Longtime NFL Franchise Could Move Cities
Longtime NFL Franchise could move cities without a new stadium. The Buffalo Bills have been playing in upstate New York since 1960 and, hopefully, the longtime NFL franchise will remain there for decades to come.
A new stadium might be essential for that, however.
Talk of the Bills needing a new stadium to remain in Buffalo is growing heading into the 2019 regular season.
“The drums are getting louder, Buffalo. And the message from the league is clear: Pay for all or part of a new stadium, or else the Bills eventually will move,” ProFootballTalk tweeted.
NFL commissioner Roger Goodell spoke about the Bills future this weekend.
“I want to make sure this franchise remains competitive and stable,” he said at Jim Kelly’s golf tournament.
Matthew Fairburn tweeted, “Roger Goodell speaking at Jim Kelly’s golf tournament remains in the camp that a new stadium is essential to the stability of a franchise. On the Bills: “I want to make sure this franchise remains competitive and stable.”
The Bills currently play at New Era Field in Buffalo. There’s been talk of a new stadium for a while, and steps have been taken to build one, though it’s unclear how close it is to happening.
If a new stadium is built in Buffalo, it likely wouldn’t resemble the iconic stadiums built in Dallas or Los Angeles.
“I think the answer is probably a scaled-down version of some of these palaces that are being built around the country,” Buffalo Bills co-owner Terry Pegula told reporters earlier this year. “The thing (Rams owner) Stan (Kroenke) is building in L.A. is amazing, Jerry Jones’ facility in Dallas. So we need to do something that’s Buffalo style.”
The Bills have one of the most-passionate fan bases in all of sports and it would be a major blow to see them leave Buffalo. Hopefully, a new stadium happens soon.
