AP exclusive: Bills propose new 60k seat stadium by (update - 2025)

[Mr. WEO]

8 minutes ago, Rochesterfan said:

 

I think this is mostly right - he would care where it was built to better support his other investments like Downtown Hotels and Restaurants and help bring infrastructure to help improve the area around the hockey stadium to bring more and better tournaments in.  Money he could make outside of the sport itself.

 

The more important piece though - I believe - is to get the most public funding possible and the lowest cost and have it owned by the county - so they pay upkeep and renovation costs that will come every year because it is open air.

 

I think if this had been done 5 years ago - they would push downtown big time, but PSE has been getting rid of the poorly managed restaurants downtown and therefore there is less for them.  We will see with the ECC campus - if the Pegula’s are gifted some land to develop around the stadium or if they eventually push to have a new rink built out in OP in the next decade.  
 

This decision has the potential for additional impact down the road.

 

 

 

If he gets the majority of the stadium publicly funded, there's no chance he gets serious money for the Sabres arena down the road.

 

My guess is he would look to unload that team. At some point it can't be worth the embarrassment and  headache owning such a disaster for so long.  Given their stated goal for the existence PSE as funding the family's "lifestyle", he would be wiser to cash out and add to the fun money pile.

[Rochesterfan]

9 minutes ago, Mr. WEO said:

 

If he gets the majority of the stadium publicly funded, there's no chance he gets serious money for the Sabres arena down the road.

 

My guess is he would look to unload that team. At some point it can't be worth the embarrassment and  headache owning such a disaster for so long.  Given their stated goal for the existence PSE as funding the family's "lifestyle", he would be wiser to cash out and add to the fun money pile.

 

 

I would agree, but owning the Sabres is his life long dream - so I doubt he sells them anytime soon.

 

The state keeps finding ways to build new arenas all over NYC for hockey, basketball, football, and baseball.  My guess is they will come up with the funding at some point for the Sabres, but they absolutely have to turn it around first.

 

At some point Hockey is also going to have to have another come to Jesus moment because once again Cost is outstripping revenue for many teams as the cap goes up - even after huge loses.  
 

 

[Freddie's Dead]

1 hour ago, Mr. WEO said:

 

 

He wants the state/county to bear the majority of the cost and he knows a downtown project, due to it's much higher price tag,  is a nonstarter for the local/state government.

 

He doesn't care where the stadium is, as long as it's paid for.  Why would he?

 

He wouldn't, we would.

[Chandler#81]

Just great. More ancient Indian burial grounds to contend with..

🤦‍♂️

[LabattBlue]

Found this interesting and something I agree with 100%…

 

https://www.nysenate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/patrick-m-gallivan/senator-gallivan-introduces-legislation-ensure-stadium?fbclid=IwAR1PZ7pC-DTqMUobMxI41YJZZN7lm6mQC4u9stvUtfM0JI5lqJoRzRLWW4I

[Draconator]

So at least we have until 2023...

 

https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/32133610/buffalo-bills-renew-lease-july-23-new-stadium-deal

 

Buffalo Bills won't renew lease in July '23 without new stadium deal

 

ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. -- The Buffalo Bills won't renew their lease with the state and county without an agreement in place for a proposed new $1.4 billion stadium to be partially publicly funded, leaving the team's future uncertain beyond July 2023.

 

"No, we absolutely will not," Pegula Sports and Entertainment senior vice president Ron Raccuia told Buffalo's WBEN-Radio on Thursday.

 

In saying the topic of relocation has not been raised during discussions with government officials, Raccuia didn't entirely rule out that possibility by using the word "yet" when asked if the Bills might begin looking elsewhere once the lease expires in about 23 months.

 

"We're not even focused on that, yet," said Raccuia, who is chief negotiator in talks for PSE, the parent company which owns the Bills.

 

"We're just committed to getting everybody together as quickly as possible to get to a solution," he added. "Talking about options and 'what happens if,' that serves no purpose. It's not where any of our focus or resources are being dedicated."

 

During a wide-ranging interview, Raccuia otherwise confirmed the cost, size and location of the stadium proposed by the Bills to be built in Orchard Park, New York, across the street from their current facility, Highmark Stadium, which opened in 1973.

 

At issue is how much the project would cost taxpayers in what Raccuia called a public-private partnership that would potentially include NFL funding. The expectation is the public will be asked to fund more than 50% of the cost.

 

A message left with Gov. Kathy Hochul, who is from Buffalo, was not immediately returned. On Monday, her office released a statement to The AP, which read, "no one is more committed to keeping the Bills in Buffalo" than Hochul, and that details will be shared once negotiations are completed.

 

Erie County executive Mark Poloncarz was not available. He previously dismissed speculation of the Bills possibly relocating but issued a warning by saying taxpayers won't be writing what he called "a blank check."

 

The Bills have ruled out renovating Highmark as being cost-prohibitive compared to starting fresh.

 

The new stadium's proposed capacity would be between 60,000 and 62,000 seats, which would make it one of the NFL's smallest -- and about 10,000 less than Highmark.

