Part 7/11:
Buffalo, once a booming industrial city, has faced economic decline since the heyday of steel manufacturing. Its population and income levels have dwindled, making it one of the smallest and least wealthy NFL markets. The disparity between the team’s soaring value and the community’s economic struggles highlights how economic gains are concentrated among owners and investors rather than the local populace.
The Broader Trend: Stadiums as Private Assets
Buffalo’s story is not isolated. Other NFL teams, like the Washington Commanders, are adopting similar strategies, planning to implement PSLs and other premium-priced offerings in their new stadiums expected to cost billions of dollars. This phenomenon prompts broader questions about the purpose of sports—whose interests are prioritized?