Buffalo Bills plan to submit bid to host 2028 NFL draft at new stadium

[Ann]

Not a surprise, but I  hope they get it!


 

Recognizing the financial impact for the community and wanting to host a high-profile event at their new venue, the Buffalo Bills plan on bidding for the 2028 NFL draft, Pete Guelli, the team’s executive vice president and chief operating officer told The Buffalo News.

 

“We’ve seen the success and growth of the draft in other markets,” Guelli said. The draft “is the kind of opportunities we’re going to pursue as an organization, and we think the city of Buffalo would be absolutely perfect for this type of event.”

 

</snip>

 

The Bills expect the league to send out an “expression of interest” memorandum this summer to start the process. The three most recent draft sites – Detroit, Green Bay and Pittsburgh – were awarded the event about two years in advance.

 

“Our plan would be to express interest, and it’s competitive – there are no guarantees it will work out, but we want to go down that road,” said Guelli, who was hired as the Bills/Buffalo Sabres COO on March 19.

 

</snip>

 

“The league is always trying to create platforms and turn (the sport) into a 365-day-a-year product, and they’ve turned the draft into something none of us could have anticipated,” Guelli said. “As soon as you saw how that model performed, it became pretty clear it was something they wanted to emulate in other areas.”

 

</snip>

[Spartacus]

2 hours ago, Ann said:

Not a surprise, but I  hope they get it!


 

Recognizing the financial impact for the community and wanting to host a high-profile event at their new venue, the Buffalo Bills plan on bidding for the 2028 NFL draft, Pete Guelli, the team’s executive vice president and chief operating officer told The Buffalo News.

 

“We’ve seen the success and growth of the draft in other markets,” Guelli said. The draft “is the kind of opportunities we’re going to pursue as an organization, and we think the city of Buffalo would be absolutely perfect for this type of event.”

 

</snip>

 

The Bills expect the league to send out an “expression of interest” memorandum this summer to start the process. The three most recent draft sites – Detroit, Green Bay and Pittsburgh – were awarded the event about two years in advance.

 

“Our plan would be to express interest, and it’s competitive – there are no guarantees it will work out, but we want to go down that road,” said Guelli, who was hired as the Bills/Buffalo Sabres COO on March 19.

 

</snip>

 

“The league is always trying to create platforms and turn (the sport) into a 365-day-a-year product, and they’ve turned the draft into something none of us could have anticipated,” Guelli said. “As soon as you saw how that model performed, it became pretty clear it was something they wanted to emulate in other areas.”

 

</snip>

It's in the bag.

just as soon as they get all of those restaurants, bars and hotels built around the area where the draft is to be staged. 

 

The league is looking for participation numbers in excess of 200k / day

 

[Taro T]

4 minutes ago, Spartacus said:

It's in the bag.

just as soon as they get all of those restaurants, bars and hotels built around the area where the draft is to be staged. 

 

The league is looking for participation numbers in excess of 200k / day

 

 

And by 2028, the old stadium will be gone and there'll be room to crowd 60k+ in the new stadium and another 140k+ around it.

[Ann]

 

[mead107]

$10,000 to get inside the stadium and $2,000 to be outside the stadium. 😂😎

[Ann]

1 hour ago, mead107 said:

$10,000 to get inside the stadium and $2,000 to be outside the stadium. 😂😎

Gonna be interesting. Is it a big old tailgate? Food trucks? Or, will there be enough food inside? 

[Crap Throwing Clavin]

NFL Draft is reminding me of the Oscars recently.  A great big overproduced spectacle that celebrates people celebrating themselves, and has moved so far away from its purpose that it's basically unwatchable.

 

Then one year, there was no gala, and the Oscars ceremony was just about the films and actors.  And it ended up being watchable.  

 

NFL, don't be the 2023 Oscars.  Be the 2019 Oscars.

[mead107]

1 hour ago, Ann said:

Gonna be interesting. Is it a big old tailgate? Food trucks? Or, will there be enough food inside? 

Will be very interesting. 
I will not go. 
 

[devnull]

10 hours ago, Crap Throwing Clavin said:

NFL Draft is reminding me of the Oscars recently.  A great big overproduced spectacle that celebrates people celebrating themselves, and has moved so far away from its purpose that it's basically unwatchable.

 

Been that way for years, and you're just now noticing?

[Ann]

I love the Buffalo area. 

[Alaska Darin]

2 hours ago, Ann said:

I love the Buffalo area. 

I got quite a kick outta some of the hot takes on Twitter yesterday.  My favorite was some dude who said something along the lines of "Buffalo hosting the draft will be the ultimate embarrassment to the region".

 

Dude...have you been to Detroit?  The vast majority of the city looks like friggin' Beirut.