- 17 hours ago
Category
🥇
SportsTranscript
00:00I'm glad that we get to spend some time together today because I hope it's not too embarrassing that I
00:07texted you a couple of questions that I've been seeing referenced on social media, both Twitter and Facebook.
00:17When I say social media, it really means Twitter mostly, but I know it's X now and I still feel
00:22weird calling it Twitter or X and I just call it social media, but it's really Twitter and Facebook.
00:26I've never really figured out how to use Instagram effectively.
00:29I mean, I know a lot of people love it.
00:31Anyway, I've seen a lot of Twitter and some Facebook.
00:34There's some sort of uniform thing out there that I don't think I really want to get into because we
00:38don't really know what's happening there.
00:41But because I've been sort of wondering what's happening with that, I'm skeptical about everything.
00:47And I saw a lot of posts over the holiday weekend about a second open practice being added because I
00:54do know that there has been,
00:56somewhat of an uproar from Bills fans, specifically, I would say Bills fans who don't have PSLs and thus season
01:05tickets in the new stadium.
01:07When it was announced that they would have the annual blue and red scrimmage, it was, I think eventually it
01:14became known or maybe it was known right away.
01:16I don't remember, but once people realized, like, wait, I can't just walk into the stadium for that blue and
01:22red practice like I always have.
01:24I'm sort of shut out unless I have a PSL.
01:28So, you know, some fans that maybe that's their only exposure for them and their kids to the Bills, much
01:34like training camp can be kind of flipped out.
01:37And so now there is a second practice added.
01:40And now the people with PSLs are mad.
01:42Like, what's, what, what, what, help me make heads or tails of this.
01:45Yeah, I think that that's a good way to summarize it.
01:48So we knew the return of the blue and red would happen and they do call it a scrimmage.
01:52It is more of an open practice with some maybe live periods of it.
01:56It's not really a scrimmage. Some, it used to be an offense, defense thing.
01:59However, they want to do it is fine. It's an open practice, blue and red.
02:02And for years at the former stadium, it was, Hey, it's open to the public.
02:07You might need a ticket, but you gotta, you gotta get a ticket.
02:10And then once you get in, it's general admission, you could sit where, where you want.
02:13It's a great day to bring a lot of the kids.
02:15It was been, it's been daytime. It's been nighttime.
02:17It's been a really great event.
02:18Well, this year we knew that the new stadium was going to be opening during this particular time period.
02:24And they made it on August 8th.
02:27It came out now, Ryan Talbot of Syracuse.com, Matt Perino's partner in, you know, when they come to the
02:33team over there.
02:34Right. Yeah.
02:34Yeah. Shop podcast.
02:36He was the one that put out an article from an email that he had seen from someone about this
02:42particular practice this year being a PSL holder event first, meaning PSL holders, season ticket holders will have the right
02:51to buy a ticket before anybody else.
02:53Now, I've not seen this officially come out from the team yet in this capacity, but this has been the
02:58talk.
02:58And apparently that is the case.
02:59And we know that because the team has talked about it, but I haven't seen the official kind of documentation
03:03on it.
03:03Right. So either way, it's going to happen.
03:06When that became public, there was a pretty big uproar from people who are not PSL holders, who are not
03:14season ticket holders saying, wait a minute, you're pricing us out of this as well.
03:17This is my one chance to take my family, take my kids.
03:19I can't afford PSLs.
03:21I can't afford season tickets.
03:22I, this is what the one time this is ridiculous, but the people owning PSLs are like, wait a minute,
03:27I paid a lot of money to have the ability to go to these events inside this stadium.
03:33This is the first event inside that stadium.
03:35Of course I should have the right.
03:37Right. I don't want somebody who didn't do what I did and make the financial commitment, whether they're able to
03:41or not.
03:42I mean, I was able to, so I've made a commitment.
03:44I don't want some guy sitting in my seat.
03:48I bought a PSL my first chance in there.
03:50I want to see, I want to see what it feels like to sit in my new seat.
03:54Right.
03:55Yeah. And, and I'll say this from our standpoint and full disclosure, we are PSL holders here in our family.
04:01And so I think, you know, I can speak on this from both somebody who covers the team and someone
04:06holding a PSL and the issue actually, Yana said to me a while back was look like, it's not about
04:13the people getting the PSL, you know, first for her, the general admission part of it was what mattered, which
04:19is she wants to sit in her seat and say, I want to know where I'm sitting.
04:22I've never been there. Right. I want to know where the concession stand is.
04:25I want to know where to send Max to go to the bathroom, you know, something like that.
04:28I think it's a valid point that you get your seat for this.
04:31You paid. It's also, it is the first event inside the stadium.
04:35If you paid for a PSL, I think there is some sort of, you know, Hey, you have the right
04:40to be able to do that.
