Tag: New Era Field

Josh Allen approves of Barstool Sports taking Bills Stadium naming rights

Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen, Barstool Sports interview about the team’s naming rights with Tre’Davious White.

While seemingly an unlikely… heck, a very unlikely thing to happen, we know at least one individual who resides in western New York that approves of Barstool Sports buying the naming rights to Bills Stadium.

The face of the team, quarterback Josh Allen.

On Friday, Allen and cornerback Tre’Davious White appeared on one of the outlet’s podcasts, Pardon My Take, and the discussion briefly shifted toward the team’s venue and it’s nameless identity. As the story goes, the Bills and former naming rights holder, New Era cap company, had a mutual split earlier this offseason.

Taking the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic’s impact on the country’s economy into consideration, it’s easy to see why the organization did not sell the naming rights post-New Era just yet. In 2021, there will probably be plenty of more suitable bidders.

However, one had popped up, Barstool Sports. The company’s CEO Dave Portnoy made his intentions known via social media.

Allen has frequented the show numerous times in his NFL career for interviews, even prior to even joining the Bills. During the brief mention of Bills Stadium, Allen backed a stadium name reflecting the sports outlet.

“I’m all in on that, by that way,” Allen said. “All in on the Barstool (naming rights)… Barstool Stadium.”

Realistically most know that’s not going to happen, and Allen probably does, too. But of the two Bills players on the podcast, we had differing views.

“Hell naw,” White interjected while Allen backed the Barstool name.

And perhaps one could guess why White wouldn’t be in favor…

“Tre White goalie academy,” is the name he then suggested.

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LOOK: New Era Field to Bills Stadium makeover continues

Buffalo Bills Stadium name change from New Era Field continues.

The venue formerly known as New Era Field is nearing its completion as Bills Stadium.

The home of the Buffalo Bills in Orchard Park had that name changed earlier this offseason after the team and New Era cap company mutually agreed to the switch. Last week we saw the New Era Field signage start to come down from the sides of the building.

Now Bills Stadium is finally being put up. While the name won’t stay former, that’s what it is for now.

Check out the new look here below:

Photo credit: Top two photos via the Buffalo Bills on Twitter… Bottom photo via WGR-550’s Sal Capaccio on Twitter

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WATCH: New Era Field signage comes down from Bills stadium

Signs of New Era Field being taken down from Buffalo Bills stadium.

Bills Stadium is no longer actually just for this headline. The Bills announced recently that the team will play in their venue recently named… Bills Stadium, in 2020.

After a mutual agreement between New Era hat company and the team to remove the name from the house previously known as “New Era Field,” that name actually, literally, needed to be removed. On Wednesday, those efforts evidently began.

Here’s a look at the signage being taken down from the stadium via Spectrum News:

When announcing the new name of “Bills Stadium,” the team also commented that the organization will continue to search for a new sponsor in the future. Stadium naming rights are an effective way for team’s to generate revenues pretty easily, but during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, it might be hard to find a potential suitor for the team. Waiting… makes sense.

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Barstool Sports Stadium? Company will ‘enter process’ for Bills naming rights

Barstool Sports founder Dave Portnoy says the company will ‘enter the process’ for naming right of Buffalo Bills stadium.

On Thursday, the Buffalo Bills announced that they have a new name for their stadium after jointly agreeing with New Era to remove their name from it earlier the offseason. The new name is, albeit, a temporary one.

That name? Bills Stadium.

An easy way for clubs to make a buck is off naming rights in the NFL. Sell them to a company, perhaps not New Era, and that’s a few million in your pocket.

But going the route of Bills Stadium makes it appear that the club did not receive any realistic bids for it at this time. New Era and the Bills had their split back in July. Makes sense considering the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has caused an economic down turn. However, it appears there might have been one bid that’s at least en route.

Barstool Sports founder Dave Portnoy said via his social media account that his company plans to make a bid for the naming right on the Bills stadium:

Barstool Sports and Portnoy, specifically, has had a grudge with the NFL for several years. The outlet’s most-popular podcast, Pardon My Take, does often interact with the league’s players and employees. They’ve had Bills quarterback Josh Allen and even general manager Brandon Beane on for interviews.

But the show, along with Portnoy, have attempted to sneak into league events, such as the Super Bowl and Scouting Combine in that past and are kicked out by security. The feud runs even deeper than that, so it remains to be seen if there’s an actual attempt by Barstool Sports at any sort of naming rights.

Not a bad play though, some free publicity, at minimum, with a social media message via a mentioned bid for the naming rights as Portnoy likely knows would not be accepted due to NFL commissioner Roger Goodell’s personal stance against the blog/ company.

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Bills announce temporary stadium name

The home of the Buffalo Bills has a new name.

The Buffalo Bills’ home has a new name… sort of.

After deciding to part ways with New Era and the stadium’s old name, New Era Field, the Bills have picked a new name for that field in Orchard Park…

…Bills Stadium.

Naturally, it’s only temporary, though. The organization released a statement on the “new” name for the stadium, but indicated that the process is not over:

“As we continue the transition process from New Era Field to a new naming rights partner, we will officially use the name Bills Stadium for our home in Orchard Park.”

In July, both the Bills and New Era released a joint statement confirming the change in the name of the venue. The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has impacted New Era and the company has had to trim back. The current name of the stadium was to remain until 2022.

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PODCAST: What should the Bills name their stadium?

