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Bills owner Terry Pegula faces backlash over $100M yacht while New York taxpayers help fund new stadium
Fox News ^ | August 21, 2025 | Scott Thompson

Posted on 08/21/2025 8:53:51 PM PDT by MinorityRepublican

Billionaire Terry Pegula, the owner of the NFL’s Buffalo Bills and NHL’s Buffalo Sabres, isn’t in good standing with some New Yorkers after a recent video of his yacht anchored in Newport, Rhode Island, surfaced.

It’s normal for billionaires to be spotted with these massive vessels, but when New York state taxpayers are partially covering the cost of the Bills’ new $2.1 billion stadium in Buffalo, they’re taking exception to Pegula’s $100 million yacht, "Top Five II."

Some members of the "Bills Mafia" were furious and made their opinions known on social media.

"The Pegulas are relaxing in Newport while we pay for the stadium? That’s a slap in the face," one fan wrote in a Reddit thread.

Another Reddit user wrote: "Love the Bills, but this stadium deal is robbery. Pegulas pay nothing while we go broke."

While some are furious, others are pointing fingers at state legislators instead.

"The city didn’t have to approve the deal. They did," one X user said. "And he also put a damn good product on the field before building a new stadium. I’m not really standing with the billionaires here, but I’m just saying, the city approved it. Not Terry."

(Excerpt) Read more at foxnews.com ...


TOPICS: Sports
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1 posted on 08/21/2025 8:53:51 PM PDT by MinorityRepublican
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To: MinorityRepublican

Not in NYC metro but it’s narratives like these that have paved the way of Zohran Mamdani.


2 posted on 08/21/2025 8:55:17 PM PDT by CondoleezzaProtege
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To: MinorityRepublican

Taxing for stadiums is robbery.


3 posted on 08/21/2025 8:57:20 PM PDT by bray (It's not racist to be racist against races the DNC hates.)
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To: MinorityRepublican

I’m shocked, just shocked that an NFL owner can actually afford a yacht.


4 posted on 08/21/2025 8:58:36 PM PDT by dfwgator (Endut! Hoch Hech!)
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To: dfwgator

Remember John Kerry? Served in Viet Nam? He parked his yacht there to avoid Taxachussets taxes. This guy’s smart too.


5 posted on 08/21/2025 9:03:52 PM PDT by DIRTYSECRET
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To: bray

> Taxing for stadiums is robbery. <

And it’s not like the stadiums actually help the city. A while back I read a study that said a new stadium doesn’t bring in much outside money. It just shuffles around the money that’s already there.


6 posted on 08/21/2025 9:04:26 PM PDT by Leaning Right (It's morning in America. Again.)
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To: bray

And especially to replace perfectly good stadiums. There was nothing wrong with the Bills stadium.


7 posted on 08/21/2025 9:11:11 PM PDT by dfwgator (Endut! Hoch Hech!)
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To: MinorityRepublican

Why spend his own money when he can bribe government officials and get someone else to pay for the stadium. Plus all the grift for the unions.


8 posted on 08/21/2025 9:11:52 PM PDT by Organic Panic ('Was I molested. I think so' - Ashley Biden in response to her father joining her in the shower. )
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To: bray

It is. And it never goes away. They say it will, just temporary, but it never does. They keep it going forever past the date they claim it will end.


9 posted on 08/21/2025 9:12:33 PM PDT by Secret Agent Man (Gone Galt; not averse to Going Bronson.)
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To: MinorityRepublican

The people should have been able to vote on paying for the stadium.


10 posted on 08/21/2025 9:14:26 PM PDT by Hattie
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To: MinorityRepublican

The purchase of that 100 million dollar yacht is his money and should not be an issue. The real issue is why in the hell are we subsidizing his team and stadium.

Cities are in an insane bidding war against each other to give subsidizes to these teams to locate in their cities. Stop this insanity and let the free market decide where these teams will locate without the taxpayers money. You want a new stadium? Build it with your money. Tax breaks is a no.


11 posted on 08/21/2025 9:19:04 PM PDT by cpdiii (cane cutter, deckhand, oilfield roughneck, drilling fluid tech, geologist, pilot, pharmacist, MAGA)
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To: MinorityRepublican

And they would all cry if the Bills moved.


12 posted on 08/21/2025 9:24:13 PM PDT by FatherofFive (We mutually pledge to each other our lives, our fortunes, and our sacred honor)
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To: MinorityRepublican

Where do these morons think that $100,000,000 goes when he purchases that yacht?

That money goes to the skilled men & women who plan, design, construct, operate, and maintain that yacht...

In addition, much of it goes to smaller companies that plan, design, and create the yacht furniture and interiors...

Should he, instead, bank it or give it to the government?
Then those thousands of workers can be unemployed or work in McDonald’s and struggle to get by...

That should make these morons happy...


13 posted on 08/21/2025 11:05:16 PM PDT by SuperLuminal (Where is rabble-rising Sam Adams now that we need him? Is his name Trump, now?)
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To: MinorityRepublican

Why, is his yacht registered in a state that minimizes tax obligations instead of New York? Like John Kerry does, that prick?


14 posted on 08/22/2025 12:13:39 AM PDT by desertsolitaire (w)
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To: MinorityRepublican
Re: "Yacht versus New York taxpayers"

Wake up, Buffalo.

If you don't pay for the new stadium, some other city will.

15 posted on 08/22/2025 1:11:06 AM PDT by zeestephen (Trump Landslide? Kamala lost the election by 230,000 votes, in WI, MI, and PA.)
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To: Leaning Right

It brings in tons of money to Buffalo...That stadium is packed and they all have to eat, drink and sleep.


16 posted on 08/22/2025 1:20:36 AM PDT by Sacajaweau
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To: MinorityRepublican

After the taxpayers of Arlington paid $350 MM for Jerry’s World, Jerry Jones got himself a $250 MM yacht.


17 posted on 08/22/2025 1:36:14 AM PDT by C19fan
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To: MinorityRepublican

Pegula also funded the Penn State Hockey program and facility (which is among the best in the country). PSU made it to the Frozen Four last season and picked up what would have been the #1 NHL draft pick Gavin Mckenna for next season.

He also funded his daughter’s very successful pro tennis career.

He seems very driven. OMG

Without the Bills, what does Buffalo really have right now?

The PSU and Buffalo people I know and have talked to over the years like the Pegulas. I’ll take their word for it.


18 posted on 08/22/2025 1:59:59 AM PDT by FLNittany
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To: MinorityRepublican
Related...

New Highmark Stadium Project a heavy burden on taxpayers that keeps rising

NFL Approves Buffalo Bills’ Debt Waiver for New $2.2 Billion Stadium

Bills Seek Debt Waiver as Cost of New Stadium Rises Again The Buffalo Bills are seeking permission of the NFL to take on a higher debt load because of construction overruns for the completion of their new stadium.

Anyone else think those numbers smell...

Paging the FBI...

19 posted on 08/22/2025 4:05:24 AM PDT by mewzilla (Swing away, Mr. President, swing away!)
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To: MinorityRepublican

Socialize the debt, privatize the profits. It’s good to be a Democrat!


20 posted on 08/22/2025 4:11:30 AM PDT by Jan_Sobieski (Sanctification)
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