[quote=""Pounder""]
http://blogtown.portlandmercury.com/ima ... report.pdf
Now, frankly, I don't think much of the author of this piece. Furthermore, I'm betting to hear colorful words from Super Fan about the Buffalo councilman who offered that quote to Mr. Christensen. However, a fair amount of that research is pretty straightforward, even if Isotopes Stadium was listed as a suburban ballpark. Actually, if anyone else finds crap in that report, be sure to list it here. Please.
I also certainly have not come on here seeking to disparage Buffalo. I kind of expect the Buffalo fanboy to come out in those remarks, and we're not disappointed. The thing is, the year Pilot Field opened, it drew 15,000 a game, over a million for the season. I used it as an example of what Portland might do to accomodate the Beavers while hoping for the majors 7 years ago. I've only recently found out how paltry that effort was. Anyway, looking at the IL attendance this morning, Buffalo is drawing half the crowds of that first year. At some point, you have to think Buffalo has too much ballpark.
I also know the IL fares better than the PCL. I don't think MLB cares. Super Fan, MLB owners are many of the wealthiest of the wealthy. They fund a lot of congressional campaigns. I don't see reordering the minors as a major cause for government concern... especially with the way players are developed these days. More shortly. Even so, consider the possibility that the 3rd league (the short term issue IMO) doesn't require Buffalo moving west... except maybe the IL adds Omaha and Iowa. Charlotte and Durham and Gwinnett suggest a more southern strategy with the "Big 12" teams and New Orleans and Tennessee. Maybe Louisville joins them. Maybe Scranton moves south. There's several ways to do this.[/quote]
Pounder first off I didn't read the link I will when I get a chance. If you don't think New York State wouldn't have a problem with MLB shuting down Buffalo, Syracuse and Rochester IL baseball team now your just showing your pro MLS soccer views which is fine it is your opinion I respect everyones opinion on all these boards here and I love MLS soccer but I also love triple-a IL baseball and can switch hats meaning I look at both sides and love both sports. I love all sports not just IL or MLS. I will stick up for anything NLL, WTT, NASL, MISL, AHL, ECHL, PCL, UFL, AFL, IFL, PBL, D-League etc you get the idea pounder as long as it doesn't cost the city taxpayers that doesn't give a hoot about sports money.
That is where I have a problem with the Portland MLS thing. If there is no Portland taxpayer money and Paulson wants to sell the PCL team he can he is a business man and can do whatever he likes nothing can stop business. My problem is he getting taxpayer money on a iffy at best sport business investment MLS in rough economic times. Very few MLS teams turn a profit and most lose money right now in my opinion. Can that change someday maybe but maybe not too it could go either way in my opinion.
Are you as a taxpayer going to give Paulson more money in 5 years if he needs it if Timbers MLS fans didn't come out as expected like the Phoenix Coyotes of the NHL? Look what the Phoenix Coyotes want now to stay in Phoenix. I am saying I wouldn't be comfortable with that as a fan looking at it objectly even as a fan boy if you want to call me that fine. MLS doesn't have a high player payroll yet either like NFL where your state can recoup some of that money back though the taxes on the salaries of the players and team personal.
You want to talk Buffalo atleat we show up regular for the Buffalo Bisons IL and Bob Rich pays all the bills without asking for money from the taxpayers to fund the team. I don't have to worry about Bob Rich asking for money in five years in my opinion he takes care of it and we the fans go regular for being that care taker. Sports business is private in my opinion taxpayers shouldn't in my opinion be funding this stuff.
I as a sports fan will always say the city of Portland and Paulson didn't have to do what they did it was your owner and your cities political peoples decission. What is done is done but I am not going to justify it. Portland had two sports team and now they have one plus your using taxpayers money for the MLS one now instead of nothing to keep PCL and NASL.
Because there was very little thought of the Portland Beavers PCL baseball fans I will stick up for them. But in my opinion I think this more on Paulson your Timbers MLS owner of not wanting your market to have both MLS and PCL and he is using MLS as a skirt to hide behind so he doesn't come off as uncaring towards the Beavers PCL because after all he still has to market Timbers MLS tickets to some of those old Beavers PCL baseball fans why tick them off that is bad business so hide behind the MLS oh MLS wants soccer only no baseball. Arrangements could have been made for the Beavers PCL to stay until they get a new ballpark in my opinion this is Paulson's doing not MLS.
