Skip to main content

Today's Poll: Should the Buffalo Bills build a new stadium in Batavia?

By Howard B. Owens
Doug Yeomans

Will it need to be a tax subsidized project and will we be blacked out of home games that don't sell out? If so, then no. If tax dollars are used to build anything that's pro-sports related, blackouts in local markets don't really seem fair. Not to mention the fact that I don't watch sports at all and don't want my tax dollars spent on something that should be able to support itself.

Aug 10, 2012, 10:01am Permalink
scott williams

Doug I think improvements are going to be upwards of $200,000,000 at the present location and it will be mostly subsidized by the state, I suppose this will broaden a fan base being more centrally located but don't think other than construction jobs that it's a job maker because were the same distance from buffalo so we'll see the same employees, but the local tax base would likely see a positive increase that surely wouldn't hurt. I think I do remember hearing that batavia was in the running as an original location choice for the present stadium. Maybe Howard can answer that..

Aug 10, 2012, 10:13am Permalink
Cheryl Wilmet

I think job wise this would be great when you think of all the positions there could be. Maybe the better paying jobs (management) would commute but not concession stand employees. Also, around 20 years ago to earn extra money, I worked one night cleaning the stadium. At that time you just went there, they accepted anyone who showed up and you cleaned some of the strangest things. To this day, I wonder who would bring a lettuce salad to a Bills game. You had to work a minimum amount of hours I think 4 but not sure, but they said it would take approx. 3 days to finish. It was one of the hardest things I have ever done but it gave me Christmas money for my son. They even have people come in like that clean snow prior to games. Basically I am saying any possible income is better than no income. And then you have to take into consideration the new revenue for our existing businesses. Just my thoughts.

Aug 10, 2012, 10:29am Permalink
Timothy Walton

Aside from the politics/finances of who pays for it... it would be a boost to the local economy. I know I spent $20 last night at Buffalo convenient stores/ gas stations before the game and another $30 to put gas in the tank after, not to mention the $20 I paid the nearby church to park in their lot. 70,000+ people would do good for the bars, restaurants, stores, hotels, etc.

And correct me if I'm wrong but I'm pretty sure regardless of whether the game is in Buffalo or Batavia, Batavia still gets blacked out when it doesn't sell out.

Aug 10, 2012, 10:29am Permalink
Dave Olsen

Intriguing. It would certainly bring a lot of residual income into the area, especially if we also dropped our sales tax rate. I'd call it a long shot at best, but I'd love to see it happen.

Aug 10, 2012, 10:53am Permalink
Bea McManis

Doug gave a good reason why the stadium should NOT be here - he isn't into sports. Good reason, Doug. What about the others who are and who realize the amount of money that would flow into our area.
Currently, I am in Knoxville attending a tournament that attracted approximately 2500 people (in the scope of things, really small considering the number of people who go to a game). No matter where we go, in Knoxville, we are running into people attending this event ie: restaurants; motel; stores; gas stations and even the laundromat.
Those 2500 are making an economic impact on this city.
Speaking of tax money spent (unwisely, I'm sure in your opinion)...it is so easy to get around Knoxville. They have FREE trolley cars with three designated routes that take you to the restaurants, theater district, historical sites etc. Why free? They know that the tourists will spend their money in their city rather than leave downtown for the burbs for food, shopping etc.
I've always maintained that Batavia should be the sports hub of Western NY. All routes seem to go through us. The boost to the economy may not come from low paying stadium jobs, but from our local business community.
Naysaying for the sake of naysaying will never improve this area.

Aug 10, 2012, 10:58am Permalink
Doug Yeomans

Lets see, how much money do the top 20 players earn? Let them pay the $200,000,000 bill and give tax payers a break. They have a vested interest in supporting their own livelihood.

