A new downtown stadium for the Bills?
Some politicians, eager to find ways to stimulate a stagnant economy in Buffalo, have kicked off a dialogue to explore such a possibility.
Buffalo Common Councilman Antoine M. Thompson recommended at a recent meeting that the city attempt to lure the Bills back into the city where they once played. But while the resolution passed, no timetable, price tag or funding options were mentioned.
The resolution has caught the Bills totally by surprised.
They have eight years remaining on a lease with Erie County to play their games at 32-year-old Ralph Wilson Stadium in suburban Orchard Park. The stadium underwent a $100 million renovation in 1999. That project drew criticism from many taxpayers, and a new stadium would run into the hundreds of millions.
The city of Buffalo and Erie County are battling a budget crisis and the Bills have temporarily forgone their annual $3 million stadium maintenance payment from the county.
"Due to the location of the current stadium, some patrons lack sufficient access to the stadium. Relocating the stadium downtown will boost commercial and residential opportunities," Thompson said.
Thompson thinks a new stadium will help boost tourism in the city and would complement other proposed projects such as a casino and the arrival of Bass Pro Shops.
Scott Berchtold, Bills vice president of communication, declined comment.
Although alarmed by the growing gap between the NFL's large-market and small-market teams due to the construction of nearly a dozen new stadiums since 1998, Bills owner Ralph Wilson has never pushed for a new stadium.
He said he understands Western New York and the state could not afford to help him build it and he doubts the Bills could make it work once it was built. He'd much rather see the NFL's revenue sharing plan expanded to include revenues that currently aren't shared, like premium seating.
"I've always been of the opinion that we don't need a new stadium in Buffalo, we can't afford it," Wilson told the Rochester Democrat and Chronicle. "We can't afford $150,00 suites; they would all be empty. We can't afford to charge $60 for a ticket; we wouldn't have 25,000 people in the stands. We have to tailor our prices to what the market can afford. So far, we've been able to do that (and remain competitive)."
Thompson sees a new stadium helping the city out, not just the Bills.
"I am confident that the City of Buffalo's administration, our partners in other levels of government, and stakeholders interested in rebuilding Buffalo will come forward in support of this effort," Thompson said.
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