-
Dome Stadium in Buffalo
Just curious what everyone thinks about having a Dome stadium. I'm assuming most people would be totally against it. But maybe a retractable one, where if it snows, we leave it open, just so we have the option of playing in the elements.
My first thought is no, cuz Buffalo football is played in crappy crappy weather, which makes it awesome. But, would it make playing here and coaching here more attractive if we had a dome stadium?
Obviously if we had a remotely good organization, that'd be attractive enough, but we don't.
-
Re: Dome Stadium in Buffalo
rather spend the money on new coaches
-
Re: Dome Stadium in Buffalo
I've always been against the idea of a Domed Stadium. I think football is supposed to be played in the elements. That said, the Bills haven't had a team that can play well in bad weather since the early 90's. Thinking about it, the Bills haven't had a team that would consistently play well in ANY weather since the early 90's...so I guess maybe it wouldn't hurt.
I remember hearing about Domed teams playing poorly in away games during the playoffs, which is a definite down side. You'd have to get to the playoffs in order to play poorly in them though.
-
Re: Dome Stadium in Buffalo
No need for a retractable dome. Save the money and build a fixed one.
There is no way in hell they'd keep a retractable one open in weather that is even remotely bad. The diehard fans are going to show up regardless of the weather. The NFL wants to get the fans who like the game but maybe not quite enough to spend 3 hours sitting outside when it's 15 degrees and snowing.
-
Re: Dome Stadium in Buffalo
The weather is our niche. It is our home field advantage.
-
Re: Dome Stadium in Buffalo
This is really quite simple...
RWS is nearly 40 years old... That is ancient in NFL terms. Sooner than later, the Bills will need a new stadium. In order to justify the cost of a new stadium, especially in the WNY area, it's going to have to be able to do more than hold 10 Bills games per year. As a result, if the Bills are going to stay in WNY, they are almost going to have to have a covered stadium, or at least have the option to cover it, in order to make it able to be used year-round.
As for the weather being a home field advantage, this isn't the 1990's anymore. In fact, in recent years, the Bills haven't been good at all in the elements. The weather advantage, IMO, is no longer a valid excuse to not have a domed or retractable stadium.
-Bill
-
Re: Dome Stadium in Buffalo
You don't build a new stadium without a dome. One of the major factors of us building a new stadium, would be the idea of it bringing a super bowl to the city. That would ever happen with an open air stadium. And OP is right, don't bother putting on a retractable roof, it will be closed any time there is the slight chance of inclement weather.
-
Re: Dome Stadium in Buffalo
Build a dome and be done with it.
-
Re: Dome Stadium in Buffalo
Agreed.
A domed stadium and perhaps some day...in like 2076, a Super Bowl could be played here.
-
Re: Dome Stadium in Buffalo
a stadium isn't even the beginning of the issue for superbowl possibilities. not enough hotesl for big spenders. traffic and business near stadium still not enough. no doubt if the buffalo could host something like this, people would be amazingly supportive and show the buffalo menatlity of being good people.
the NFL should try and help out buffalo by letting it host the draft or something else like owners meetings. but they treat us just as the ATM that pays their bills. they treat us like hookers. they just want what they want and they refuse to take care of one of its member cities.
-
Re: Dome Stadium in Buffalo
Quote:
Originally Posted by
trapezeus
a stadium isn't even the beginning of the issue for superbowl possibilities. not enough hotesl for big spenders. traffic and business near stadium still not enough. no doubt if the buffalo could host something like this, people would be amazingly supportive and show the buffalo menatlity of being good people.
the NFL should try and help out buffalo by letting it host the draft or something else like owners meetings. but they treat us just as the ATM that pays their bills. they treat us like hookers. they just want what they want and they refuse to take care of one of its member cities.
I think the latest "idea" was the waterfront stadium that would combine with a large increase in development in that area. Could be the answer.
-
Re: Dome Stadium in Buffalo
Buffalo has no home field advantage due to the weather anymore. It's actually been about a decade since we have. Build the dome and be done with it.
-
Re: Dome Stadium in Buffalo
Quote:
Originally Posted by
trapezeus
a stadium isn't even the beginning of the issue for superbowl possibilities. not enough hotesl for big spenders. traffic and business near stadium still not enough. no doubt if the buffalo could host something like this, people would be amazingly supportive and show the buffalo menatlity of being good people.
the NFL should try and help out buffalo by letting it host the draft or something else like owners meetings. but they treat us just as the ATM that pays their bills. they treat us like hookers. they just want what they want and they refuse to take care of one of its member cities.
There are many hotel rooms within an hours drive of Buffalo which is the norm for Super Bowl Cities. Factor in Rochester, Niagra Falls- both American & Canadian & even Toronto & there are more than enough rooms to host a Super Bowl.
-
Re: Dome Stadium in Buffalo
Dome Stadium would be awesome. I would love to watch games in December and not have to wear my snowmobile suit.
-
Re: Dome Stadium in Buffalo
Quote:
Originally Posted by
imbondz
Just curious what everyone thinks about having a Dome stadium. I'm assuming most people would be totally against it. But maybe a retractable one, where if it snows, we leave it open, just so we have the option of playing in the elements.
My first thought is no, cuz Buffalo football is played in crappy crappy weather, which makes it awesome. But, would it make playing here and coaching here more attractive if we had a dome stadium?
Obviously if we had a remotely good organization, that'd be attractive enough, but we don't.
It would depend on design, location, size, and expense. It would also depend on parking, proper fitting for weather conditions, and crowd safety. JMO
-
Re: Dome Stadium in Buffalo
There was a time when I was dead set against the idea of a dome, but times have changed. While I love football being played in the elements, the reasons to play inside have begun to outweigh the positives of playing in the elements, most of which have already been discussed - more events, more revenue, more seats filled at games, etc. For the Bills to stay in the region long-term, this really has to happen, and it could be a huge boost for the area even outside of sporting events. I look at the development of Baltimore's Inner Harbor as a good example of how some improvements to a city center, including sports facilities, convention centers, and tourist destinations can really be a catalyst for growth in other area businesses, both big and small.
-
Re: Dome Stadium in Buffalo
Quote:
Originally Posted by
trapezeus
a stadium isn't even the beginning of the issue for superbowl possibilities. not enough hotesl for big spenders. traffic and business near stadium still not enough. no doubt if the buffalo could host something like this, people would be amazingly supportive and show the buffalo menatlity of being good people.
Sorry, but I can't agree with this...
Indianapolis just hosted a Super Bowl and they're comparable with Buffalo when it comes to hotels, businesses, etc... Especially if you add in the "Toronto Factor." Toronto is what, 90 minutes away from Buffalo? The closest "major" city to Indy is probably Cincinnati and that's over 2 hours away.
Besides, part of the project of building a new stadium could also be building a new hotel or two... Hell, they built a new Single-A baseball stadium here a couple years ago and the project included a new hotel right next to the stadium, along with an apartment complex that is just behind the stadium's outfield wall. if they can do that sort of thing for a Single-A baseball team, I'm sure they'd come up with something for an NFL franchise.
-Bill
-
Re: Dome Stadium in Buffalo
I've always hated domes too, but the reality is that if a dome would attract more casual fans/businesses and make Buffalo more appealing to free agents, then that can only be good for the Bills. There just aren't enough hardcore fans to justify forcing fans to be miserable and fans can still be hardcore by tailgating in brutal weather. Plus, a dome would make for a louder stadium, which is probably more of a home field advantage at this point than weather.
I'd rather see the Bills in a dome than no Bills at all.
-
Re: Dome Stadium in Buffalo
I'd rather watch the Bills lose under a roof in buffalo than lose in LA.
