NFL Buffalo seeking $1+ billion from public for new stadium & threatening a move to Austin

[generalshepherd141]

They couldn't think of a better location than Austin? I don't think the city of Buffalo is sweating that hard over this.

 

[BKIslandersFan]

They couldn't think of a better location than Austin? I don't think the city of Buffalo is sweating that hard over this.

Austin is one of the fastest growing cities in America, population and economy wise. Its a smart bet, if Cowboys would ever allow it.

 

[PCSPounder]

All stadium negotiations start this way. There is 0% chance the Bills are moving. Bills Mafia are the best fans in any sport anywhere in the world. They're insane. We invade every other teams arenas like they are the away team. We just pulled 20k people to a practice at the stadium.

The more important reason Austin won't happen is that UT has outsized influence.

UT won't let any pro team into Austin that they perceive as a threat. Even then, when Austin FC came about, there are reasons downtown was not made available as an option. Mind you, judging from early crowds, UT perhaps should perceive AFC as a threat. I'm certainly not saying Austin is a bad market.

Even with the minors, ever wonder why the arena is in Cedar Park and the ballpark is in Round Rock? Just saying.

 

[Reaser]

COTA is in Austin, too.

 

[PCSPounder]

COTA is in Austin, too.

The majority of the support for that will be out of town anyway. That's probably also more than a little compatible with the oil fields deeded to the Texas athletic department... no skin off their back.

 

[Bjorn Le]

I think the recent relocation escapades show that the league isn’t really interested in protecting markets if an owner is serious about moving to a more profitable community. St. Louis and San Diego, both much healthier cities economically-speaking, both lost teams. Buffalo is an armpit, has limited potential for growth, and certainly isn’t going to attract investors to build a privately or even mostly privately funded stadium.

This is a threat in negotiation, but let’s not pretend relocation isn’t a possibility.

What’s ironic in this is that in the not too distant past the Pegula’s were seen as saviours.

The more important reason Austin won't happen is that UT has outsized influence.

UT won't let any pro team into Austin that they perceive as a threat. Even then, when Austin FC came about, there are reasons downtown was not made available as an option. Mind you, judging from early crowds, UT perhaps should perceive AFC as a threat. I'm certainly not saying Austin is a bad market.

Even with the minors, ever wonder why the arena is in Cedar Park and the ballpark is in Round Rock? Just saying.

UT can’t stop determined public officials and investors from bringing the NFL to Austin if such determination exists. The Longhorns are from a public university, they don’t have that kind of power.

 

[sh724]

I think the recent relocation escapades show that the league isn’t really interested in protecting markets if an owner is serious about moving to a more profitable community. St. Louis and San Diego, both much healthier cities economically-speaking, both lost teams. Buffalo is an armpit, has limited potential for growth, and certainly isn’t going to attract investors to build a privately or even mostly privately funded stadium.

This is a threat in negotiation, but let’s not pretend relocation isn’t a possibility.

What’s ironic in this is that in the not too distant past the Pegula’s were seen as saviours.

UT can’t stop determined public officials and investors from bringing the NFL to Austin if such determination exists. The Longhorns are from a public university, they don’t have that kind of power.

The rams moving from STL to LA showed the NFL has zero interest in protecting markets as long as they can make more money somewhere else.

The ongoing lawsuit between the NFL, Rams, etc and STL shows how little the NFL cares about its own rules/regulations as long as there is more money to be made. When STL ultimately ends up winning it may put more leverage back in the hands of the cities but the future is unknown.

 

[blueandgoldguy]

The area surrounding Buffalo has a sizable population. Within a few hours drive of Buffalo, there are 3-3.5 million people (including Buffalo). That's just on the American side of the border. On the Canadian side there 7-8 million people within a 2 hour drive from the stadium. The population in and around Austin is not nearly as big. The city is close to Dallas and Houston - cities with NFL franchises so you can forget about drawing people from those cities unless the Cowboys or Texans happen to be on a road trip.

