‘The Buffalo Bills, Erie County and New York State engage in ongoing lease negotiations for then-Ralph Wilson Stadium. The venue, which opened in 1973 and was first known as Rich Stadium, was nearing 40 years old and would need extensive renovations, which were a key subject of the discussions. State officials floated the idea of building a new stadium, but Bills founder and owner Ralph Wilson, who was then 93, didn’t want to commit the franchise to a long-term deal. Knowing the team would be sold upon his death, he preferred a shorter lease that was strong enough to keep the Bills from moving, and also deferred decisions on a new stadium to the next owners.’