[Buffalo716]

6 hours ago, Freddie's Dead said:

 

They've kicked the can down the road at least the last 15 years.  Rich Stadium is nearly 50 years old.  It's time for a new stadium.  The devil is going to be in the details.  Two questions nobody asked on GR55 this morning:  1.  If you haven't even engaged an architect yet, how are you estimating $1.4B?  2.  Why does a downtown location add $.5B to the cost?

A downtown stadium will cost at least .5 billion more because they don't own the land... Infrastructure will have to be built... Tear downs will probably occur 

 

Op already has the land and lots... The stadium just needs to go up

[BuffaloBills1998]

42 minutes ago, Draconator said:

So at least we have until 2023...

 

https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/32133610/buffalo-bills-renew-lease-july-23-new-stadium-deal

 

Buffalo Bills won't renew lease in July '23 without new stadium deal

 

ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. -- The Buffalo Bills won't renew their lease with the state and county without an agreement in place for a proposed new $1.4 billion stadium to be partially publicly funded, leaving the team's future uncertain beyond July 2023.

 

"No, we absolutely will not," Pegula Sports and Entertainment senior vice president Ron Raccuia told Buffalo's WBEN-Radio on Thursday.

 

In saying the topic of relocation has not been raised during discussions with government officials, Raccuia didn't entirely rule out that possibility by using the word "yet" when asked if the Bills might begin looking elsewhere once the lease expires in about 23 months.

 

"We're not even focused on that, yet," said Raccuia, who is chief negotiator in talks for PSE, the parent company which owns the Bills.

 

"We're just committed to getting everybody together as quickly as possible to get to a solution," he added. "Talking about options and 'what happens if,' that serves no purpose. It's not where any of our focus or resources are being dedicated."

 

During a wide-ranging interview, Raccuia otherwise confirmed the cost, size and location of the stadium proposed by the Bills to be built in Orchard Park, New York, across the street from their current facility, Highmark Stadium, which opened in 1973.

 

At issue is how much the project would cost taxpayers in what Raccuia called a public-private partnership that would potentially include NFL funding. The expectation is the public will be asked to fund more than 50% of the cost.

 

A message left with Gov. Kathy Hochul, who is from Buffalo, was not immediately returned. On Monday, her office released a statement to The AP, which read, "no one is more committed to keeping the Bills in Buffalo" than Hochul, and that details will be shared once negotiations are completed.

 

Erie County executive Mark Poloncarz was not available. He previously dismissed speculation of the Bills possibly relocating but issued a warning by saying taxpayers won't be writing what he called "a blank check."

 

The Bills have ruled out renovating Highmark as being cost-prohibitive compared to starting fresh.

 

The new stadium's proposed capacity would be between 60,000 and 62,000 seats, which would make it one of the NFL's smallest -- and about 10,000 less than Highmark.

I think a deal gets done way before 23. I think it gets done sometime this year possibly.  Also to add the way this article was written was to make another unnecessary scare tactic toward the fans. I don’t even pay attention to ESPN anymore. They’ve become a joke

Edited September 2, 2021 by BuffaloBills1998

[Just Jack]

5 hours ago, Mr. WEO said:

 

"county would still own the stadium".

 

County will be demolishing stadium they just dumped 130 million into less than 10 years ago.  The majority of that money can't be recovered. Bonds will be paid off for a hole in the ground....as new bonds are issued for the next one.

 

They'll sell off anything can before it comes down.  Seats, signage, etc.  Won't bring in $130M, but it should be a good chunk of change.  I still have seats from the renovations back in 1999.

[purple haze]

6 hours ago, BTB said:

So maybe $200 mil for a fixed roof?  If so, it is a shame that it will not be part of the new stadium. 

The fan surveys indicated a majority of fans did not want a covered facility. So it’s not just the money.

[Freddie's Dead]

3 hours ago, Buffalo716 said:

A downtown stadium will cost at least .5 billion more because they don't own the land... Infrastructure will have to be built... Tear downs will probably occur 

 

Op already has the land and lots... The stadium just needs to go up

 

OK, fine.  500M sounds expensive for that, because they also said the infrastructure improvements would be ANOTHER 700-900M on top of the 1.9B.It would be nice to see some detail, but we'll be kept in the dark and fed @#$%, like mushrooms.

[PromoTheRobot]

3 hours ago, Buffalo716 said:

A downtown stadium will cost at least .5 billion more because they don't own the land... Infrastructure will have to be built... Tear downs will probably occur 

 

Op already has the land and lots... The stadium just needs to go up

They also looked at UB. Why not there? State land. Lots of parking. Extend Metro there. UB could play there so it gets more use.

[nucci]

https://sports.yahoo.com/bills-confirm-no-buffalo-lease-135524035.html

[May Day 10]

1 minute ago, nucci said:

https://sports.yahoo.com/bills-confirm-no-buffalo-lease-135524035.html

 

If Buffalo isn’t going to work out a deal to keep the Bills in place quickly, the Bills need to start looking for a new partner. If/when they start, it will be too late for Buffalo to keep a move from happening.