Ryan Fitzpatrick - 10/28/2011: Signed a seven-year, $62.195 million contract. The deal contains $24 million guaranteed, including a $10 million signing bonus. 2012: $2.8 million (+ $5 million option bonus due 3/19), 2013: $4.25 million (+ $3 million roster bonus), 2014: $4.35 million (+ $3 million roster bonus), 2015: $7.2 million, 2016: $8.75 million, 2017: $9.45 million, 2018: Free Agent

Stevie Johnson - 3/5/2012: Signed a five-year, $36.25 million contract. The deal contains $18.05 million guaranteed, including an $8.5 million signing bonus, initial workout bonus of $100,000, and all of Johnson's first-year base salary. Johnson is eligible for annual offseason workout bonuses of $275,000 in years two through five. 2012: $2.5 million, 2013: $2.55 million (+ $4.5 million option bonus), 2014: $3.65 million (+ $1.75 million roster bonus), 2015: $5.5 million (+ $250,000 roster bonus), 2016: $5.85 million, 2017: Free Agent

C.J. Spiller - 8/6/2010: Signed a five-year, $25 million contract. The deal includes $20.8 million guaranteed. Another $12.5 million is available through incentives, roughly $12 million of which are available in the final year. 2012: $852,917, 2013: $1,300,834, 2014: $1,748,750, 2015: Free Agent

Nick Barnett - 7/31/2011: Signed a three-year, $11.5 million contract. The deal contains $6 million guaranteed, including a $1.5 million signing bonus, an initial roster bonus of $1 million, all of Barnett's first-year base salary, and $1.5 million of his second-year salary. 2012: $3 million (+ $500,000 roster bonus), 2013: $3.5 million, 2014: Free Agent

Fred Jackson - 5/7/2012: Signed a three-year, $10.805 million contract. The deal included a $3 million signing bonus. Another $2.3 million is available through incentives based on stats, Pro Bowls, and playoff berths. Jackson is eligible for annual $100,000 workout bonuses throughout the contract's life. 2012: $2.205 million (+ $100,000 roster bonus + $100,000 workout bonus), 2013: $2.15 million (+ $300,000 roster bonus due in March + $150,000 in per-game roster bonuses), 2014: $2.45 million (+ $150,000 in per-game roster bonuses), 2015: Free Agent

Brian Moorman - 7/2/2007: Signed a six-year, $10 million contract. The deal contains $3.25 million in bonus money. 2012: $1.425 million, 2013: Free Agent

Andy Levitre - 7/26/2009: Signed a four-year, $3.560 million contract. The deal includes $1.81 million guaranteed. 2012: $615,000, 2013: Free Agent

Of course, that doesn't even include product endorsements for each player. The list is long and the dollar amounts are unfathomable.

Aug 10, 2012, 11:14am Permalink
Daniel Jones

If there's a new stadium to be built anywhere, it should be in Buffalo on the waterfront, it's an area that's equipped to handle a new stadium with the infrastructure needs already there. I do not think that Batavia can handle a 70,000 person stadium with everything that will need to come with it. It's more than just building it.

Aug 10, 2012, 11:16am Permalink
John Roach

Don't mind he idea if it's done with private money. But it will take an awful lot of land out of use, and that probably will be agricultural land. I would also keep an eye on what Erie County will do with their stadium if the team moves, because it could happen to us if one was built here

Aug 10, 2012, 11:16am Permalink
Doug Yeomans

Bea, as usual, you pick and choose points of a larger paragraph to make your own point more important. My main point was and still is, tax dollars shouldn't be needed for professional sports to exist. It's welfare.

If a project of this magnitude will bring so much prosperity to the area, then tax subsidy isn't needed. It can easily support itself.

Aug 10, 2012, 11:24am Permalink
Ted Wenzka

Bea, I hope you are enjoying Knoxville. It is a very beautiful area and great place to live. However, you are comparing apples to oranges. Tax rates and cost of living a in the state of Tennessee is much lower than in New York State.

Aug 10, 2012, 11:21am Permalink
Daniel Jones

John is also right, if the team leaves, then Batavia is stuck with a stadium with no real use. While The Batavian's polls are unscientific, I often find them to be a good pulse on the community and nearly half of the people who took this poll are against it. This speaks volumes. Also, why would people from Buffalo drive 45-50 minutes east to Batavia?

Aug 10, 2012, 11:21am Permalink
scott williams

Great Idea Doug we common folk always give a little extra at our careers to make sure the company stays and we have a job... Yes good idea.. And people remember the stadium is not in buffalo its 20 miles south and 30 miles east isnt that different..

Aug 10, 2012, 11:26am Permalink
Doug Yeomans

I have to pay my employer to park in THEIR parking garage if I want to use it! I refuse to pay so I find alternate, side street parking 3 blocks away and park for free (in the winter). In the summer, motorcycles park for free in a designated space. I do myself a favor by parking three blocks away and hoofing the distance twice per day (during the winter).

