Apr 8
2024
Everything OK with Buffalo Bills sale of PSLs. Yeah, right.
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The uproar over the cost of personal seat licenses the Buffalo Bills are charging season ticket holders continues to generate a lot of press.
The Buffalo News published a full-throated defense of what many fans consider indefensible. The story quotes unnamed sources – presumably employees of the Bills and/or Legends Entertainment – who contended the PSL rollout has been flawless and that the public outcry is much ado about nothing.
Yeah, right.
The story prompted a sharp rebuke from Neil deMause, author of the Field of Schemes website that reports on stadium projects. He termed the story “a flagrant violation of journalistic ethics.”
Later in the week, The News published another puff piece, this one on the stadium’s construction, based on an interview with the head of the government corporation involved in the project. Much like PSL sales, The News reported everything is fine.
Last week’s reporting is a continuation of the newspaper’s team-friendly reporting of the stadium project, which has been the hallmark of its coverage over the past several years. That’s what you get when the publisher, as reported by Buffalo Business First, served on Terry Pegula’s kitchen cabinet during stadium negotiations. Talk about a violation of journalistic ethics.
In light of the uproar about the exorbitant cost of personal seat licenses, last week we published the highlights of our coverage of the stadium project over the past several years.
On a lighter note, Buffalo Rising reprised the late Phil Ranallo of the late Courier-Express and his “Honest Harry and Sam the Immigrant” characters to discuss the Bills’ PSLs.
Elsewhere in stadium news, the rabble in Kansas City voted down a tax increase to help fund stadium renovations to the home of the Chiefs and build a new ballpark for the baseball Royals. That’s what happens when you give taxpayers a voice.
In Virginia, a deal fell apart to lure the Washington Capitals (NHL), Wizards (NBA) and Mystics (WNBA) to Arlington. The teams will remain in D.C. Taxpayers will fork over $500 million to renovate their current arena, however.
Field of Schemes reported on a number of stadium and arena developments around the country, starting with Kansas City.
We reported last month that KeyBank has a miserable track record lending to Black mortgage applicants in Western New York. Last week the bank announced it has renewed a working relationship with the National Community Reinvestment Coalition in an effort to improve its lending practices.
Nearly a half-million people moved out of Florida in 2022. The redder the state gets, the less liveable it’s becoming, NBC News reports.
Yes, taxes in New York are high. But they’re among the least regressive in the nation. The most regressive? The aforementioned Florida.
Oregon decriminalized hard drugs three years ago. It hasn’t worked out. The mayor of Portland explains why.
Teachers are an unhappy lot, according to the Pew Research Center. Stressors include poverty, absenteeism and mental health.
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Donald Trump says if elected he’ll likely free Jan. 6 rioters held in a D.C. jail awaiting trial or serving time after being convicted or pleading guilty. He’s described them as hostages and political prisoners. Most are charged with assaulting law enforcement officers. Great reporting and a compelling read.
Were you better off four years ago? Ah, no.
Greedy hotels cashing in on the eclipse, here, there and everywhere. Meanwhile, New York is planning for “a thousand Woodstocks.”
Music for the eclipse, courtesy of Pink Floyd. And for the aftermath, via the Fab Four.
