tom webster

I don’t know if it has. It would be nice if someone took all the subjectivity out of it and actually researched the numbers. It really shouldn’t be that hard to calculate the funds generated yearly minus the funds spent but these reports always seem to be written by someone trying to prove a point.

Disagree. As the salary cap has gone up, payroll taxes, real estate tax and spending by these guys have shortened gap. I’ve seen all the old studies, haven’t seen anything recent. I have stated, the return may not be great, but you have to put a value on the abstract gains as well. You want taxpayers to pay for things they don’t want, you have to give them some things they want as well.

I’m talking the payroll taxes and real estate taxes generated by players and executives with the team, hotel taxes, sales taxes on tickets, meals and merchandise purchased by fans, etc. It adds up and that doesn’t include the construction jobs and other things associated with the build.

While I would love a scenario where nobody subsidized stadiums anywhere, the math isn’t as bad as it used to be for these projects. While you may not get the economic development around the stadium that some studies project, the actual payroll taxes, real estate taxes generated by players and executives, sakes tax, etc, the return on investment isn’t horrible, especially when you add in quality of life benefits as well.

And I’ve said this before, franchise values are expected to skyrocket. If they decide to sell, it will be because someone has offered them a deal that reflects this.

The NBA has the same playoff probability and it’s been a long time since the NHL was rewarding 16 or 21 teams with a playoff berth. The results of the Pegula Sabres have been bad but not as historically bad as some believe.

Yes, but even though ownership rules have been greatly relaxed, there is still a minimum personal stake that even the NHL requires.

Two things about Jemal. 1) His fraud conviction was relatively minor in the realm of corporate money comingling 3) He doesn’t have anywhere near the personal wealth to pull this off. Like someone else alluded to, he is like Hamister in that he uses other people’s money rather creatively which kinda caused number 1.

At least 2 of them were first overall.

That was before the Vanek offer sheet. Am I missing something?

Exactly what Finals was that?

I really don’t want to drudge up old news but as poorly as LQ and TG handled this, they still had a chance to sign both before the draft and acquire another star player but DR talked them out of the trade scenario and they ended up waiting two days before the start of free agency before even approaching Briere and that was only after they realized that Drury might bolt.

That’s an awful deal for Arizona.

A lot of assumptions being bandied about. I will just throw out a few thoughts; 1) There is definitely interest in buying, and, maybe for the first time, interest in selling at least part 2) There are, people with money, who don’t view Buffalo as an undervalued franchise. I know at least one Canadian businessman who thinks that an American franchise drawing from Canada is worth more than a Canadian franchise drawing from WNY with one exception, a second Toronto franchise which he believes is fantasyland. 3) There are Americans with money who see WNY as the next big boom area, see Douglas Jemel, for an example 4) The NHL has to approve new ownership and can insist on new ownership remain committed to WNY. 5) The St. Louis lawsuit may have changed the perception that municipalities don’t have leverage when it comes to a business that insist on public funds but believes those funds don’t have strings attached

According to Wikipedia (I know) Bandits are 4th in league averaging over 7K. No one is over 9K.

I’m guessing not as long as it will take some fans to learn not to judge a draft choice before he fully develops.

I find the conflicting messages coming out of Vegas interesting. The owner seems to be pushing sooner while the front office is indicating it’s still likely not to happen till March, even acknowledging that since no hockey player had the procedure, they really weren’t sure. The operation was certainly a success from a quality of life perspective but that’s still a ways from being deemed a success from a “ready to play hockey” perspective.

The Sabres are willing to retain half of Miller’s contract in return for a 1st.

Oh I agree that there will opportunities and I’m not convinced that the Sabres won’t pounce. I said before, I can see them using the offer sheet once they are convinced that they have built up sufficient depth and are ready to add pieces.

I’m pretty sure no matter what, the cap will stay flat for at least two more years before a pretty significant escalation

It wouldn’t have been that razor thin if he slides at ten yards and hands the ref the ball as every offensive player should be aware to do. Like I said before, I’m not defending McCarthy, I believe he’s a buffoon, but it could have worked if properly executed.

I heard at least two “front office” people say it’s a ten yard play and that’s as vital of factor as actual time. Again, I completely understand the opposite take but clearly no one can deny if he slides five yards earlier he has time to spike it. As it was, the clock only expired as the snap happened.

Fair enough, but I was at game 1. If memory serves, my dinner was comped because of poor service and then Detroit humiliated the Sabres. No refund.

The point being that, by the logic of original post, 17/18 players on that original team didn’t deserve the jersey either.

No doubt McCarthy is a buffoon and I know I’m in the minority but I don’t think it’s a horrible call. If Dak slides five yards sooner they are at the 25 yard line with a chance to win and everyone is talking about how SF’s defense let them get that close, that easily.