04:41So that happened. People were mad over the weekend.
04:45Lance Lysowski of the Buffalo news was first to have an article and reporting this.
04:50And he had an interview with Pete Gwelly saying Pete and the bills saw the reaction about what we just
04:59talked about.
05:00He spoke with Joe Brady. They said, let's figure out something.
05:03Maybe we can get other people to experience this stadium.
05:06And Joe Brady came up with the idea of let's have another open practice.
05:09We'll do it on August 18th, which is basically the day before the bills go to Cleveland for a joint
05:13practice with the Browns.
05:14So they're adding an open practice. And in this one, it is not going to go to PSL holders first.
05:20It is basically going to be treated from my understanding from this article, the way that all these other events,
05:26you know, red and blue and open practices.
05:28Go get a ticket at some, some advertiser partner or whatever sponsor.
05:32Correct. And yeah. Right. Okay.
05:34So, so I saw this and I tweeted it. I tagged Lance and said, you know, gave him credit for
05:38it.
05:38And I wrote an article about it. I was personally not expecting the response I got on social media, which
05:45was there are a lot of PSL holders now who are upset about this and saying, wait a minute, it's
05:51another event in the stadium.
05:51I paid for every event in the stadium. That's what my PSL gives me, which by the way, it doesn't
05:56actually, there are, there is, you know, there are different things inside the contract there that it's not every single
06:01event, but that's getting into the weeds a little bit.
06:02But the overall point is that they're upset about this and there are some who aren't upset. I'm not like,
06:08I, I think going to the first event is cool.
06:10And I think my wife and son having a chance to kind of know where they're sitting, know the layout
06:14of the land, all that kind of stuff is great.
06:17After that, I don't care if, I don't care if someone goes sits in my seat for an open practice
06:21personally, like go, I think I want everybody to enjoy this stadium, but there are PSL holders who are upset
06:28that the second one was added and they are not getting their first right.
06:31Because they paid for that, the way that they look at it.
06:34Yeah. Well, I, I, I can appreciate the PSL holders viewpoint there and certainly the commitment.
06:43I mean, you, you can speak to it firsthand. I mean, it's, it's a commitment, uh, whatever level you, you,
06:49you choose to do that at.
06:50Um, but in a way, Sal, I think because of the, the public stake in the construction, the public cost,
06:58the taxpayer money to an extent,
07:01I mean, I want to be exactly this guy, but I do want to be heard at least saying one
07:05time, maybe 20 times we're all paying for the stadium.
07:09I mean, it's, it's taxed public money. So yes, I am not a PSL holder. And so I am not
07:16on the hook for thousands of dollars for that.
07:19And, you know, I, I can see the point, but you're, you're being given the opportunity to go the, the,
07:27for the very first event and experience all of that in, I don't want to say it's exclusive.
07:32I, I, but it is too, it's, it's closed. It's only open to people who, who made that leap and
07:38paid that money.
07:39So you're, you're getting taken care of. I think it's not like you're getting skipped over.
07:45It's an opportunity to let the general public, the taxpayer that can't afford the PSL also enjoy the stadium.
07:52And I think that that makes a ton of sense. I don't know if the bills felt like they were
07:58surprised by the backlash initially and had to pivot to this or whether they had it maybe in the back
08:03of their minds all along.
08:04But however they got there, I think they got to the correct solution. Um, agreed. I, I, I just, I,
08:12I have a, I'd have a hard time with somebody who's going to have access for that first event saying
08:17you didn't pay $20,000.
08:19So you shouldn't get to come and sit in the stadium this one time. Like, I mean, dude, back off.
08:26Like you're going to get your time and this is for everyone else.
08:31And I think given how costly it has been, um, and I, I, you know, I don't assume either that,
08:39that everyone who could afford these things did it lightly.
08:42They probably had to carve away vacations or, you know, other things, other things that you might consider luxury items
08:48from your life because you wanted to choose to invest in, you know, this going to the games.
08:54It means a lot to you. Um, I, I just, I have, I have, I'm going to have a hard
09:00time having sympathy for someone who gets to go to basically a closed event.
09:06I mean, it's only for PSL. So, you know, it's, it's, you can't just walk in there and then still
09:13be mad that there's an event a week later or 10 days later.
09:15I just, I, I can't really respect that. It feels to me like almost like being mad for the sake
09:22of being mad to be quite honest with you.
09:23Right. Right. And, and kind of a little bit, a little gluttonous, I think maybe.
09:27Yeah. There's, I think like, I just think there's already too much of in this world of, well, you're, you're
09:34down there. I'm here. I paid for something. I got something.
09:36I don't want you to have any ability to have that. I think there's already a little too much of
09:40that.
09:40I, I, I would, I want everybody to share it. I I've been to this stadium. So I think it's
09:45the coolest thing for people to see for kids to go and have an experience to go in there.
