Orchard Park, N.Y. (WBEN) - Public comment was received for the new Bills stadium site plan during a public meeting Thursday evening at the ADPRO Sports Training Center next to Highmark Stadium.
The new stadium will be built right across from Highmark Stadium on Abbott Road in Orchard Park.
Residents and local business owners were given a 30-minute presentation with various consultants of the project to get a better understanding of the work done to complete the new Bills stadium project.
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"First and foremost, the building is about fans coming to watch football, the proximity of those fans to the field of play and how close they can be, but also how we can protect them from some of the elements when it gets into some of the winter months. We wanted to really harness the energy of the Buffalo fans and we want it to create a uniquely Buffalo gameday experience. So those core elements are kind of at the forefront and the foundation of everything we're doing," said Scott Radecic, Senior Principal at Populous Architecture, a firm that specialized in design of sport stadiums.
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He describes that the stadium is going to be taller with multiple levels, but more compact and have slightly less seating than the old stadium, approximately 60,000 seats.
"That's actually being done on purpose by our architectural team because we're trying to create this intimate place where the seats are right on top of the playing field that provides amazing sight lines for fans, but also a loud, intimidating bowl. I know that our owner has said that he wants every team that comes to play in this stadium to say 'I hate going to Buffalo to play' and that's what we're trying to do from a design standpoint," said Radecic.
The design is also going to include an increase in parking to accommodate approximately 10,500.
Residents had a variety of concerns and comments, but the main focus for the residents that attended, is sidewalks, safety and transportation to and from events. Many want to see more wide sidewalks built around the stadium and also more transportation to and from the stadium. Erie County Legislator John Mills agrees.
"We need it. Wide handicap sidewalks running from Southwestern Boulevard, north on Abbott Road, up the Milestrip Road. Both sides, the Hamburg side and the Orchard Park side, because these residents had been suffering for years without proper mobility down that road. But the bigger picture is, all the residents and people from outside the area that come in again, they need to have good access to safely exit to the new stadium," said Mills.
"It's been my understanding that back when the Bills did renovation on the present stadium six years ago, they had the original renovation plan included a pedestrian bridge over Abbott Road," said Big Tree Road resident Bob Fessler.
"There have been several problems with the closing of Abbott Road on game days, both for residents getting in and out of their properties and also for the fans. If the majority of the parking for the new stadium is actually going to be on the east side of Abbey Road, it would seem to me to be something that would be worth while to consider to at least have a pedestrian bridge over there so that you wouldn't have to close Abbott Road. For every game, I believe there's also been a few people that have been hit by vehicles while they were going across the road," said Fessler.
"I'd like to know what investments will be made in our local communities to accompany this deal, this project, including improvements and public transit. I agree with Legislator Mills that we need more sidewalks. I'd also like to know about bus routes and shuttles including for employees," said Nathan Fiest, local resident.
Marcus Costello of Kenmore notes that there used to be a Ralph Wilson bus that could take people from the city of Buffalo to Orchard Park.
This public meeting will not be the last. There will be another one in the fall, date to be announced.
To hear more on this project or submit your input, click here.
To listen to the full presentation and public comment, see the player below: