Orchard Park, NY (WBEN) The Empire State Development corporation has unveiled renderings(below) for the Bills' stadiums both downtown and in Orchard Park.
The renderings are part of a study dating back to 2019 and are only artistic renderings for illustration purposes only, team sources tell WBEN.
The stadium in Buffalo and one in Orchard Park would have 62,000 seats and cost nearly $2 billion downtown and just over $1.5 billion in Orchard Park. The downtown stadium would take nearly 7 years to complete.
When stacked alongside and analyzed in the extensive report, the downtown site scores highest and carries the higher price tag to match.
Pegula Sports and Entertainment officials are continuing to negotiate with New York State and Erie County officials for a new lease that would include a new stadium.
During a visit to Western New York this week, Governor Kathy Hochul told WBEN that an agreement could be reached as soon as the end of this year, but added the state could wait as late as March to include the new stadium in a new state budget.
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Throughout the process, team officials have voiced a preference for the Orchard Park site adjacent to the existing stadium, citing both cost and a more streamlined construction schedule as assets.
Hochul, in her comments this week, indicated that the state was prepared to defer to the team on its Orchard Park preference.
The team notes there would be reduced tailgating with a downtown stadium, but the city could become a public partner for pro football.
Meanwhile, the Orchard Park stadium would cost about $450 million less. It would be ready in about 5 1/2 years. The team would not be displaced, nor would tailgating be affected.
