I’m kinda thinking if a stadium costs 2 billion there should be 0 obstructed seats. This isn’t the Rock pile or the browns old stadium. This was built from scratch and you’re telling me the designers did not catch this or just did not care?
Everyone who bought a PSL was shown a fairly acurate virtual venue thing, albiet only under the control of the rep.
My rep showed me about 5 options in the upper deck, one of which was a row 3 with the stair issue and the other a row 2 in the end zone that had a wall blocking off about 1/4 of the field. Both times he said "I can't guarantee anything. I'm guessing it will be better, but can't say for sure."
Taking your plea for nuance to heart, I can say clearly that most (not all) people had a warning there would be some issues with those particular seats, BUT if their rep was less honest than mine or they were hearing more optimistic things, I can understand why they'd be upset.
I'd also say some people felt pressured to get lower rows (b/c they had them at the Ralph or for better resale) and may have just shrugged.
I ended up getting seats in the last row in the cheapest section (448-452) just to have no-one behind me. I'm happy.
Physics, engineering, and building code. You need railings. They had them at the old stadium too. And if you want an open concourse you have to rearrange and not have tunnels completely behind the seats. We had an honest rep, I do feel for people who didn't. The biggest concern will be ushers keeping people from loitering on them
We were shown two different sets of seats - one on the aisle in row six in 314, and one on the aisle in row two in 400s section directly above. Functionally, the aren't far apart and have the same sight line, and would both qualify as being the same sight line we had in the old stadium. But the 400s seats had the railing obstruction. Our rep explained it would be similar to the rendering in real life and that it was what happens when you set up the concourse the way it is. It was 2500 bucks cheaper than the 314 seats. We got the 314 set, because not having the railing was worth the extra money for us. I feel for those who did not have as honest of a rep as we did, it sucks.
I have sat in those railing seats in other stadiums, and honestly, your brain adjusts by half-way through the 2nd Quarter. We had a tiny bit of railing in the way in our old seats when sitting sown (aisle right at the tunnel) and after 13 years my brain didn't even register it anymore. My big concern is that there are ushers/security that keep people from standing there during games. They tried in the old stadium but they'll need to try harder for this.
It is beautiful in there. We stayed completely dry during the downpour. It's not gross waffle fries anymore. Sal lied about everyone having access to the charge bar. You can get well drinks! The one closest to us is rum. Yuck. There was a great breeze in the upper concourse and our section, but the little tags on the goal posts barely moved. The nickel city jerseys look better in person but you can't read names or numbers on them (I thought it was my new contacts, turns out they're just bad). Gatorades are 7.50, but they were still 6.50 in the old place. There are escalators! The up escalator near us broke.
The only real gripe I have is that there's not quite as much leg/aisle room as they presented at the Experience. Still better, but there's not quite as much room as in the fake seats we sat in. AND they added warm water in the bathroom, but with so many people running it it was scalding by 2/3 through the practice. I will actually call my rep about that because that could be a safety issue for kids. I understand the thought though, it was ice cold in the last one, even in December, but I'm also not going to brush it off. That's ok!
It doesn't feel like home yet, and it'll take awhile. I still miss my old seats! We haven't broke it in, we still don't know our preferred concessions and the best routes to get to places. But it is beautiful and 10 years ago we wouldn't have dreamed of this and you can really tell they tried, despite the physics of engineering requiring railings in specific places.
Great read! As a PSL holder in 147 I thought they pressured the shit out of us. We did a virtual call and were given a few options in that section to choose from. We wanted to move under cover and were told those were all we had to choose from and had to make the decision during that call. Money doesn’t come easy for most and to have to make a decision on $2500 seats in 30 minutes is ridiculous. I get it they are like car salesmen but Jesus Christ give me a minute.
Local sports media have always had strange task. Essentially they are covering entertainment with a civic component based on the fact so many tax dollars are involved. Add to that, I am guessing most Buffalo sports media have at least some hometown connection to Buffalo. So as a reporter, if you ask tough questions of ownership about the sightlines no doubt some knucklehead on twitter will call you disloyal for doing your job. So there is no winning in this situation if you are local media. You just have to ask the tough questions and let the chips fall.
And I doubt anyone on the beat will seriously cover this story. Boyko has them on a TIGHT leash. They’ll lose their access. But I bet networks will put their investigative reporters on it to cover it while shielding their beat guys.
Definitely will happen with hopefully the local guys from the news departments. As for the local Bills beat who knows, they try to make it out. They’re just gonna cover the Bills team football. But I can recall when they were all covering the future of the team in 2014 and that was mostly through sourcing the Rogers peoplekke Russ Brandon and everyone in the business side so I think it’s really whatever is an easier story to tell versus access.
Tim for sure will. I think most are a little more hesitant to challenge the team now given all their success. Easier to take shots at a mid-drought era franchise
I’m kinda thinking if a stadium costs 2 billion there should be 0 obstructed seats. This isn’t the Rock pile or the browns old stadium. This was built from scratch and you’re telling me the designers did not catch this or just did not care?
Everyone who bought a PSL was shown a fairly acurate virtual venue thing, albiet only under the control of the rep.
My rep showed me about 5 options in the upper deck, one of which was a row 3 with the stair issue and the other a row 2 in the end zone that had a wall blocking off about 1/4 of the field. Both times he said "I can't guarantee anything. I'm guessing it will be better, but can't say for sure."
Taking your plea for nuance to heart, I can say clearly that most (not all) people had a warning there would be some issues with those particular seats, BUT if their rep was less honest than mine or they were hearing more optimistic things, I can understand why they'd be upset.
I'd also say some people felt pressured to get lower rows (b/c they had them at the Ralph or for better resale) and may have just shrugged.
I ended up getting seats in the last row in the cheapest section (448-452) just to have no-one behind me. I'm happy.
But given it was a brand new stadium why would there be any obstructed seats?
Physics, engineering, and building code. You need railings. They had them at the old stadium too. And if you want an open concourse you have to rearrange and not have tunnels completely behind the seats. We had an honest rep, I do feel for people who didn't. The biggest concern will be ushers keeping people from loitering on them
A $2 billion stadium where some fans can’t see the field is actually an impressive commitment to authenticity.
The Bills have finally found a way to recreate the experience of watching an NFL game on Peacock when your internet cuts out.
We were shown two different sets of seats - one on the aisle in row six in 314, and one on the aisle in row two in 400s section directly above. Functionally, the aren't far apart and have the same sight line, and would both qualify as being the same sight line we had in the old stadium. But the 400s seats had the railing obstruction. Our rep explained it would be similar to the rendering in real life and that it was what happens when you set up the concourse the way it is. It was 2500 bucks cheaper than the 314 seats. We got the 314 set, because not having the railing was worth the extra money for us. I feel for those who did not have as honest of a rep as we did, it sucks.
I have sat in those railing seats in other stadiums, and honestly, your brain adjusts by half-way through the 2nd Quarter. We had a tiny bit of railing in the way in our old seats when sitting sown (aisle right at the tunnel) and after 13 years my brain didn't even register it anymore. My big concern is that there are ushers/security that keep people from standing there during games. They tried in the old stadium but they'll need to try harder for this.
It is beautiful in there. We stayed completely dry during the downpour. It's not gross waffle fries anymore. Sal lied about everyone having access to the charge bar. You can get well drinks! The one closest to us is rum. Yuck. There was a great breeze in the upper concourse and our section, but the little tags on the goal posts barely moved. The nickel city jerseys look better in person but you can't read names or numbers on them (I thought it was my new contacts, turns out they're just bad). Gatorades are 7.50, but they were still 6.50 in the old place. There are escalators! The up escalator near us broke.
The only real gripe I have is that there's not quite as much leg/aisle room as they presented at the Experience. Still better, but there's not quite as much room as in the fake seats we sat in. AND they added warm water in the bathroom, but with so many people running it it was scalding by 2/3 through the practice. I will actually call my rep about that because that could be a safety issue for kids. I understand the thought though, it was ice cold in the last one, even in December, but I'm also not going to brush it off. That's ok!
It doesn't feel like home yet, and it'll take awhile. I still miss my old seats! We haven't broke it in, we still don't know our preferred concessions and the best routes to get to places. But it is beautiful and 10 years ago we wouldn't have dreamed of this and you can really tell they tried, despite the physics of engineering requiring railings in specific places.
Thanks for your review and subscribing!
Great read! As a PSL holder in 147 I thought they pressured the shit out of us. We did a virtual call and were given a few options in that section to choose from. We wanted to move under cover and were told those were all we had to choose from and had to make the decision during that call. Money doesn’t come easy for most and to have to make a decision on $2500 seats in 30 minutes is ridiculous. I get it they are like car salesmen but Jesus Christ give me a minute.
Yeah, that’s annoying. No one wants to be rushed to pick something.
All great points, Joe.
Local sports media have always had strange task. Essentially they are covering entertainment with a civic component based on the fact so many tax dollars are involved. Add to that, I am guessing most Buffalo sports media have at least some hometown connection to Buffalo. So as a reporter, if you ask tough questions of ownership about the sightlines no doubt some knucklehead on twitter will call you disloyal for doing your job. So there is no winning in this situation if you are local media. You just have to ask the tough questions and let the chips fall.
“Those two thoughts can exist simultaneously.” 🙌
And I doubt anyone on the beat will seriously cover this story. Boyko has them on a TIGHT leash. They’ll lose their access. But I bet networks will put their investigative reporters on it to cover it while shielding their beat guys.
Definitely will happen with hopefully the local guys from the news departments. As for the local Bills beat who knows, they try to make it out. They’re just gonna cover the Bills team football. But I can recall when they were all covering the future of the team in 2014 and that was mostly through sourcing the Rogers peoplekke Russ Brandon and everyone in the business side so I think it’s really whatever is an easier story to tell versus access.
Tim for sure will. I think most are a little more hesitant to challenge the team now given all their success. Easier to take shots at a mid-drought era franchise
I definitely can see Tim Graham looking