-
Re: Dome Stadium in Buffalo
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Jeff1220
There was a time when I was dead set against the idea of a dome, but times have changed. While I love football being played in the elements, the reasons to play inside have begun to outweigh the positives of playing in the elements, most of which have already been discussed - more events, more revenue, more seats filled at games, etc. For the Bills to stay in the region long-term, this really has to happen, and it could be a huge boost for the area even outside of sporting events. I look at the development of Baltimore's Inner Harbor as a good example of how some improvements to a city center, including sports facilities, convention centers, and tourist destinations can really be a catalyst for growth in other area businesses, both big and small.
Couldn't agree more. I hate the idea of a dome on an idealistic level, but on a pragmatic level, it just makes so much more sense.
-
Re: Dome Stadium in Buffalo
100% in favor of a dome. Don't even bother on a retractable one. I heard from someone that RWS is built to allow a room to be added.
PTR
-
Re: Dome Stadium in Buffalo
i can't imagine a roof on the ralph. the endzones are lower than the sides. and the point of having a roof is to rebuild buffalo, not a suburb.
a retractable roof would be good for empire state games, and those junior varsity olympics we had back in 1993.
a superbowl isn't going to want to have hotels 60-90 minutes away to accomodate most people. the region would need to be in the middle of a renaissance for them to even consider it.
-
Re: Dome Stadium in Buffalo
Quote:
Originally Posted by
IAG
The weather is our niche. It is our home field advantage.
How much of an advantage is it if most of our players grew up in the South or out West? It's not like we're a team of locals playing a bunch of Floridians or Texans.
Plus, what advantage does bad weather give you if you have a weak-armed QB and a defense that can't stop the run?
-
Re: Dome Stadium in Buffalo
The noise factor in a dome presents it's own advantages to a home field advantage too.
-
Re: Dome Stadium in Buffalo
cold games are not an advantage. Put up a dome and sell out games all year
-
Re: Dome Stadium in Buffalo
Two points:
1) If we build a retractable dome, there is absolutely no chance on Earth that they open it to let a blizzard in. If you go dome, you're committing to a dome all the way.
2) Buffalo is not hosting a Super Bowl, regardless of whether we build a new stadium. Indy hosted the Super Bowl with only 6,000 rooms, but the result was a price-gouge fiesta (http://www.nj.com/giants/index.ssf/2...is_hotels.html) The media loved Indy because, guess what, the media gets preferential treatment and have expense accounts. The rest of the fans got completely hosed. They would need to host other events in there to justify the cost IMO.
-
Re: Dome Stadium in Buffalo
Quote:
Originally Posted by
ZAZusmc03
You don't build a new stadium without a dome. One of the major factors of us building a new stadium, would be the idea of it bringing a super bowl to the city. That would ever happen with an open air stadium. And OP is right, don't bother putting on a retractable roof, it will be closed any time there is the slight chance of inclement weather.
If u spent all the money in the world on a new stadium they will never have a Super Bowl in Buffalo...
Where would people stay???
-
Re: Dome Stadium in Buffalo
Quote:
Originally Posted by
ZAZusmc03
You don't build a new stadium without a dome. One of the major factors of us building a new stadium, would be the idea of it bringing a super bowl to the city. That would ever happen with an open air stadium. And OP is right, don't bother putting on a retractable roof, it will be closed any time there is the slight chance of inclement weather.
we'd never get a superbowl even with a dome.
Not enough hotel room (Jacksonville has the same problem, but they fixed it with cruise ships a solution which is impossible with lake Erie frozen, and even still the league said "never again" after that experience), and the weather in winter is too harsh for the rich people who come to the superbowl to party. They tried this once with Minneapolis, and the league said "never again"
-
Re: Dome Stadium in Buffalo
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Ingtar33
we'd never get a superbowl even with a dome.
Not enough hotel room (Jacksonville has the same problem, but they fixed it with cruise ships a solution which is impossible with lake Erie frozen, and even still the league said "never again" after that experience), and the weather in winter is too harsh for the rich people who come to the superbowl to party. They tried this once with Minneapolis, and the league said "never again"
Wasn't Detroit a rather successful event utilizing both Detroit and Windsor?
-
Re: Dome Stadium in Buffalo
Quote:
Originally Posted by
DraftBoy
Wasn't Detroit a rather successful event utilizing both Detroit and Windsor?