Edit: Also, when I worked for Weyerhaeuser paper company, I had to supply my own tools. Imagine that, working for a company that wouldn't even supply tools to work on its own manufacturing, steam and fork truck equipment.

Aug 10, 2012, 11:48am Permalink
John Roach

The poll should have said Genesee County, not Batavia, since there is no way it could be built in the city. And with other current develpment, it is not likeley that it would be in the town either.

Aug 10, 2012, 11:33am Permalink
Bea McManis

Ted, sales tax here is 9+% - Concession prices, at the Convention Center are outrageous. A piece of fruit, banana, apple or orange is $1.50. Coffee is $2.75. A danish, similar to what we sell for .75 in the shop is $2.75. Lunches, at downtown restaurants run about $8 and up while dinner anywhere from $12 and up. Those prices aren't much different than here.
The article doesn't just mention the stadium, but an airport as well. As long as we are willing to isolate ourselves from opportunities, then we will remain stagnant. Just saying.

Aug 10, 2012, 12:18pm Permalink
Dave Olsen

My in-laws moved to the Knoxville area around 1996. It has grown profusely since then I visited last fall and couldn't believe the growth. Beautiful area, no doubt. No income tax either!

Aug 10, 2012, 12:27pm Permalink
Dave Olsen

Dan, I used to be wholly against a new stadium in downtown Buffalo, but now I'd call it a pretty good idea, and by far the most likely; if a new one was to be built that is, which is at least 5 to 7 years away I'd think.

Aug 10, 2012, 12:31pm Permalink
John Roach

Howard, I know, and it was a minor point. But I don't think the town could take in a stadium, along with the other things it has going. But there are areas in Genesee County that this could work.

Aug 10, 2012, 12:36pm Permalink
Rich Richmond

Goodness gracious me; money just flowing into Batavia if they build a stadium.

I seem to remember almost four years ago about a GRANDIOSE PROMISE OF HOPE AND CHANGE....wait a minute, let me look in my pocket...let me see...ten, twenty, thirty, forty, fifty ,sixty, seventy, eighty ,ninety.. one dollar; boy oh boy, it’s all here.

If the stadium were to be built with private money, I’m all for it. I might just pump up the tire on my wheelbarrow to put all the money I just might save in lower taxes; it’s gone flat since the last big GRANDIOSE LIES.....I mean promises of hope and change by using tax dollars.

Aug 10, 2012, 12:39pm Permalink
tom hunt

Clarification on the $200 million dollar figure; this is what is needed to upgrade the current Rich Stadium. A new stadium, where ever it is built, would run a cool Billion or more. An economic shot in the arm to any community.

Aug 10, 2012, 12:41pm Permalink
Doug Yeomans

I don't agree, Bea. How about we do away with huge profits at tax payers expense? If players and managers and everyone else associated with pro sports can get filthy rich, how about paying back what they got from tax payers? How about we expect fairness and common sense? Part of the overall problem with modern economics is the ungodly profit expectations. How about companies and franchises come down to earth from their lofty places and show good faith with reasonable profits. Who is bilking who, here?

Aug 10, 2012, 12:43pm Permalink
Howard B. Owens

John, there seems to be plenty of space north of Federal Drive. That seems like the most logical location. The location would need to be at a Thruway exit and Pembroke would be too far west from Rochester, potentially, defeating the purpose of trying to tap into the Rochester market.

The stadium itself isn't what worries me ... it would bring an influx of strip malls and other associated tawdry development, including tract homes. There's a good chance the stadium in that location would eventually wipe Elba off the map.

None of that seems particularly desirable to me.

Aug 10, 2012, 12:45pm Permalink
tim raines

The poll question should have been:

Should Genesee County contribute $500 million ( 40%) toward a new $1.2 billion stadium to a millionaire to build a building in the county?

The county can't finance that with bonds, the county doesn't have tourism to generate the needed revenue from motel/hotel/car rentals.

Where does the countys share of the money come from?

Anyone care to chime in?

Forgetaboutit.........

Aug 10, 2012, 2:09pm Permalink
Wendy Morse

The land north of Federal Drive is being farmed. You talk to some of the farmers in the area and they are having a hard time now getting enough land to provide food for their livestock/crops. Unless of course they are offered a hefty sum of money for their property then they can sell the farm and have a nice retirement.