 

WTH.  This guy just loves the idea of teams relocating.

[machine gun kelly]

The guy who was on WGR the other day from PSE made a lot of sense.  The infrastructure is so much better in OP.  If you haven’t listened to it, I think its still on demand.

[nucci]

19 hours ago, Draconator said:

So at least we have until 2023...

 

https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/32133610/buffalo-bills-renew-lease-july-23-new-stadium-deal

 

Buffalo Bills won't renew lease in July '23 without new stadium deal

 

ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. -- The Buffalo Bills won't renew their lease with the state and county without an agreement in place for a proposed new $1.4 billion stadium to be partially publicly funded, leaving the team's future uncertain beyond July 2023.

 

"No, we absolutely will not," Pegula Sports and Entertainment senior vice president Ron Raccuia told Buffalo's WBEN-Radio on Thursday.

 

In saying the topic of relocation has not been raised during discussions with government officials, Raccuia didn't entirely rule out that possibility by using the word "yet" when asked if the Bills might begin looking elsewhere once the lease expires in about 23 months.

 

"We're not even focused on that, yet," said Raccuia, who is chief negotiator in talks for PSE, the parent company which owns the Bills.

 

"We're just committed to getting everybody together as quickly as possible to get to a solution," he added. "Talking about options and 'what happens if,' that serves no purpose. It's not where any of our focus or resources are being dedicated."

 

During a wide-ranging interview, Raccuia otherwise confirmed the cost, size and location of the stadium proposed by the Bills to be built in Orchard Park, New York, across the street from their current facility, Highmark Stadium, which opened in 1973.

 

At issue is how much the project would cost taxpayers in what Raccuia called a public-private partnership that would potentially include NFL funding. The expectation is the public will be asked to fund more than 50% of the cost.

 

A message left with Gov. Kathy Hochul, who is from Buffalo, was not immediately returned. On Monday, her office released a statement to The AP, which read, "no one is more committed to keeping the Bills in Buffalo" than Hochul, and that details will be shared once negotiations are completed.

 

Erie County executive Mark Poloncarz was not available. He previously dismissed speculation of the Bills possibly relocating but issued a warning by saying taxpayers won't be writing what he called "a blank check."

 

The Bills have ruled out renovating Highmark as being cost-prohibitive compared to starting fresh.

 

The new stadium's proposed capacity would be between 60,000 and 62,000 seats, which would make it one of the NFL's smallest -- and about 10,000 less than Highmark.

Sorry, i posted same . didn't see yours

[BuffaloBills1998]

20 minutes ago, May Day 10 said:

 

If Buffalo isn’t going to work out a deal to keep the Bills in place quickly, the Bills need to start looking for a new partner. If/when they start, it will be too late for Buffalo to keep a move from happening.

 

WTH.  This guy just loves the idea of teams relocating.

Florio just comes across as a bitter old man. I remember after Wilson passed he kept reporting that the Bills were for sure moving to Toronto and it never happened. Florio just wants clicks, that’s how he gets paid. And unfortunately some of us fans are gullible enough to give him the clicks. I don’t bother with Florio or ESPN for that matter. The spokesperson literally said that relocation is something they’re not even discussing and that the Pegulas are committed to keeping us in Buffalo. But of course they won’t report that. Guys like Florio live off controversy and instigation 

[machine gun kelly]

The only thing I used to like about Florio is Simms on his show.  Simms is a sharp guy, not just because he likes Allen, but he has reasoned opinions even when I disagree with him.

[May Day 10]

5 minutes ago, BuffaloBills1998 said:

Florio just comes across as a bitter old man. I remember after Wilson passed he kept reporting that the Bills were for sure moving to Toronto and it never happened. Florio just wants clicks, that’s how he gets paid. And unfortunately some of us fans are gullible enough to give him the clicks. I don’t bother with Florio or ESPN for that matter. The spokesperson literally said that relocation is something they’re not even discussing and that the Pegulas are committed to keeping us in Buffalo. But of course they won’t report that. Guys like Florio live off controversy and instigation 

 

Yeah, they asked him directly about the lease, and that was the only answer he could give.

 

He isnt going to say "sure, we will keep extending this lease into perpetuity just because we are nice"

 

This step of the process was always going to be awkward for the Pegulas.  PSE is doing their best to look firm/threatening without really doing it.  And judging by public comments by all parties, it seems that things are still moving.

[BuffaloBills1998]

20 minutes ago, May Day 10 said:

 

Yeah, they asked him directly about the lease, and that was the only answer he could give.

 

He isnt going to say "sure, we will keep extending this lease into perpetuity just because we are nice"

 

This step of the process was always going to be awkward for the Pegulas.  PSE is doing their best to look firm/threatening without really doing it.  And judging by public comments by all parties, it seems that things are still moving.

Definitely, it was reported a week ago that the first meeting between the county officials and the Pegulas went very well and that talks are continuing to progress. But again the media doesn’t report that, they just take certain words or sentences and they try to form up their own little story to get clicks and get people pissed off. I think we can all agree that a deal will be made and completed for the new stadium here in OP