‘”I am happy to see a resolution. I think the Buffalo Bills mean a great deal to the community and that community means a great deal to the NFL,” Goodell said when speaking at the NFL Owners Meetings on Tuesday afternoon. “I believe firmly that a stadium was necessary. The current stadium was nearing the end of its useful life. There’s a 30-year commitment to be there which I think is important for the fans. I think it’s a good resolution and I’m thrilled the Bills will be there for at least my lifetime.”‘
Archives for March 2022
Hochul directs $418 million of disputed casino revenue to go toward new Buffalo Bills stadium
‘According to Hochul, the remaining funds “will go directly to the counties and cities of Western New York and be reinvested to support the local economy and communities.”‘
What is the Community Benefits Agreement included in stadium discussions?
‘A Community Benefits Agreement is commonly referred to as a CBA. It’s a legally binding agreement that the community at-large will benefit from stadium construction. Forworkingfamilies.org describes a CBA as a contract that “requires the developer provide specific amenities and/or mitigations to the local community or neighborhood.” These key community benefits include things like transportation, job creation and increasing the team’s footprint.’
Seneca Nation releases $564M in casino funds to NY, which says millions will go toward Bills stadium
‘“While the funds are being transferred, let me also send a message to New York. Don’t use the people of Western New York as pawns in your obvious desire to destroy the Seneca Nation,” Matthew Pagels president of the Seneca Nation, said in a video statement Tuesday.’
County legislature chairwoman discusses Bills stadium
‘The details of a community benefits agreement are currently being negotiated between the Bills and local leaders. The chairwoman of the Erie County legislature, April Baskin, joined News 4 at 4 Tuesday. She’s part of the team negotiating the community benefits agreement with the Bills.’
What’s a PSL? New Bills stadium will include personal seat licenses
‘PSLs can very widely in cost, depending on where they are levied. We saw seat licenses for the Dallas Cowboys listed on the resale market for as much as $180,000 for the most-expensive club seats, to as little as $1,100 for the Cleveland Browns — about where the Bills licenses are expected to go.’
Bills/Chiefs played major role in NFL overtime rules change
‘NFL Competition Committee Chair Rich McKay cited data primarily from 12 postseason games, but said this year’s Bills/Chiefs playoff game served as a catalyst for change.’
What are ‘private seat licenses,’ and what does it have to do with the new Bills stadium?
‘Now, if you hold a license, you must buy season tickets for those seats. If you don’t, the ‘license’ for those seats are forfeited back to the team.’
NYS to use millions from Seneca Nation for Bills stadium
‘Gov. Kathy Hochul announced Tuesday that the state had received the full $564 million it was owed. A large chunk – more than $418 million – will go to New York State. The remainder will go to counties and cities in Western New York.’
NFL votes to change overtime rules, both teams guaranteed ball unlike Bills overtime loss
‘Starting this season, if one team scores a touchdown on the first possession of overtime, the other team’s offense will have a chance to earn a touchdown and keep playing, reported the Associated Press. Previously, an opening drive overtime touchdown could win the game, giving the team that won the coin toss a strong advantage.’
Bills re-sign OL Ike Boettger to a one-year contract; Ryan Bates to return
‘Bates proved to be a pleasant surprise for the Bills toward the end of the 2021 season, taking over as a starter in Week 16 against the Patriots. Perhaps not coincidentally, the offensive line seemed to hit its stride from that point forward, and Bates maintained his spot in the starting lineup through the postseason.’
Brandon Beane: Bills want Stefon Diggs ‘for years to come’
‘“We’ve had open dialogue since the season ended,” Bills General Manager Brandon Beane said Monday at the NFL owners meetings. “Stef and I have talked a couple times, and he’s got a really good agent (Adisa Bakari) who I’ve dealt with before, who had Tyrod (Taylor). We’ve been very open and honest with each other. I don’t talk about negotiations. As I said a couple week ago, and I’ve always said back to Josh’s Allen’s contract or somebody else’s, contracts get done when they’re supposed to get done. If something gets done at some point this offseason, we’d let you know. Beyond that, I really wouldn’t get into it.”’
Buffalo Bills, New York State, Erie County reach ‘ironclad’ 30-year deal to build $1.4 billion stadium
‘The public will provide $850 million to fund construction, pending approval by New York and Erie County lawmakers, “which is far less than anyone had anticipated,” Hochul said, referring to frequent speculation that taxpayers could spend $1 billion or more, reflecting a percentage of costs in line with other recent small market stadium projects. Ongoing maintenance and capital costs will add nearly $13 million a year.’
In announcing Bills stadium deal, Hochul controls message during an election year
‘So Hochul, a Buffalo resident who placed a new stadium deal near the top of her agenda since assuming office last August, seemed to own the moment. Some were taking shots at particulars of her agreement. Others insisted that Bills ownership should assume more of the costs.’
Poloncarz says new stadium deal would result in no increase in Erie County taxes
‘The trade-off is that Erie County will no longer have any ownership stake in the stadium. The state would become the new leaseholder and the Bills would be a tenant.’