Kyle Silagyi is joined by Justin Diloro and Travis McDonald to look at 32 potential names for the Buffalo Bills’ stadium.

A Western New York institution is in search of a new name.

The Buffalo Bills and New Era Cap Company announced last week a joint decision to prematurely end their stadium naming rights agreement, leaving the Bills’ home field without a corporate sponsor for the first time since 2016.

After the news broke, what the team will ultimately decide to name the stadium became a hot topic of discussion. On this episode of The Kyle Silagyi Variety Hour, host Kyle Silagyi is joined by BillsWire staff writer Justin DiLoro and friend of the show Travis McDonald to look at 32 potential names for the stadium and determine which option is best.

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No cap: Bills to re-name stadium, jointly split with New Era

Buffalo Bills, New Era Cap Company agree to joint split on naming rights for team’s stadium.

The Buffalo Bills announced on Wednesday that they’ve had a split with New Era Cap Company and the two sides are jointly cutting ties in regard to the naming rights of the team’s stadium in Orchard Park.

The Bills released a statement on the issue:

“The Buffalo Bills and New Era Cap Company jointly announce that New Era has asked to be released from their naming rights and sponsorship deals with the Bills. The Bills and New Era are currently negotiating the details of this separation and the Bills are beginning the process of pursuing a new naming rights partner for the stadium.”

Previously the stadium was named Ralph Wilson Stadium after the club’s initial owner, Ralph Wilson Jr. That name held the rights to the home of the Bills from 1998 until 2015. Because of this, many in Bills Mafia still referred to the venue as “The Ralph.” Prior to Ralph Wilson Stadium, Rich Products owned the naming right for the facility for a period of 25 years until 1998, leading to the first name of the facility: Rich Stadium.

New Era Cap bought the naming rights to the approximately 71K seat stadium via a seven-year deal worth near $30 million in August 2016. The team has not yet announced the next name for the stadium.

New Era bases their headquarters in downtown Buffalo. But due to the COVID-19 pandemic, laid off 187 employees, 117 of whom worked at its Buffalo location. New Era received a federal Paycheck Protection Program loan of between $5 million and $10 million during the pandemic as well.

 

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Bills rookie Isaiah Hodgins looks excited to arrive in Buffalo (video)

Buffalo Bills rookie wide receiver Isaiah Hodgins arrives in Buffalo.

At least one Buffalo Bills player is already in Orchard Park ahead of the start of the team’s upcoming training camp at the end of the month. That guy is rookie wide receiver Isaiah Hodgins.

Hodgins, a sixth-round pick of the Bills at the recent draft, took to his social media account via Instagram on Tuesday. The videos the 6-foot-4 receiver posted were simple, but got the point across.

In those back-to-back flicks, Hodgins shared his location, which was “Buffalo, NY” and then also showed a quick video of him driving down Abbott Road next to the stadium. He also has some emoji smile faces in this video. Needless to say, he can’t wait for his first, true game day experience in western New York.

Check out the quick video via Bills Wire’s Bradley Gelber below:

 

 

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Bills’ New Era Field ranked in bottom-half of NFL stadiums

New Era Field, home of the Buffalo Bills, in bottom-half of The Athletic’s NFL stadium rankings.

New Era Field, the Ralph, Rich Stadium, whichever you prefer, has long been the sacred ground for Bills Mafia.

Few fans of the Buffalo Bills would ever call it anything but the best game-day experience in NFL. Sure, most can recognize it’s not a modern-day mammoth of a stadium, but there’s something about it. The tailgating, the energy, it’s hard to replicate.

But apparently such circumstances were not held in very high-regard by some writers at The Athletic. Ranking NFL stadiums from first-to-worst overall, the Bills landed at No. 24 overall out of the current 31 venues in the league.

Perhaps the halftime spread of food or post-game chicken wings weren’t up to spat for these folks, but maybe we can level in one way with this crew: It’s hard to get the full experience in a press box. What brings Bills Mafia together? The tailgate outside the game, plus the unrelenting love for their team. Won’t be finding those things when your No.1 concern is (understandably) a deadline.

Despite some older and similar homes such as the Packers’ Lambeau Field and the Chiefs’ Arrowhead Stadium finishing at fourth and fifth, respectively, the Bills’ home didn’t receive the same love. Overall, the Vikings’ home, U.S. Bank Stadium, edged out the Seahawks’ CenturyLink Field for the top spot.

 

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Report: Bills working on plans for reduced fans at home games

Buffalo Bills prepping for smaller seating capacities at New Era Field.

Things are currently status quo in terms of the start to the upcoming 2020 season, despite the ongoing coronavirus pandemic sending a curveball toward every NFL team currently. But according to the Buffalo News, the Bills are one NFL team prepping some just-in-case plans.

Reportedly the team is preparing some seating scenarios for fans in the stadium. One, of course, is full capacity. But the Bills are drawing up seating sections which only includes 15 percent, 33 percent and 50 percent of capacity at New Era Field.

Per the report, the Bills did not comment on this because the NFL is stedfast in their mindset that the league’s season will begin, as planned, with fans, in September. Full capacity in Orchard Park means 73,079 fans in seats. 15 percent means approximately 11,000 fans, while 33 percent works out to near 24,000.

The NFL already cancelled minicamps this offseason, and we’re waiting to see if training camp, slated to begin at the end of July, will go on as planned. If they do, it’s said that social distancing and other precautions will be taken in order to do so. Reportedly discussions of cancelling some preseason games has already been discussed as well.

 

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