Observations, in no particular order of importance.
Communities can play poker and call bluffs with the NFL if they're a top ten market. The Pats "stayed in Boston" (Foxboro) because the NFL needed a team in that top ten market. Buffalo doesn't hold the cards to call that kind of bluff. That noted, even larger cities have made concessions to the NFL in terms of bond status, land give-aways and other concessions.
Additionally, Robert Kraft turned the Patriots (Gillette) stadium into a "city center," which is exactly what Stan Kroenke is doing with his stadium in LA. Although such has not been the case over the last 48 years, the same concept could happen with the new stadium in Orchard Park.
The citizens of San Diego voted down a new stadium for the Chargers, who then moved back to LA, but the same citizens ponied up for a MLB baseball stadium. San Diego has losers remorse about the Chargers and desperately misses having an NFL franchise. At least two politicians from San Diego have said they would make a play for the Bills had the team hinted at leaving Buffalo, which BTW it didn't according to the County Executive and Bills negotiating brass.
The Bills have a higher level of impact than WECK, WBEN or any other (ten) radio station(s) in the market, whether it's 97 Rock (which on two separate periods had the Bills radio rights) or WYRK.
The Bills generate substantial tax revenue, both income and sales tax, for the state. More than any ten radio or TV stations in the market. So David Fields of WYRK gets points for that argument in his blog post.
Of all posters here, David Eduardo, a native of Cleveland, should understand the psychological impact of the loss of an NFL team. The Browns left for Baltimore and Cleveland for years was without an NFL team. Wisely, the city of Cleveland laid claim to the name "Browns" and the NFL awarded the city and expansion team (this, in large measure because Ohio Senators and Congressmen had leverage and threatened to put heat on the NFL.)
That duly noted, the Browns are a bloody train wreck these days, especially having signed a QB (Deshaun Watson) who has been named in numerous civil lawsuits, and may not even play this coming season; and having sidelined their once starting QB (Baker Mayfield) who's alienated the team and the city, recuperating from a serious shoulder injury, having diminished value in the NFL.
The footprint for Buffalo is far larger than any ADI or MSA metrics would indicate because the team is positioned (arguably and rightfully out of necessity) as a regional team which draws from Rochester and Toronto.
The value of national (positive) impressions for Buffalo because of the Bills cannot be under-estimated. Argue this point until you're red, white and Bills-blue in the face, but the value of national impressions for Buffalo and Western New York is incalculable. This is especially true because of the team's playoff stature in the last four years, and because of marquis players like Josh Allen and Stefon Diggs, to say nothing of the newly signed Von Miller and countless other established starters.
Admittedly, the Dallas Cowboys and a dozen other NFL teams sell more swag nationally, but no other entity, including the up-and-coming Sabres, moves swag in WNY like the Bills. And don't even think of putting a negative stamp on bad weather games. Fans across the country are glued to snow games ... whether they're played in Green Bay, Pittsburgh ... but especially in Buffalo. Snow is our calling card. We deal with it unlike any other city in America. Two inches of snow shuts down NYC ... it intimidates warm weather teams playing here. But fans and players in Buffalo thrive in it. Bills fans know, "there is no bad weather, only poor clothing choices." Could be the reason the new Bills stadium will not have a dome, but will have a covered portion for the fans, similar to the Seahawks stadium.
The lease for the new Bills stadium is 30 years. Iron clad. There are stringent penalties if the team moves before the 30 year period expires.
If you're against the stadium deal, the aforementioned points won't change your mind, but the fact is, the Bills are staying in Buffalo because the governor and Erie County Executive put together a deal to keep them here. If you don't like the deal, vote them out in November. There's your referendum.
