What if it doesn't work? Not saying I want or expect it to at this point, but if they have to rebuild again after this what happens?

Now they have a 1 1/2 year plan that fans have started to accept, but they are still hesitant to show up in person. If they fail again what happens?
- washedup20

Tank harder.

Ian Rapoport
@RapSheet
· 2m
The #Bills will match the RFA offer sheet for OT Ryan Bates, per GM Brandon Beane. It’s a 4-year deal for Bates.
- Stripes77

Wow
That’s great!
Idk how we keep coming up with $$$

Bill's resigned Ike Boettiger to 1yr deal

Then it is up to the Sabres Marketing Team (if they even have one left at this point) to make it so people want to come to games.

The Orlando Magic down here come to mind, with a young team they were around 93% full. Gotta find a way to get people in the seats.

The border being open should help for next year as at the start of the year it wasn't so a lot of the season ticket holders from Ontario didn't renew their tickets for this season with a lot of the unknown.
- Stripes77

I think you're going to see a repeat of the early 2000s. Attendance is going to be low early in the year, especially during football season. After the Bills are done, hopefully not until mid-February, fans will migrate to the Sabres again especially if they're still playing something resembling meaningful games by then.

Tank harder.
- QuinnFan

Lol

I think you're going to see a repeat of the early 2000s. Attendance is going to be low early in the year, especially during football season. After the Bills are done, hopefully not until mid-February, teams will migrate to the Sabres again especially if they're still playing something resembling meaningful games by then.
- buffalofan19

What does it cost these days to sit in the cheap seats for a Bills game?

What does it cost these days to sit in the cheap seats for a Bills game?
- Atomic Wedgie

Depends on the game. Even this year, cheap seats were going below face value in December for Carolina, Atlanta, and Jets games.

It will be interesting to see what the schedule looks like this year.

Just about every home game has "national TV" potential with the exception of the Jets.

I think you're going to see a repeat of the early 2000s. Attendance is going to be low early in the year, especially during football season. After the Bills are done, hopefully not until mid-February, fans will migrate to the Sabres again especially if they're still playing something resembling meaningful games by then.
- buffalofan19

I think the first few games you'll see some higher numbers but then it will come back down to the 13-14K range.

But if they keep winning you should see an uptick. Part of the reason is this team has been so bad for so long fans couldn't take it anymore.

We will see what happens in the offseason, that could change attendance as well

Depends on the game. Even this year, cheap seats were going below face value in December for Carolina, Atlanta, and Jets games.
- buffalofan19

Forgive me, it's been over a decade since I got to a Bills game (damn kids) - what's face value these days?

I think the first few games you'll see some higher numbers but then it will come back down to the 13-14K range.

But if they keep winning you should see an uptick. Part of the reason is this team has been so bad for so long fans couldn't take it anymore.

We will see what happens in the offseason, that could change attendance as well
- Stripes77

Man if they start making it to the playoffs, that place will rock again.

Forgive me, it's been over a decade since I got to a Bills game (damn kids) - what's face value these days?
- Atomic Wedgie

That's a good question. I haven't bought a ticket from the box office in well over a decade.

BTW, 4 points behind Detroit now. Track 'em down!

Man if they start making it to the playoffs, that place will rock again.
- Buff36

Relatively. That place never "rocked." Me and David Belavia had an interesting convo about the Key Bank Center after Kathy Hochul's presser. He thinks the Sabres have a new building coming too. It was out of date in 1996.

I think the first few games you'll see some higher numbers but then it will come back down to the 13-14K range.

But if they keep winning you should see an uptick. Part of the reason is this team has been so bad for so long fans couldn't take it anymore.

We will see what happens in the offseason, that could change attendance as well
- Stripes77

Yeah, I don't think you will be seeing sub-10k attendance anymore. As you said, the border alone should help that out. Hopefully by the fall, the testing requirement should be lifted as well. But, then again, this is Canada we're talking about, so who knows?

by backreading I learned we matched the bears on bates, and signed Ike for 1 more year


and read (red) a lot of stuff that I feel shame for reading, again

they could pull an Arizona and play a season in Rochester or at UB
- SabresFaninIndiana

Harbor center?

Harbor center?
- Boss34

1800 hockey seating there

Harbor center?
- Boss34

No way they would allow an arena with that low of a capacity. It's either Rochester or further.

1800 hockey seating there
- Stripes77

All outdoor season. Highmark Stadium.

Ian Rapoport
@RapSheet
· 2m
The #Bills will match the RFA offer sheet for OT Ryan Bates, per GM Brandon Beane. It’s a 4-year deal for Bates.
- Stripes77

Good teams don’t let good players leave.

All outdoor season. Highmark Stadium.
- buffalofan19

Honestly Sahlen Field would probably work well but I don't think the PA would go for it

Good teams don’t let good players leave.
- homiedclown

4 year $17.8 million total 8.8 guaranteed

That's a good deal all around IMO

He's not, you're trying to bait him

Move on
- Stripes77

Bad call ref, hope the trailing offical was paying attention ☝️

Honestly Sahlen Field would probably work well but I don't think the PA would go for it
- Hank Balling

I wonder if you could put a temporary clear roof over the rink to make it work.

1800 hockey seating there
- Stripes77

Thats about what they are getting in attendance right now anyway.