09:49I want everybody to be able to do that. Um, so I hope that people have some sort of ability
09:54and look, it's not a preseason game. It's not a regular season game.
09:58We're not, you're not, you know, giving more people, you know, additionally, not the PSL holders, a chance to have
10:05a game like that.
10:05This is a practice that wasn't previously scheduled and the team saw the reaction. And I agree with you. I
10:13don't know. Now in the article from Lance, it did say peak, well, he said they anticipated the reaction.
10:17Now who knows if they anticipated as hardcore as it was, right. Um, that they decided to do this. And
10:23yeah, I think they came up with a good solution here because it's a really good thing.
10:30I think for everybody in this community at some point who wants to experience the stadium to be able to
10:34do that. And by the way, there will be events in that stadium that PSL holders do not have the
10:41right to their seat.
10:42And when you walk through and you were given the sales pitch, you were told you're going to have your
10:48personal seat license to all these events. However, if you really talked with people or read the contract, there are
10:54going to be events that that is not the case.
10:56I'm going to tell you the way it was explained to me. This is the best way to put it.
11:00I didn't realize there are, I guess, bands, acts, performers, as you can understand, who say, for example, Rolling Stones
11:06was given this as an example to me, who say, look, when we go on tour, we don't want football
11:12fans, quote unquote, at our concert.
11:14We want rock and roll fans. So we control the ticketing. We say, hey, we're putting this, all the ticketing
11:21up and want, you know, a certain clientele, not the stadium holder, not the football team holder.
11:27Right. So that that's going to happen at some point. I don't know when, I don't know what concert, I
11:31don't know what event, but that's going to happen at some point to people.
11:33Yeah. Well, yeah, I think that is something that should be made. I've seen you tweeting about that and I
11:41feel like it should be, should be readily available how, what those lines are, you know, so that there is
11:48no confusion about it.
11:49Because I wonder if there are any people out there that signed on the line in part because they're like,
11:56well, you know, when you two comes around, I'll have access to my seat.
12:01And if that's not the case, I don't know that that's a deal breaker for somebody.
12:07But if it's something that helped get you across the finish line and it's not going to be the case,
12:13you know, I'd like you to be able to find that out without having to, like, read too much fine
12:17print, I guess.
12:18Yes. And then find out after the fact, right? Right. You're anticipating a, an act or a game. I mean,
12:23maybe, maybe there's a college football game coming.
12:25Maybe there's an outdoor hockey game. I don't know what it is. Something, whatever. Soccer, but, but there, there's going
12:30to be an event or two or whatever.
12:32And I do think over the next few years, we're going to be in for this, this very discussion you
12:37and I are having right now about the reaction is going to happen here for the next few years.
12:41I, I just anticipate that happening because of these little nuances and fine print and all those things that we're
12:47talking about.
12:48Yeah. 803-0550 is the number. If you got a, a thought on this, you know, we can spend, you
12:54know, a few minutes on it.
12:55I know, like I led the show with it. So obviously we're both aware that it has been something that
13:00there have been a lot of strong opinions about.
13:02And with that in mind, we'll, uh, squeeze one in here. Rarely do we take a call in the first
13:07segment of the show sale, but here we are. It's because you're here. That's why people love you.
13:11Justin is first up this hour. Hi, Justin. Thank you for calling. You're on the air here on WGR.
13:16How are you doing guys? Good man. Thanks for taking my call. Sure.
13:20You know, I, I agree with everything you're saying, but I'm a 14 year season ticket holder. I agree with
13:27the taxpayer dollars.
13:29I'm paying the PSL, paying the increased ticket costs on top of being taxed the money that all of us
13:36are chipping in to pay for this stadium.
13:38So in fact, this PSL holder, season ticket holder is being doubly charged.
13:44I know people in this day and age are going to say it's not fair, but absolutely season ticket holder
13:51should have 100% priority
13:54over every single event there. Concert, practice, exhibition, whatever you, whatever is there, 100%.
14:03And if you couldn't do the PSL and you're, we'll just use a roundabout number here.
14:09If you're a hundred dollar tax bill for a year per year for 10 years,
14:15thinks you have the right to have priority over somebody that pays the parking,
14:20pays the beer prices, pays the increased tickets every year and make that commitment.
14:25You know, I, I feel sorry for people that think that way,
14:29that they think they're, you know, roundabout number, a hundred dollar tax bill over 10 years.
14:34Well, Justin, I, I, I would, uh, well,
14:39I would just want to say back to you that I, I think you,
14:44you, I don't know what the fine print of those contracts looks like,
14:47but I'm under the understanding that you've purchased a PSL for the Buffalo Bills.
14:53Right.
14:54So you have the right to, so I don't know, I would not have expected concert tickets.
