Developers want to build a $1.4 billion dollar 'convention center' in Buffalo, NY

[Earth_First]

Convienently, it has a 72,000 seat football field with a retractable roof in the center.

#unbelievable

I'm not sure what I'm more upset with, the cost or the way a new sports facility is being sold to the public as 'multi-use'

The developers are presenting their details to Buffalo City Council tonight.

[blueclown]

1. Here is an idea

How about the developers privately finance it themselves?

[Trailrider1951]

7. This right here, that is the way to approach this

If they want it so damn bad, let THEM pay for it. I would rather my money went to help real people.

[spanone]

2. here in nashville our mayor is putting up a half-billion dollar convention center

a monstrosity of a building

[Stinky The Clown]

3. But it looks like a guitar when viewed from the air.

[Earth_First]

4. Well in that case...

"Awww, how cute...."

[Historic NY]

5. Better be strong with all the snow... I like the bunker.

[baldguy]

6. Sounds like a great idea.

The current stadium is over 40 yrs old, and is showing it's age. It does absolutely nothing for the city when it's way out in Orchard Park, it's way too big, and when the lease is up next year the Wilson family will be shopping around for a new market to move to. They've already been making noises about getting a new stadium (in a new city if Buffalo doesn't budge), so maybe they'll jump this time.

OTOH, the proposed outer harbor site is a wasteland. There is literally NOTHING there since The Pier was torn down. It's within sight of downtown, it's primed for development, and it fits in with the existing redevelopment plans for the inner harbor & the foot of Main St. Not to mention the fact that the existing convention center downtown is a monstrosity, that - along with the downtown mall - cuts the city in half.

Like it or not, the Buffalo Bills - as a team - are not going to just disappear. They may not be the "Buffalo" Bills (maybe Toronto? Maybe Rochester?) but they'll still exist. And bringing 70,000 people into the heart of a dying city every week can only be a good thing.

We should be working to revitalize our cities, not abandoning them.

[Earth_First]

8. Revitalizing a dying city with a sports complex is like gauze to gunshot wounds...

Especially in Buffalo.

The Niagara Falls area...what a joke.

I do not trust the City of Buffalo to handle the revitalization process by the way of sporting teams.

ESPECIALLY at the tune of $1.4 billion...

I could think of a dozen public works projects that could use $1.4 billion.

[baldguy]

9. Name one that would bring in $250 million in tax revenue by itself each year to the city.

Not to mention all the peripheral dollars 70,000 people would bring in.

When people come downtown to see a Sabres or a Bisons game, do you think they just leave after the game is over? No, they go over to Pearl St, or Chippewa, or any one of 100 other bars, restaurants & nightclubs. Buffalo is just like any other city in that respect: professional sports teams are an essential part of any economic plan. By ignoring them - or worse, actively driving them away - it makes the rebuilding of America's cities that much more difficult.

You don't "trust" the City of Buffalo? Neither does Carl Palidino.

[Earth_First]

10. Nice Paladino dig...

The City of Rochester promised us economic benefit to THREE brand new sports facilities...

:crickets:

[Godhumor]

11. An Outer Harbor stadium would be phenomenal

I thought the plans looked great.