I can't help but say that if our "friends" in Albany and DC didn't devastate the economy of Upstate NY, there would be more people with more money feeling better about things that they could take the time and money to go to a football game.
But a lot of those fans have already left, taking businesses, jobs, and families (and ticket sales) with them.
I know it's not what most of you here probably want to hear, but that is the truth. Check the history of population trends and businesses leaving Syracuse, and Rochester, and Buffalo, and Binghamton, etc, etc.
Flame away or ban me. But there is no cogent argument otherwise.