As the Buffalo Bills played the Tennessee Titans on Sunday, the outline of the still forming $1.7 billion football stadium could be seen in the backdrop of the team’s current home, Highmark Stadium in Orchard Park. It should be a welcome sign for a Bills fan like me and in some ways it is.
After years of worrying about what might happen once the team lost one of its biggest Western New York advocates, former owner Ralph Wilson, the deal on the new stadium offered some sense of reassurance. While expensive for local and state taxpayers who are kicking in a combined $850 million, the new stadium at least came with a 30-year lease, what Erie County Executive Mark Poloncarz has called “ironclad.” It’s important to remember, however, the deal allows Bills ownership to relocate provided they agree to pay back the $850 million.
The cost drops annually following year 15. Yes, it’s a ton of money by anyone’s standards, but these are NFL standards we’re talking about here. I’m thinking about this because of the Oakland A’s.
Founded as the Philadelphia A’s back in 1901, the franchise is part of the original eight members of the American League. The A’s moved to Oakland and played there for 57 years. They’re headed to a stadium in Las Vegas next year.
For some, it’s akin to pulling the Yankees out of the Bronx or the Tigers out of Detroit. Once unthinkable due to the integrity of the game and the fanbase and the baseball history, the A’s, like the NFL Raiders .