Even the lower revenue teams in the NFL probably have an operating profit of $50 - $70 million ...possibly a bit more. There is no reason the Pegulas can't pay for half a new stadium ($1.1 billion for a 65,000 seat outdoor stadium?) and use those profits to pay for their share of the stadium in 10 or fewer years. The franchise will increase in value probably a few hundred million with a new stadium. Heck, utilizing PSLs probably allows them to cover a good portion of their share of funding costs ...a couple hundred million dollars.

 

[Bjorn Le]

The area surrounding Buffalo has a sizable population. Within a few hours drive of Buffalo, there are 3-3.5 million people (including Buffalo). That's just on the American side of the border. On the Canadian side there 7-8 million people within a 2 hour drive from the stadium. The population in and around Austin is not nearly as big. The city is close to Dallas and Houston - cities with NFL franchises so you can forget about drawing people from those cities unless the Cowboys or Texans happen to be on a road trip.

Even the lower revenue teams in the NFL probably have an operating profit of $50 - $70 million ...possibly a bit more. There is no reason the Pegulas can't pay for half a new stadium ($1.1 billion for a 65,000 seat outdoor stadium?) and use those profits to pay for their share of the stadium in 10 or fewer years. The franchise will increase in value probably a few hundred million with a new stadium. Heck, utilizing PSLs probably allows them to cover a good portion of their share of funding costs ...a couple hundred million dollars.

Attendance isn’t the problem. Austin is a much wealthier city with better corporate support than Western New York. Those large population centres a few hours away have their own NFL teams to support, or in Canada’s case, don’t care about the Bills.

 

[oknazevad]

Austin really isn't that close for either Houston or Dallas. The distance to either city is comparable to the distance between New York and Boston. So let's not act like that is a disqualifier.

Anyway, both team and city officials have already rebutted and debunked the original article, so let's stop acting like this is some sort of active contentious threat to move. It's not.

 

[La Cosa Nostra]

Fake news.

 

[EichHart]

Attendance isn’t the problem. Austin is a much wealthier city with better corporate support than Western New York. Those large population centres a few hours away have their own NFL teams to support, or in Canada’s case, don’t care about the Bills.

25% of Bills season ticket holders live in Canada.

 

[Bjorn Le]

25% of Bills season ticket holders live in Canada.

Again, I said attendance isn’t the problem; the NFL is not a gate-driven league. Corporate support and broadcast contracts are far more important, and Buffalo is easily one of the weakest markets in the NFL when it comes to those metrics.

Specifically regarding Canada, the Canadian market is not significant regarding these metrics.

 

[EichHart]

Again, I said attendance isn’t the problem; the NFL is not a gate-driven league. Corporate support and broadcast contracts are far more important, and Buffalo is easily one of the weakest markets in the NFL when it comes to those metrics.

Specifically regarding Canada, the Canadian market is not significant regarding these metrics.

Buffalo sports teams (Bills/Sabres) have the best television ratings of any team and consistently for the last decade all the while the Sabres have sucked. Corporate sponsors are the only thing lacking, but the city is undergoing a pretty quick transition into a tech/healthcare hub right now. I can see that changing soon.

RAVENS-BILLS AFC DIVISIONAL PLAYOFF IS NBC’S MOST-WATCHED SATURDAY PRIMETIME SHOW IN FOUR YEARS - NBC Sports Pressbox.

 

[OG6ix]

Jeez - and he bought the team to block MLSE/Rogers from buying the team and moving it to Toronto? I smell BS.

 

[Mightygoose]

Buffalo Bills owners proposed new stadium - TSN.ca

Pegulas willing to pay part for the new stadium, how much is part is a key detail here.

Either they debunked the report of wanting is fully covered by the taxpayers or this statement is part of the negotiation

 

[Mightygoose]

AP: Bills propose 60,000-seat stadium to be built by 2027 (sportsnet.ca)

Cost approx. 1.4 billion. Expected ask from the county and state over 50%. How much over 50% is key.

 

[LadyStanley]

Interesting use of technology to keep field/grass from freezing and diffusing the wind.

 

[varsaku]

Interesting use of technology to keep field/grass from freezing and diffusing the wind.

Surprised heated fields was not already a standard for cold weather teams playing in outdoor stadiums.