Aug 10, 2012, 2:15pm Permalink
Tim Howe

Howard call me dumb but is this poll based on a real news story, or just something that popped into your head? The reason i ask is that quite a few years ago (probally before you were a proud "batavian") this EXACT topic was being discussed. Now i dont know how serious the "powers that be" took it, but i know it was a real buzz around batavia/gen county. Again for all i know it could have been nothing more than rumor that spiraled out of control, but i remember hearing alot of talk about moving the bills here quite a while ago.

My answer to the question is simply YES, but I am not going to give you some profound confucius-like reasoning as to why, I am just answering as a die hard fan :) No answer that involves tax revenue or jobs or anything like that just a plain and simple YES because I LOVE my bills :)

Aug 10, 2012, 4:30pm Permalink
Daniel Jones

You're talking about the need to build new roads, add electrical capacity, and then prepare for the sort of development in the area around the stadium that will no doubt occur. Not to mention the need for increasing spending on road repair. This is just not something that's affordable to a small, mostly rural county. There's more than just the face costs. A stadium needs to be built in an industrial or urban area that's equipped to support not only the direct cost of it's construction, but also of the recurring and set-up costs for the surrounding area. Raise your hand if you want your property taxes to skyrocket (or for your rent to go up, that's what happens when tax rates are raised), because bonds will only go so far.

Aug 10, 2012, 5:39pm Permalink
Daniel Jones

Howard also risked a heck of alot to branch off here on his own and start a business that's succeeding in a way that flies right in the face of the history of his field. Howard and I have had many disagreements, but you can't doubt the sweat and tears he's put into The Batavian.

Aug 10, 2012, 5:43pm Permalink
Tim Howe

You dont think its a good idea for the HARVARD educated QB to call his own plays? I respectfully disagree.

Unlike most of the thugs that play the game of football we finally get an educated man and your not comfortable with giving him some real addtional responsibilty?

Aug 10, 2012, 5:56pm Permalink
Daniel Jones

Harvard degree aside, the only QB I'd ever let call their own plays in the league now is Peyton Manning, other than that no way. Not Eli, not Brady, not Roethlisberger and not Fitzy.

Aug 10, 2012, 5:58pm Permalink
Dave Olsen

I'm with Dan. Harvard aside, I know he's smart and understands the game. He also has an ego as big as NY (all NFL QB's do) and he thinks he can throw like Peyton or Brady. A detached, cooler head needs to be calling the plays.

Aug 10, 2012, 6:15pm Permalink
tim raines

Thr Smugtown Beacon article is a "reprint" of economic visions in the early 1970's about Batavia.

Rochester and Buffalo were suppose to grow enough so Batavia woiuld be a suburb of both cities.

The Genesee Co airport would need to expand to accomodate large passenger jets.

40 years later.............

and so it goes........

Aug 10, 2012, 7:11pm Permalink
C. M. Barons

A modern sports facility in Batavia would be a boon with or without the Bills. Think of all the off-season uses- replete with revenue -such a stadium would lend itself to. Marching band competition, special Olympics, sectional events, concerts, tournaments, festivals, ceremonies, large scale political/social events. This would be the largest arena in WNY; conveniently located between the two major populations in WNY. We have an airport, a Thruway exit and optional train service. As for the unsavory development that might accompany such a facility: that's what zoning laws are for!

Aug 10, 2012, 11:26pm Permalink
Michael Pullinzi

Aside from this poll, is there any real talk of a Bills Stadium locating in Genesee County and where exactly? Would seem to me to be the best thing that has ever happened in Genesee County economically in my life time if it ever happened. Would also jump the fan base/game attendance too with more Rochester, Buffalo, Syracuse attendees. That would be huge for Genesee County businesses, would increase real estate interest with increased job opportunities, etc.

Aug 11, 2012, 11:56am Permalink
John Woodworth JR

I would like to know how they will finance the stadium (Guessing mostly by taxpayers!), where the stadium location would be (Traffic routes being crucial in this fact) and what size will the stadium be? Since, Ralph Wilson Stadium currently holds around 80,000 fans and Buffalo is one of the smaller markets in the NFL. If, they make the capacity between 60,000-65,000, it will help against game blackouts.

Aug 11, 2012, 8:27pm Permalink

Authentically Local