How about renovating the Ralph??
OK, so I’d rather see a new home for the Bills go from the ground up and like many others I believe downtown would be neat. However, another renowned AFC franchise that plays in a stadium built in the early seventies is taking the renovation route like we did but in a more comprehensive fashion than was done here nearly a decade ago.
Kansas City’s Arrowhead Stadium is in the early stages of a 375M$ renovation project that will be completed in time for the 2010 season with monies coming from a 3/8% sales tax increase as well as 125M$ coming from the Hunt family themselves.
Some links to more info and pics here, and here, and here for the complete report.
Another older venue that underwent a complete facelift was Green Bay’s Lambeau Field. While it was a great old school venue, it was also in great need of modernization and the good folks of Northeast Wisconsin, taxpayers as well as Packer shareholders alike plunked down about 300M$ make this a reality. The renovation was complete in time for the 2003 season.
Of course, we think this is also a good reference to check out the New Lambeau with….
If this is the route to go with the Bills and their facilities. Do it all the way instead of the half ass job of the late nineties….second major scoreboard, wider concourses for fans in both levels. Major entry plaza @ Southwestern and Abbott, more places to stand and view the game from. The top of the upper deck, while a nice idea was a bad location. I suggest making the space above the endzone suites and below the scoreboard a plaza/viewing area.
Just a few suggestions and ideas….have at it!
Mark Says:November 11th, 2007 at 7:46 pm
probably the most realistic and fairly affordable approach.
i would think it would be difficult to do a huge overhaul since it would inevitably interfere with the season but the Ralph REALLY needs to enter the 21st century…if i wasn’t a big bills fan I wouldn’t enjoy the stadium experience at all.
Talkin_Proud Says:November 12th, 2007 at 1:40 pm
With Labatt USA headquarters moving to Buffalo (again), I’d like to see some Blue sponsered beer gardens inside the stadium.
Chris (radar) Says:November 12th, 2007 at 6:04 pm
WOW…….. YES, TOTALLY! I have been a season ticket holder for as long as I can remember and in recent years there has been a decline in the quality experience that going to the games has become on many levels. I LOVE THESE IDEAS!
Being able to go from your seat to an area where you could stand and have something to eat or drink or maybe an area or restaurant where you could watch the game while you eat.
GEE, where can I get that ? ANY MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL STADIUM! Let’s set the trend for the NFL and make the complex a state of the art entertainment facility.