The National Football League might not be happy about it, but the Buffalo Bills are in no hurry to build a new stadium.
And poor commissioner Roger Goodell doesn’t like that.
“I think that’s one of the things Terry (Pegula) is going through, and trying to see,” Goodell said before Jim Kelly’s annual golf outing at Terry Hills Golf Course on Monday, via the Buffalo News. “What does it take to make sure that the Bills remain here on a successful basis? That’s the objective, and I know that’s their commitment. We fully support that. We have league funding that’s available to help in that kind of circumstance.
“Stadiums are important, just to making sure that the team can continue to compete, not only throughout the NFL but also compete in this environment. Because we’ve got great facilities here now and the Bills have to stay up with that.”
Excuse me sir, stadiums are important, but just to you and the other owners in the league.
So where is this stadium going to go, Mr. Commissioner?
“That’s up to Terry and the community to really get focused on — What does it take? What is the right location?” Goodell said. “Those are the difficult decisions that have to be made locally. We’ll support it any way we can. But ultimately, those decisions are made here.”
“I think every team in the league continues to look at, whether it’s a new stadium or a renovation or renovations to their stadium — they just completed a renovation here — but ultimately, long term, you have to look down that road,” Goodell added. “What’s the right thing for the franchise and the community?”
And that right there is where the commissioner missed the point.
Rushing to build a brand new stadium, with the over-the-top whistles of today, is not what would be best for the city of Buffalo.
You think a Jamestown, N.Y. native would recognize the economics from the region he is from.
The Bills and taxpayers invested $130 million in new renovations at Ralph Wilson Stadium in 2014. The team paid $35 million while the state contributed $54 million and Erie County chipped in $41 million. The current lease between the Bills and New York runs through the 2022 season.
So why should the Bills rush to build a new stadium? So the NFL has another toy in the playchest?
Yes, Ralph Wilson Stadium is an aging venue that is nearing the end of its lifespan, but after that capital was just invested into “the Ralph”, why should the Pegulas or Buffalo be in a rush for a new one.
This one is more than useable still and continues to turn a profit for the team on Sundays.
The Bills new stadium, which is coming sometime in the next decade or so, is going to be an important decision for the city of Buffalo and Western New York. An investment this large, in this region is going to be for something that is used for more than eight games a season. It is going to make sense for more than just the football team playing there.
It is going to be something that is going to be a positive for the community as a whole.
Another question that has yet to be answered; who pays for it?
While Buffalo is on the rise, it still has to capitalize on the positives steps it has taken in recent years to continue on its regrowth.
The city and county cannot afford to be on the hook for a $300-500 million debt (if not more) for a stadium. Especially when public funding could go towards more important things that need it, like the region’s education, infrastructure and health services, so that it can continue its rise.
The Bills are doing just fine in turning a profit, and shouldn’t be pressured to build a new stadium just because the NFL could make a little more off the backs of taxpayers and the fans.
And guess what NFL; the Bills, the city of Buffalo and Erie County are in no rush.
As they shouldn’t be.
