Even Donn is starting to have doubts!

[Linda_D]

Gee, even Donn "I've Never Seen a Stupid Idea for Downtown I Didn't Love" Esmonde is starting to see the light about Bass Pro in downtown.

We're still waiting for Bass Pro

11/26/2006
By DONN ESMONDE
It doesn't take much to live in this town. Just the patience of the biblical Job and the eternal optimism of Vladimir and Estragon in Samuel Beckett's "Waiting for Godot."
What do biblical and literary figures have to do with Buffalo? Two words: Bass Pro.
It was two years ago Wednesday when ex-mayor Anthony Masiello donned camouflage gear and a Bass Pro cap. Tony wasn't going fishing. He was announcing that the sporting goods megastore would open in the vacant Memorial Auditorium in 2007.
We're still waiting. The past two years brought promises, predictions and proposals. People either didn't know what they were talking about, or they led us on. And on.
To while away the time as we approach the Nov. 29 anniversary, we review what they said and when they said it.
Nov. 29, 2004: "Our children and grandchildren will look back on this day and say, "There was the turning point.' " - State Sen. Dale Volker, at the opening announcement.
Either the turning point, or the point of no return.
Nov. 29, 2004: "Every time I come here and see the Aud, I get excited all over again." - Johnny Morris, Bass Pro chairman.
Maybe he should come here more often.
April 7, 2005: "This is the real deal." - Then-Mayor Masiello, after Bass Pro engineers surveyed the old Aud.
Real deal, or raw deal?.
July 1, 2005: "Our waterfront needs . . . a single-purpose body [to] ensure that all the great things we've planned reached completion." - Masiello.
Jeez, Tony, I thought that was your job.
July 14, 2005: "Creation of the Erie Canal Harbor Development Corp. will allow us to move the Bass Pro project to the next phase." - state official Charles Gargano.
Would that be Phase 2, 3 or 4?
July 14, 2005: "[Bass Pro] remains very excited about Buffalo." - Larry Whitely, company spokesman.
Extremely excited.
Nov. 22, 2005: "We are working on the final stages of the contract." - Bass Pro president Jim Hagale.
Nov. 22, 2005: "We're really moving along now." - Larry Quinn, waterfront development official.
Full speed ahead!
Nov. 23, 2005: "If they hurry, maybe they'll get it done on my watch." - Masiello.
Keep those fingers crossed, Tony!
Nov. 29, 2005: "We made the big announcement last November . . . but I guess we were premature." - Masiello.
Ya think?
Nov. 29, 2005: "We're more excited than ever about Buffalo." - Hagale. Extremely excited.
Nov. 29, 2005: "There wasn't much of a pulse." - Quinn, acknowledging that little was done by public officials in the months after initial announcement.
Jan. 31, 2006: "I feel that this project is moving ahead." - new Mayor Byron Brown.
No doubt.
April 18, 2006: "I'm getting a little tired of saying this, but we are closer than ever before to having a firm deal." - Quinn.
If you're getting tired of saying it, Larry, imagine how tired we're getting of hearing it.
Sept. 2, 2006: "This is a major breakthrough that will allow a contract to be signed [within] weeks, if not days." - Unidentified source, on a proposal to knock down the Aud, instead of building the Bass Pro store inside of it.
Nov. 4, 2006: "Our intention is to have something definitive by the end of the year." - Bill Collins, waterfront development official.
By the end of which year?

[PBAguy]

I am of the belief that the Bass Pro store wasn't going to happen unless the Casino was going to also be built. I think Bass Pro realizes without another draw to this area, their venture wouldn't be profitable. I hear a lot of people complaining about the 66 million in tax dollars for various reasons, some I agree with. But don't you think Bass Pro would have jumped on the project if it was such an outstanding offer ? I know when I get an estimate for work to be done that seems like a good deal to me, I jump on the offer. I say " do it, schedule me in asap " There had to be contributing factors for them to drag their feet as they have.

[speaker]

Do you think that's the reason Byron Brown did an about face in his negotiations with the Seneca Nation?
I consider that move to be a mistake, and probably a big one.
There is no reason for the city to waver or bend so far over backwards.

[Linda_D]

I am of the belief that the Bass Pro store wasn't going to happen unless the Casino was going to also be built. I think Bass Pro realizes without another draw to this area, their venture wouldn't be profitable. I hear a lot of people complaining about the 66 million in tax dollars for various reasons, some I agree with. But don't you think Bass Pro would have jumped on the project if it was such an outstanding offer ? I know when I get an estimate for work to be done that seems like a good deal to me, I jump on the offer. I say " do it, schedule me in asap " There had to be contributing factors for them to drag their feet as they have.

