Bills should pay their own way

By Anthony Bialy  |   Monday, January 19, 2009  |  Comments( 57 )

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Buffalo Bills fans who reside in the area will pay for the squad to play at home next season. And non-fans will, too. With reports coming to the public’s attention that Erie County will once again provide the team with over $7 million next season for things like sheriff-provided security, operating expenses, and stadium improvements, even those who love the Bills should warily long for it to become self-sustaining. Ending the Bills’ subsidy, part of the lease that expires after 2012, will help the area, which in turn will help the Bills.

The Bills should be able to cobble together enough to pay for their own place. Something’s wrong when a private business, no matter how popular, gets propped up by everyone, and it’s in fact worse when an overwhelmingly popular concern can’t cover its own expenses and instead remains on the county payroll. Welfare isn’t for people who are working.

Besides, the franchise could charge more to get in the building. Without the county’s money, the team would be justified in accordingly raising ticket prices higher than the typical yearly increase; that way, people who actually patronize games would be covering the cost of security at same games.

This team is known for its relatively low ticket prices, and they could justifiably start to climb the ladder: If there was a lower levy burden in the team’s home county, there would be more money in individuals’ pockets for, say, admission, parking, and concessions.

The quasi-depression we’re suffering has created the perfect economic climate in which to make the argument that the Bills should be buying their own stuff. The other option, namely taking money from taxpayers to give to a football team that some taxpayers watch, is the one being currently pursued, and yet nobody can figure why Buffalo remains a small-market team. Busily meddling governments keep the have-nots from ever having.

Unfortunately, it would take politicians willing to maintain that not subsidizing the Bills is a stance worth taking for change to occur. But there must be leaders who will make the argument that not collecting the money in the first place would benefit not only the area but the team long term. Let people spend their own money on the things they want, including their beloved football, instead of taking it from everyone to allegedly benefit everyone.

Such collectivist thinking should have fallen along with the Berlin Wall; following the other path, namely by letting citizens keep more of what they make, would help the Bills even if they grumble about it mercilessly. Everyone recognizes that the Bills dominate Western New York’s landscape, but their unique position as the top attraction means that they shouldn’t need to demand cash from the county.

And there’s more money for this team to uncover: If Ralph Wilson wants to find the money to pay for things such as Ralph Wilson Stadium’s upgrades, he can start by selling the venue’s naming rights. While he’ll no longer get the ego boost from seeing his name on the building, he’ll get the ego boost of knowing how much auctioning off his name generated. That, and the millions of dollars he’ll get, should provide him with some comfort.
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About Anthony Bialy

I'm just here to submit columns.
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CommentsComments: 57  |  Sign Up  View all comments
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No.1
ddd		10:37 AM
01/19/2009
Like McGahee or not that was a viscious hit he absorbed against the Steelers. Seeining him involuntarily flex his arms reminded...
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No.2
flda-dennis		10:38 AM
01/19/2009
Baily, where you been boy, the whole country is "propped up" by you & me & everyone else and its going to get alot worse before...
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No.3
ddd		11:26 AM
01/19/2009
And one more thing. Phil Simms is the most annoying over-rated football broadcaster EVER. Dennis Miller gets a pass because he...
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