Detroit metro is like x5 the size of buffalo metro... and x2 times the size of Minneapolis metro... they also are a convention city with lots of huge indoor areas to hold parties. that said, have they scheduled a return trip to Detroit or Indianapolis?
Would you build a dome in buffalo on the slight chance the NFL gives us 1 single Superbowl to hold in it? I'd rather we build a downtown state-of-the-art natural grass open air stadium.
-
Re: Dome Stadium in Buffalo
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Ingtar33
Detroit metro is like x5 the size of buffalo metro... and x2 times the size of Minneapolis metro... they also are a convention city with lots of huge indoor areas to hold parties. that said, have they scheduled a return trip to Detroit or Indianapolis?
Would you build a dome in buffalo on the slight chance the NFL gives us 1 single Superbowl to hold in it? I'd rather we build a downtown state-of-the-art natural grass open air stadium.
Id build the dome with no chance for the superbowl. Too much lost potential revenue from an open air site in a place like Buffalo that could use large convention/concert space.
-
Re: Dome Stadium in Buffalo
If that whole Niagara Falls Stadium plan happened, I could see a SB coming to the area. No way would it happen in Buffalo ever.
-
Re: Dome Stadium in Buffalo
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Ingtar33
Detroit metro is like x5 the size of buffalo metro... and x2 times the size of Minneapolis metro... they also are a convention city with lots of huge indoor areas to hold parties. that said, have they scheduled a return trip to Detroit or Indianapolis?
Would you build a dome in buffalo on the slight chance the NFL gives us 1 single Superbowl to hold in it? I'd rather we build a downtown state-of-the-art natural grass open air stadium.
IMO it would be foolish to build any stadium in the City of Buffalo. A stadium should be built between Buffalo & Rochester with easy access for Canadians as well.
-
Re: Dome Stadium in Buffalo
Quote:
Originally Posted by
better days
IMO it would be foolish to build any stadium in the City of Buffalo. A stadium should be built between Buffalo & Rochester with easy access for Canadians as well.
appearantly you arent familiar with the area... you can have one or the other, but not both... a stadium in the batavia area, or something with easy access to the canadians
-
Re: Dome Stadium in Buffalo
I bet it would help selling ticket to December games regardless of our record.
-
Re: Dome Stadium in Buffalo
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Mski
appearantly you arent familiar with the area... you can have one or the other, but not both... a stadium in the batavia area, or something with easy access to the canadians
What are you talking about? I think Batavia would be an easier trip for Canadians than going to the Ralph in OP. I said easy access for Canadians, I did not say it would be as close as Downtown.
-
Re: Dome Stadium in Buffalo
the Ralph is less than a mile from the thruway, and doesnt require a toll to get through. Batavia does have its own thruway exit, but there isnt any real estate for a stadium that close to the exit, also the I90 is only 2 lanes east-west from the williamsville tolls-east, and the toll barriers cant handle rush hour traffic, let alone 60k+ to get to a game...
-
Re: Dome Stadium in Buffalo
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Mski
the Ralph is less than a mile from the thruway, and doesnt require a toll to get through. Batavia does have its own thruway exit, but there isnt any real estate for a stadium that close to the exit, also the I90 is only 2 lanes east-west from the williamsville tolls-east, and the toll barriers cant handle rush hour traffic, let alone 60k+ to get to a game...
New exits can be built & lanes added as well. It is done all the time in Fla. on I4 & I75. Part of the new Stadium cost & more jobs as well for the economy. If the Road can't handle rush hour traffic now, sounds like a good plan to add lanes.
-
Re: Dome Stadium in Buffalo
Batavia brings nothing to the bills that they don't already have. Niagara Falls is the only alternative i would accept other then Downtown.
-
Re: Dome Stadium in Buffalo
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Mski
the Ralph is less than a mile from the thruway, and doesnt require a toll to get through. Batavia does have its own thruway exit, but there isnt any real estate for a stadium that close to the exit, also the I90 is only 2 lanes east-west from the williamsville tolls-east, and the toll barriers cant handle rush hour traffic, let alone 60k+ to get to a game...
