in SYR... not even counting Bing (50,000 +) and Ithaca (100,000+) I don't see why it can't work.

Doing the math... Over an 81 game season, every person in the BUF/ROC/SYR area would only have to go to 1 game the entire year to cover a 40,000 seat stadium (3 mill divided by 40,000 seats over an 81 game season). Even if the ticket prices went up to 30/40$ per game, I think every one of the 3 million citizens could afford to go to at least 1 game out of the year...