I think you are absolutely right. When the Buffalo store was first proposed, it was supposed to be the only big BP store within hundreds of miles. Well, since then, Toronto got one, and I think the one in the Pittsburgh area will be opening soon if it's not already opened. They are dragging their feet on this ... while building stores that cut in the Buffalo store's potential market area.

[Linda_D]

Do you think that's the reason Byron Brown did an about face in his negotiations with the Seneca Nation?
I consider that move to be a mistake, and probably a big one.
There is no reason for the city to waver or bend so far over backwards.

Maybe BB wanted the revenues a casino would bring into the city coffers? The casino, especially a big one that attracts lots of business, is going to pay the city monies directly based on its profits.

[BuffaloEMT14216]

I say tell the Bass Pro execs to "Go to Hell". They have wasted our time with the whole notion of building this attraction.It's no longer going to be a destination store for Canadians, Pennsylvanians, Ohioians, etc. They are a PRIVATE company that makes way to much money to demand 60 million dollars of OUR money. Invest that money into infrastructure like streets, lighting, parks, tree planting, graffitti cleanup, etc. The area around the Aud could use some cleaning up.
Besides, what if Bass Pro ever goes belly up?
Case in point. I used to work at Galyan's at the Walden Galleria. An awesome concept, a great company to work for, and well, way better than Dick's. However, corporate greed tore Galyan's down as well as carrying quality over price points and we were sold away to the Evil Empire.
The Sporting Goods industry is going the way of Wal-Mart styled philosophy. Bass Pro, Cabelas are great as Mail Order only. Stores like EMS,REI cater to real outdoors people who require quality equipment, not cheap stuff like a Dick's. Stores like Bass Pro/Cabelas/Gander Mountain, are a novelty right now. Galyan's we had our climbing walls, kayak pools, etc.
People always complained about our prices at Galyan's. Yet, we cared quality equipment, had staff that field tested products, knew the sport, etc. Today you get a pimple faced kid in khakis and a green shirt who has no clue about what the difference is between kayaks. Consumers demanded it.
So do not hand out money to Bass Pro. Tell Bob Rich thanks but no thanks, invest that money in alluring, say a Gap, Urban Outfitters, Hot Topic, downtown or the Elmwood Strip where a critical mass exsists.

[Linda_D]

I say tell the Bass Pro execs to "Go to Hell". They have wasted our time with the whole notion of building this attraction.It's no longer going to be a destination store for Canadians, Pennsylvanians, Ohioians, etc. They are a PRIVATE company that makes way to much money to demand 60 million dollars of OUR money. Invest that money into infrastructure like streets, lighting, parks, tree planting, graffitti cleanup, etc. The area around the Aud could use some cleaning up.
Besides, what if Bass Pro ever goes belly up?
Case in point. I used to work at Galyan's at the Walden Galleria. An awesome concept, a great company to work for, and well, way better than Dick's. However, corporate greed tore Galyan's down as well as carrying quality over price points and we were sold away to the Evil Empire.
The Sporting Goods industry is going the way of Wal-Mart styled philosophy. Bass Pro, Cabelas are great as Mail Order only. Stores like EMS,REI cater to real outdoors people who require quality equipment, not cheap stuff like a Dick's. Stores like Bass Pro/Cabelas/Gander Mountain, are a novelty right now. Galyan's we had our climbing walls, kayak pools, etc.
People always complained about our prices at Galyan's. Yet, we cared quality equipment, had staff that field tested products, knew the sport, etc. Today you get a pimple faced kid in khakis and a green shirt who has no clue about what the difference is between kayaks. Consumers demanded it.
So do not hand out money to Bass Pro. Tell Bob Rich thanks but no thanks, invest that money in alluring, say a Gap, Urban Outfitters, Hot Topic, downtown or the Elmwood Strip where a critical mass exsists.

Good points, BuffaloEMT.

I think your mix of smaller retailers that cater to the "hip" crowd is probably a better fit than a store that caters to the bass boat/RV crowd anyways. Even a store like Home Depot is a better choice for an urban area than a Bass Prohttp://www.cyburbia.org/voices/opini...the_connection).

[biker]

I told you guys two years ago that this was just a beach party dream. No one really wanted it to go through (except Tone: once a thought gets lodged in that empty cavern of a mind, it's hard to dislodge it).

Bob Rich wrote a book on fishing.

The CEO of BP came to his Florida estate and--over 86 beers---they cooked up this Bass Pro in the Aud idea.