Have you ever been to Batavia? There is acre after acre of farm fields if you take a right off the exit.
-
Re: Dome Stadium in Buffalo
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Ingtar33
Batavia brings nothing to the bills that they don't already have. Niagara Falls is the only alternative i would accept other then Downtown.
Batavia is much nicer than Niagara Falls. Has a Casino and a horse track. Much more to do in Batavia than that crap hole called Niagara Falls.
-
Re: Dome Stadium in Buffalo
Quote:
Originally Posted by
HurkeyNuts
Batavia is much nicer than Niagara Falls. Has a Casino and a horse track. Much more to do in Batavia than that crap hole called Niagara Falls.
Where in Batavia could one be built? I love Batavia much more then NF, but the thing that NF has is the Falls. It draws people world wide even with a crappy American side. My hope is that if a stadium was built there that the city of NF would have to clean up.
-
Re: Dome Stadium in Buffalo
One has to look at where the season ticket holders reside. Plenty are from Southern Ontario and Rochester, so Niagara Falls or an existing piece of land in Orchard Park next to the current Stadium makes the most sense. Too many travel and parking issues for downtown Buffalo, IMO.
A dome could be used for so much more than 7-8 dates a year. Could even attract a minor college bowl game, with some sponsorship. I'd go.
-
Re: Dome Stadium in Buffalo
Quote:
Originally Posted by
BADTHINGSMAN
Where in Batavia could one be built? I love Batavia much more then NF, but the thing that NF has is the Falls. It draws people world wide even with a crappy American side. My hope is that if a stadium was built there that the city of NF would have to clean up.
Former NF Mayor Vince Anello got sprung from prison recently. E. Dent Lackey - mayor from 1963 to 1975 - let the town go to seed. Building a stadium within the city limits of a one-party town like NF seems risky. Same for building one within the Buffalo city limits. :2cents:
-
Re: Dome Stadium in Buffalo
I personally doubt a domed stadium is affordable or practical, even with the extra use it would get. Adding a roof to such a project adds at least a third or more to the cost of a new building. We're talking $100m +. You'd need a new owner with deep pockets to even consider it. If we want to fantasize though, I'd say sure, go for the gusto, spend even more and make it retractable, it ain't my money.
-
Re: Dome Stadium in Buffalo
As for the Super Bowl that would never happen. You need 25000 hotel rooms to host a SB. We're not even close.
-
Re: Dome Stadium in Buffalo
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Sell Local Ralph
As for the Super Bowl that would never happen. You need 25000 hotel rooms to host a SB. We're not even close.
As for the hotel rooms as I have said before, there are more than enough rooms within an hour of Buffalo which is the norm distance for Super Bowls.
-
Re: Dome Stadium in Buffalo
Quote:
Originally Posted by
better days
As for the hotel rooms as I have said before, there are more than enough rooms within an hour of Buffalo which is the norm distance for Super Bowls.
Yes but the NFL is not going to make league officials, press, and teams stay an hour away. For fans that's ok to some degree, but when you start forcing official personnell that far out the league isn't going to go for it.
-
Re: Dome Stadium in Buffalo
I'm against building a new stadium at all, just renovate the Ralph, which has easy accessibility, plenty of Parking, great sightlines and has one of the lowest average ticket price in the NFL. A new stadium would instantly raise ticket prices, plus there would be many more luxury boxes which would hike up all prices, also it would probably not have near the same amount of Parking (depending on location) and might not be as easy to get to.
-
Re: Dome Stadium in Buffalo
Quote:
Originally Posted by
kishoph
I'm against building a new stadium at all, just renovate the Ralph, which has easy accessibility, plenty of Parking, great sightlines and has one of the lowest average ticket price in the NFL. A new stadium would instantly raise ticket prices, plus there would be many more luxury boxes which would hike up all prices, also it would probably not have near the same amount of Parking (depending on location) and might not be as easy to get to.
Renovations would raise the ticket prices too.