Building A New Stadium For The Bills
APR 16,
2022
ROLLAND KIDDER
There has been
a lot of hoopla about whether or not to build a new stadium for the Buffalo
Bills in Western New York. I say “hoopla” because
not to build it would be a great disservice and be a negative for our region.
Whether or not
you are a football fan, the fact that we have in this small-market area two
national professional sports teams, the Buffalo Sabres and the Buffalo Bills,
is a “feather-in-our cap,” a “drawing card” if you
will, and is one of the reasons we all like living here. If we didn’t have
them, there would be an empty hole in our common life and in our appreciation
for this region we live in.
We are also
fortunate that we have a deep financial pocket in the Pegula family which has
its roots in the Olean area. They could have taken all of their money from a
big natural gas deal over a decade ago, and “squirreled” it away
in some hedge fund or in guaranteed government bonds. Instead, they invested a
lot of it here in Western New York in these two professional sports teams.
I, for one, am
glad they did. Without their commitment, it is quite possible that we could
have lost both teams. In both situations, the Sabres and Bills, government
involvement in financing the stadiums they play in has always been a part of
the equation. Without it, neither team would have either been started here or
stayed here.
I remember when
the current Bill’s stadium was first-built. There was a lot of controversy. A
good friend, Dick Keane (now deceased,) was involved then as Chairman of the
Erie County Legislature. He told me a lot of good stories on how the deal got
done, including a confrontation that he had with then Lawyer John Connally,
former Governor of Texas, who was representing a group that wanted a dome
stadium in another location. When the dust settled, we had instead a new,
beautiful, open-air stadium in Orchard Park which we have enjoyed for many
years.
We are now
going to have another new, beautiful stadium in Orchard Park. If this were
being done in New York City, nothing would be said. Whether it has been the New
Penn Station, Yankee Stadium, new airports, big convention centers or
rebuilding subways–the state legislature has always taken the steps necessary
to get things done in the “Big Apple.”
Now, it is our
turn to get the Bills Stadium deal done here in Upstate. Sure, it is expensive.
Anything the NFL touches is expensive.
Though there
are many things we don’t like about being a distant Upstate cousin in a state
dominated by New York City and its suburbs–one thing that they do bring to the
table is the financial depth and ability to assist a place like Western New
York when it comes to keeping an NFL team located here.
Good for
Governor Hochul for reminding those who dominate the marble halls of Albany,
that Western New York still exists and needs and wants this stadium built. For
those who live below the Tappan Zee Bridge, there is an added bonus–it gives
them the chance to send the New York Jets (who now play in New Jersey) out here
on an annual basis so that they can actually play one game a year within the
confines of the state which bears their name.
So, get over it,
New York. Investing to keep the Bills in Buffalo is a good thing. Go Bills!
No comments:
Post a Comment