re: buffalo, ny

I've been to Buffalo several times...went there over Spring Break actually with the g/f.

The city was based on steel and other industries of the older industrial era. And just like every other city in the rust belt, it's been hit hard. Look at Pittsburgh, Cleveland, Detroit, even St. Louis, all have been losing population to the 'white flight' for a while.

Buffalo is a VERY passionate sports town however. Right with Green Bay for the Packers and maybe Boston with the Red Sox (real Sawx fans that is). They love their Bills and they love their Sabres. Seats will be full. They damn near lured a major league team during the 92' expansion because of their willingness to build a stadium...and they still built the fricker when they had no idea whether they would get a team.

Unfortunately, Buffalo as a sports town is still in the balance. Ralph Wilson takes care of his guys, but how long will the Bills be there? The Sabres are pretty safe...hockey is smaller market anyway. But as the Bills go...TO is an effort to make the Bills relevant. Nobody complained in the early 90's about them possibly moving, because they were relevant on the NFL landscape. The population and city was still suffering though, yeah?

Basically, they haven't been able to transfer into the technology/research and development fields that have sun belt cities booming. Cleveland has at least stabalized...but Buffalo...who knows?

Yeah, the weather sucks. But if you go during the summer, it's quite pleasant.