15:00I would expect some, you know, uh, early bird, you know, pre-sale type opportunity,
15:07but I would not expect to be guaranteed my seat just because I bought a PSL for the Bills,
15:14despite the price.
15:15I recognize there's a huge disparity between what you're paying and what I'm paying
15:19because you're, you're paying for the PSL,
15:21but it's to support the Bills and the construction of the stadium.
15:25Um, but it's specifically for the Bills.
15:28So I think you're sort of stretching out.
15:31I think you're taking liberties with the idea that I own this seat.
15:34You own that seat, I think for the Bills and everything else I think is probably has to be
15:41negotiable, I guess I would say.
15:44How'd I do sale?
15:47Yeah, I, I understand this point of view.
15:52I also think it's one open practice, right?
15:55And I don't know if someone's going to say, well, what else is it going to be after that?
15:58I don't know.
15:59Again, I just, let's think about our community and people that we all know who, who have kids,
16:04who have families who can't afford to go to the stadium.
16:06This is their one chance and you're going to get your chance.
16:09You're going to get 10 games, two preseason games, eight regular season games.
16:13That's going to continue on.
16:15I struggle with someone then being upset about one open practice because you paid for the PSL.
16:21It just, it, it, it just does not equate in my world the way that I think.
16:27That's, yeah, I mean, that's exactly, that's exactly how I feel.
16:31Let's see what Bill has to say.
16:33Hi, Bill.
16:33Thanks for calling.
16:34You're on WGR.
16:35Hey, guys.
16:37So, PSL holder, and I'm super excited we get first dibs at the blue and red, right?
16:43I think that's only fair.
16:44Now, the reaction of other people, the Bills selflessly decided to have an open practice
16:51for those without PSLs, how on earth are we so selfish as a society that we're mad that
17:00people that don't get to enjoy the games like we will at least get to go to the stadium and
17:05check it out?
17:06Like, what are we doing?
17:09Take, just chill out for a bit and let people enjoy it.
17:12It's a practice.
17:13Like, are you really that upset about a practice?
17:16I feel like I'm Alan Iverson.
17:20I'll bet a lot of people had that exact thought as you said that the second time.
17:24Has the show ever sounded older, Bulldog?
17:25Right, right.
17:26Good one.
17:27I know.
17:28I'm 46.
17:28Leave me alone.
17:30Bill, do you make noises when you sit down and get up?
17:32I hear you.
17:32I think you said it.
17:33Yeah.
17:33You said it the way I wanted you to, the way that I wanted to say it.
17:36I agree with that.
17:37That's the way I feel about it.
17:38Like, I think it's cool that other people are going to get a chance to go who wouldn't
17:42normally get a chance to go.
17:43Yeah.
17:43I mean, one of the things here, we got to take a break, but we can take some more calls
17:46on this
17:47after the break.
17:49If people have more to say about it, certainly, you know, I recognize we're only taking two
17:53calls.
17:54But, you know, I think when the training camp schedule got announced, I made the point that,
18:01you know, it's another venue.
18:05It's another way that people who can't pay the going rate, pay the full freight, can expose,
18:12you know, themselves or their kids, their families to the bills.
18:17And it's dwindling, right?
18:18I mean, the fact that you have free open training camp practices at all in this era, maybe is
18:25incredible.
18:26Maybe it's antiquated.
18:27But it's one of those charming things that sort of gets lost as the steamrollers just
18:32going to keep, you know, rolling us over.
18:35And everything is about, you know, who can pay, you know, the top dollar.
18:40And so one open practice on the heels of already an exclusive open practice.
18:48I don't know, man.
18:49Being mad about that just seems really short-sighted to me.
18:52But, you know, I feel you.
18:55Like, you're paying the money and maybe you feel like you're not getting, you know, other
18:59people are getting the same benefit that you're paying for.
19:02I guess I can see that.
19:05But, geez, man.
19:06If you can afford it, you should be grateful, I think, and appreciate that other people that
19:13can't want to at least see it and feel it and experience it.
19:17803-0550 is the number.
19:19Sal Capaccio is with me until 5 o'clock today.
19:22We'll have his podcast partner, I think Sal already mentioned, taping a podcast with Matt
19:27Beauvais from Channel 7.
19:29He's going to be on.
19:30I don't know what happens when I join forces here against Sal and Matt with their podcast.
19:34It's always Game Day in Buffalo.
19:35But we'll have Matt on with us at 4.
19:37And then Sal will split at 5.
19:39And I'll have Paul Hamilton join me then to, you know, further digest what has and hasn't
19:45happened in this Sabres offseason.
19:47Again, 803-0550.
19:49If you've got any thoughts on the open practices the Bills have scheduled,
19:53hit us up.
19:53Again, Sal in for Mike on the Bulldog.
Comments