This guy has just been going through the motions so as not to disappoint his neighbor.

As for Rich, he got the City to build him a stadium. Who's footing the bill for that now? The County? Certainly not Bobby Rich.

This is modest by comparison.

[BuffaloEMT14216]

Biker,

You are right on about all your points. Bob Rich had that stadium built for him, and the fact he no longer foots any bill for it, WE DO.
I don't think the son has as much dedication to WNY as the old man did. I think Bob Rich would like to pull the plug on his operation in WNY and move down South. I really don't see him having a problem with that.
What I find fascinating is all of our local people of importance, be it political or buisness, always demand public money to fund private projects. Why spend 60 Million on a sporting good store when we could use that to develop small business growth, or even use those funds towards the demolition of eyesores and abandoned homes littering our city? Oh yeah, that takes out of the box thinking.
I like Mr. Issa's approach to doing business. I hope he is the future of Buffalo and more people follow suit. It'll take an outsider to change the status quo, and I think he has already lit a fire under some people's arses.

[citymouse]

One of the few times biker and I agree on anything that doesn't involve two wheeled transport.
The Bass Pro show should have been cancelled a long time ago. Amuch better use for that money would be to tear the aud down and let a developer purchase the property at market value and build something with his own money. That doesn't seem to happen in Buffalo, unless your a Native American, and then they still try to stonewall you.

[biker]

Speaking of our favorite topic, Citymouse, I heard a tip that might appeal to the proud owner of a new bike.

It's hard to get the last of those bug guts off the windscreen, paint and chrome. This summer, I read a tip by a rider: use Scrubbing Bubbles, that bathroom cleaner.

Being the owner of a fifteen year old machine, I am fearless. I tried it this summer and it works! Doesn't seem to have any side effects on chrome, paint or windscreen.

Of course, riding in December avoids a lot of bugs. Right?

[speaker]

I say tell the Bass Pro execs to "Go to Hell". They have wasted our time with the whole notion of building this attraction.It's no longer going to be a destination store for Canadians, Pennsylvanians, Ohioians, etc. They are a PRIVATE company that makes way to much money to demand 60 million dollars of OUR money. Invest that money into infrastructure like streets, lighting, parks, tree planting, graffitti cleanup, etc. The area around the Aud could use some cleaning up.
Besides, what if Bass Pro ever goes belly up?
Case in point. I used to work at Galyan's at the Walden Galleria. An awesome concept, a great company to work for, and well, way better than Dick's. However, corporate greed tore Galyan's down as well as carrying quality over price points and we were sold away to the Evil Empire.
The Sporting Goods industry is going the way of Wal-Mart styled philosophy. Bass Pro, Cabelas are great as Mail Order only. Stores like EMS,REI cater to real outdoors people who require quality equipment, not cheap stuff like a Dick's. Stores like Bass Pro/Cabelas/Gander Mountain, are a novelty right now. Galyan's we had our climbing walls, kayak pools, etc.
People always complained about our prices at Galyan's. Yet, we cared quality equipment, had staff that field tested products, knew the sport, etc. Today you get a pimple faced kid in khakis and a green shirt who has no clue about what the difference is between kayaks. Consumers demanded it.
So do not hand out money to Bass Pro. Tell Bob Rich thanks but no thanks, invest that money in alluring, say a Gap, Urban Outfitters, Hot Topic, downtown or the Elmwood Strip where a critical mass exsists.

Bob Rich and Bass Pro owners are close, if I understand rightly. I'm sure Rich thought he was doing something for Buffalo, years ago when this started.

Yes, if Galyan's couldn't make it, and Dick's is an old Buffalo firm, why SINK the boat? Take down the nostalgic but white elephant, the old Aud, and really open up that area.

[WestCoastPerspective]

Will there be an eat-crow party if/when the deal is signed? Or after they open? Just wondering.

[Linda_D]

One of the few times biker and I agree on anything that doesn't involve two wheeled transport.
The Bass Pro show should have been cancelled a long time ago. Amuch better use for that money would be to tear the aud down and let a developer purchase the property at market value and build something with his own money. That doesn't seem to happen in Buffalo, unless your a Native American, and then they still try to stonewall you.

That's because the Native Americans aren't letting the "right" people get their share of the goodies. I don't think any of the big, politically-connected local developers are in on the building of the casino, are they?

[Linda_D]

Will there be an eat-crow party if/when the deal is signed? Or after they open? Just wondering.

Don't hold your breath waiting for the deal to be signed, WCP -- it could be terminal!