‘Few would argue that the stadium should be retained as is. As it turns out, though, few are willing to pay for a replacement.’
Archives for March 31, 2022
The Buffalo Bills are getting a new stadium — and you’re going to pay for it
‘The $850 million is the largest amount of public monies ever given to finance a stadium for a privately owned team — yet the funding doesn’t stop there.’
Taxpayers need a better deal on sports stadiums
‘It’s a deal even the most rosy-eyed Bills fan must find nauseating: the state will cough up $600 million while Erie County will pay $250 million. To put this in perspective, the team’s owners, Kim and Terry Pegula, have an estimated net worth of $5.8 billion made in the gas hydrofracking industry. They and the NFL will contribute just $550 million, a small fraction of the $1.4 billion project’s cost. It would be the largest public subsidy for a sports stadium in U.S. history, surpassing the $750 million ripoff of Las Vegas taxpayers by the NFL’s Raiders in 2016.’
Public Cost Of New Buffalo Stadium Will Top $1B Over Lease
‘That would include $100 million, paid out over 15 years, for any needed maintenance and repairs, plus at least an additional $180 million for capital improvements, paid out over 30 years. Actual annual state payments for the capital fund might be higher, adjusted upward based on the consumer price index.’
NFL passes anti-tampering resolution submitted by Bills, three other teams
‘The Bills – along with the Baltimore Ravens, Philadelphia Eagles, and Tampa Bay Buccaneers – proposed a resolution amending the league’s anti-tampering policy to allow teams the option to deny interview requests from another club for one of their personnel employees to interview for their assistant general manager position until after the draft.’
Opinion: Introducing: ‘Josh Allen Rule’
‘“In the Buffalo game this year, it was the greatest 20, 30 minutes of football that I’ve ever seen. Ever,” he said. “To think that it ended that way definitely brought up the idea of, ‘Hey, is this equitable? Does this work for everybody?’ I have no question that started the discussion.”’
Buffalo Bills stadium agreement provides new details
‘The Bills will extend their current lease at Highmark Stadium on a year-to-year basis until the new stadium is complete. Any necessary maintenance will be conducted by the county and Bills. The county will conduct annual inspections of the upper deck to determine if any improvements are needed for the structural integrity of the upper deck.’
New Bills stadium, new jobs but not everyone wins
‘But the project labor agreement is not good news for everyone. President of Associated Builders and Contractors Empire State Chapter, Brian Sampson, said this could take away opportunities from independent contractors and non-union laborers.’
Albany watchdog group keeping close eye on new Bills stadium deal
‘“The governor needs to have a really strong, clear, independent, verifiable conflict of interest policy so that nobody needs to worry about it,” remarked John Kaehny, executive director, Reinvent Albany.’
Orchard Park officials hope new stadium spurs tourism money for the area
‘“We need more of a place that people can come from out of town and visit and just feel comfortable and know that they have a place to stay,” Liberti said.’
Seneca Nation speaks out on Hochul’s plan to use casino compact money for new Bills stadium
‘“New York’s hostile and shameless greed was laid bare for the world to see yesterday. After intentionally and unnecessarily holding the Seneca people and thousands of Western New Yorkers and families hostage for several days by strangling various bank accounts held by the Seneca Nation and our businesses, Governor Hochul couldn’t contain her excitement to boast about using her Seneca ransom money for a new stadium,” said Seneca Nation President Matthew Pagels in a statement Wednesday.’
Bills lineman Dion Dawkins excels in another competition: cornhole
‘The American Cornhole League went to Twitter on Tuesday, saying “Bills Mafia, where you at? Buffalo Bills Pro Bowl OL Dion Dawkins hits two airmails at the second SuperHole III prelim.”‘
Signed Bills stadium agreement obtained by 2 On Your Side
‘There are still some questions about the development around the stadium. Orchard Park officials are interested in using the opportunity to bring more development around the new stadium property, which is currently lacking around Highmark Stadium.’
With Bills stadium funding deal in place, focus turns to community benefits
‘Some basic ideas are already under discussion, such as with the NFTA for improved mass transit access. There are only two current bus routes and one of those is an express run with a very limited schedule.’
Seneca Nation president speaks out about NY using casino funds to pay for Bills stadium
‘Pagels said, “The governor’s new stadium won’t be a product of progress, it will be a monument to Albany’s vindictive desire to push the Seneca people. Ultimately, it’s something we’re all to familiar with.”‘