BUFFALO - New Buffalo Bills Stadium (72,000)

[RMB2007]

Buffalo Bills

Today a plan will be presented to the Common Council that proposes a 72,000-seat, retractable-roof stadium, which can double as a convention center, as the centerpiece of a $1.4 billion project on outer harbor land owned by the Niagara Frontier Transportation Authority.

Greater Buffalo Sports & Entertainment Complex has a preliminary site plan it commissioned by HKS Sports & Entertainment, the Dallas-based architectural and engineering firm that designed Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas, and Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, and was designated last month to do the same for the Minnesota Vikings. The Strong National Museum of Play in Rochester, wants in, too, proposing the North American Museum of Sports and Culture as part of making the outer harbor a year-round destination.

http://www.buffalonews.com/apps/pbcs...GION/121029746

[JJG]

I would think Buffalo wouldn't want a retractable roof...

[Nikola10]

agree!

[RMB2007]

Well, it's pretty obvious why a retractable roof has been proposed, as it's to make the stadium a truly multifunctional venue, kinda like the University of Phoenix Stadium is. Close the roof and you have a huge area to host trade shows and other events on that scale, whilst also having the ability to host major indoor concerts and other indoor sporting events.

[krnboy1009]

Theres no point of retractable roof in Buffalo. They dont get too many huge concerts and events for them to put it to a good use.

And they wont get a SB even with a new dig.

[Severiano]

Don't like it at all. What's wrong with Ralph Wilson Staduim?

[JJG]

Originally Posted by RMB2007

Well, it's pretty obvious why a retractable roof has been proposed, as it's to make the stadium a truly multifunctional venue, kinda like the University of Phoenix Stadium is. Close the roof and you have a huge area to host trade shows and other events on that scale, whilst also having the ability to host major indoor concerts and other indoor sporting events.

Trade shows and concerts, yeah... but I still don't know about Buffalo with a retractable roof stadium.

[JJG]

Originally Posted by Severiano

Don't like it at all. What's wrong with Ralph Wilson Staduim?

It's old and in the suburbs.... two of the worst things to happen for an NFL stadium in TODAY'S NFL.

[isaidso]

Looks decent. Hopefully it will secure the Bills in Buffalo for decades to come.

[will101]

Since Buffalo is not one of the larger markets, wouldn't it make more sense to cut the number of seats into the low 60,000s?

[flashman]

It would make more sense to make it an 80,000-seater and build it in Toronto.

[will101]

Originally Posted by flashman

It would make more sense to make it an 80,000-seater and build it in Toronto.

Won't happen. The NFL is on record against placing franchises in Canada full time. They like having the CFL as something of a feeder league, and putting a team in Toronto would kill the CFL.

[Darloeye]

Looks nice but can't see it happening anytime soon also saying indy made $650million for hosting the superbowl so that would be the same with Buffalo can't see that being the same for som reason. Could it be a way of getting the Bills to LA if the team can't get a stadium built ?

[RMB2007]

New stadium location (red) compared to the current one (blue):

[eMKay]

Originally Posted by will101

Since Buffalo is not one of the larger markets, wouldn't it make more sense to cut the number of seats into the low 60,000s?

Not really, we have no trouble selling out a larger stadium, except for the last couple games of the season, which would sell out if the roof could be closed. If there is a stadium THERE it will HAVE to be retractable, or a straight up dome. The prevailing winds in winter there are insane, straight off the lake.

[eMKay]

Originally Posted by Darloeye

Looks nice but can't see it happening anytime soon also saying indy made $650million for hosting the superbowl so that would be the same with Buffalo can't see that being the same for som reason. Could it be a way of getting the Bills to LA if the team can't get a stadium built ?

Why not? If Indi can do it, so can we. You say Buffalo can't host a Superbowl and you have "some reason" as to why? What a convincing argument.

As for using it as leverage for leaving, This proposal has nothing to do with the team, so no.

It also has little chance of happening as the team is committed to renovating the Ralph.

[eMKay]

Originally Posted by flashman

It would make more sense to make it an 80,000-seater and build it in Toronto.

So that you can look at 40,000 empty overpriced seats?

[eMKay]

Originally Posted by RMB2007

http://www.buffalonews.com/apps/pbcs...GION/121029746

As an amateur proposal with a slim to none chance of happening, it's really good. Also I work right there, just across the highway (look on google earth, there is a marina there, that's me) So you will get daily updates! There will be massive development on this section of the waterfront over the next 20 years, but I doubt this will be the catalyst.

At least not yet. An argument for this proposal making sense is, the $200,000,000 in planned renovations to The Ralph are only going to extend it's life by 10 years, so why not build a new stadium, and convention center (which we desperately need BTW) and put it in a soon to be hot area for development?

And those that say Buffalo can't host a Superbowl? You're wrong, of course we can.

[eMKay]

Originally Posted by krnboy1009

Theres no point of retractable roof in Buffalo. They dont get too many huge concerts and events for them to put it to a good use.

And they wont get a SB even with a new dig.

This is just all false. We don't get huge events because we don't have a place to hold them. Same goes for a Superbowl.

[desertpunk]

Anyone who's ever been to the lakefront in Buffalo in November-March understands why a retractable roof is necessary. The stadium would be VERY exposed to the strong winds and blowing snow off the lake. Also as a convention facility, it needs to offer the full range of options for meetings large and small. An open air facility is cheaper but very limiting.

The big problem is getting this monster financed. This is a New York-scale proposal for a city the size of Tulsa. $1.4 billion is a pretty big nut to cover, can Buffalo marshall the resources for this?