All MLS cares about in my opinion is the huge expansion franchise fee that Portland is paying. MLS will take most cities in my opinion. Buffalo private owner could go to MLS tomorrow with Ralph Wilson Stadium and say we want a team and will give the MLS $100 million dollars expansion fee guess what welcome to Buffalo MLS soccer that is my point. So the stadium arguement in my opinion is bogus with Portland. MLS is after expansion money they looked at Ottawa for sake of arguement that had a failed IL baseball team and had two failed CFL teams. The reason MLS looked at Ottawa was because the Ottawa Senators NHL owner had alot of money in my opinion. Like Buffalo Bisons IL owner Bob Rich or Buffalo Sabres NHL owner Tom Golisano have alot of money in my opinion.
At the end of the day no matter what you want to believe pounder the baseball fans of Portland got screwed in my opinion and so did the city of Portland taxpayers for Paulson MLS Portland Timbers. What is done is done but the IL no matter what you want to believe will continue well into the future just like MLS. Buffalo isn't getting kicked out of IL baseball there are tickets, beer and hotdogs to sell.
You have no information on what Bob Rich makes on the Buffalo Bisons IL neither do I because he doesn't open the books even to our elected officials so it is a mystery and just guessing in my opinion. Plus he is a private business man and doesn't have to because he runs the ball park private at no cost to the taxpayers of the city of Buffalo, county of Erie or the state of the New York.
So take that for what is worth it is just my opinion. But Bob Rich isn't hurting and he in my opinion would sue if MLB take away his income. I know how rich MLB owners are pounder but Bob Rich is a billionaire too. He sells Rich products all over the world including south america and china. I would put Bob Rich up against any MLB owner you want that not me being fan boy that is fact.
MLB actually liked Bob Rich that is why we made it to the round of 5 in 1993 NL expansion derby with a shrinking market Buffalo in my opinion. Look up Bob Rich then tell me MLB is taking away his business of baseball in Buffalo completely disagree and I think he would sue in my opinion even through that will never happen.
Bob Rich owns everything in the ballpark the food everything no one is taking a cut other then taxes federal and state and day to day business cost with running a IL team. Meaning there is no sportsservice for food he does his own food because he is in the food business so it is all in his pocket. There are no loans on the stadium the ballpark as far as I know is paid for now. He has total control of that park meaning no SMG or third party getting a cut for all events the money goes into Bob Rich's pocket.
Our city let the Buffalo Bisons IL run and take care of the ballpark in return the Buffalo Bisons keep all the money except taxes and business expenses of day to day with the club. The Buffalo Bisons are also opening up a conference center at the ballpark for Buffalo businesses that the Buffalo Bisons owner Bob Rich build with his own private money not a dime came from the tax payer tell me again why pounder you seem to think I am just fan boy and the Buffalo Bisons IL are hurting how?
Look online Bisons.com Buffalo Bisons PDC signing two more years with the New York Mets both parties are happy and the Buffalo Bisons publically said business is good. Pounder you must see something I don't see with the Buffalo Bisons? I am not trying to get this into a Buffalo IL versus Portland MLS just showing you the Buffalo Bison IL aren't some baseball team that is going away because MLB potentially says so that is competely bogus and call me fan boy I will tell you facts.
Also your forgetting something pounder the Coke Cola Field holds concerts and the Buffalo Wing Festival yearly the ballpark isn't too big we need the extra seats for the Rock/Country Music concerts held there. Better to big in my opinion then to small so we disagree there.
Paulson made that stuff up that he is selling your city that your ballpark is too big for PCL baseball for his own personal gain in my opinion. I think you pounder got the wool pulled over your eyes or I will call it the MLS/Paulson pulled over your eyes if you think size of a ballpark determines finacial success in my opinion. No money should go to Paulson a private business man in my opinion. If MLS is a good investment then he should pay for all of it not the taxpayer.
I am a sports fan yes but my being a sports fan shouldn't cost Jimmy and Martha down the street that don't like sports taxpayer money of theres. That has happen far to often in my opinion ask Phoenix's Glendale if there arena and NHL was a good investment for the taxpayers of Phoenix for that arena. Let's Go Buffalo