Warsaw, N.Y. (WBEN) - Buffalo Bills fans anxious for a deal on a new stadium by Christmas or the end of the year can still hold out some hope, but it could also be months before a deal between the state, Erie County, the team and the NFL is formalized.
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New York Gov. Kathy Hochul, during a stop in Warsaw on Monday morning, addressed the timeline for a possible deal while responding to questions from WBEN.
"I've also offered two timelines to [the Bills], whatever works best for them," Hochul said. "I can get this done by the end of the year, I can get this done. We can work out the numbers, we're having good conversations.
"I also have until the end of March. It is a budgetary item, so I also have a larger window if we need more time."
Hochul added that the end of the year is not a "hard deadline".
When it comes to the location of a new stadium, Hochul also hinted the stadium would end up in Orchard Park.
"Orchard Park is their first choice, their only choice," she said. "We'll make it all happen."
When reached to comment on the governor's comments, Pegula Sports and Entertainment Executive Vice President Ron Raccuia stated:
"We appreciate the governor's comments this morning. There's a lot of work to be done and we continue those efforts."
Hochul said she is hopeful for a deal in the near future, but ended her comments by saying, "A lot of devil in the details."
Hochul’s comments were the most extensive regarding negotiations with the Bills' parent company, Pegula Sports and Entertainment, since she took over as governor following Andrew Cuomo’s resignation in August.
It’s unclear whether Pegula Sports and Entertainment favors pushing talks into the new year.
Raccuia, who is Pegula Sports and Entertainment’s lead negotiator, had previously said the Bills would prefer having a deal in place by the end of this year.
“If we get to January, and there’s no new deal done, you should be really be concerned,” he said back in late October.
Though the project to replace the Bills' existing 48-year-old Highmark Stadium couldn’t get started until the state budget is approved, Pegula Sports and Entertainment has noted having an agreement in place would allow it to proceed with preliminary plans, including hiring an architect.
A bigger question not addressed is how much money the state and Erie County will be required to commit, with the Bills anticipating taxpayers will be asked to bear more than 50% of the cost.
A state study released last month projected building a new 60,000-plus seat stadium across the street from the Bills’ current facility would cost $1.354 billion. Building one downtown would potentially cost an additional $750 million to the total because of the need to acquire land and make necessary infrastructure upgrades.
The study backed by the Bills in determining further renovations to Highmark Stadium would be cost-prohibitive at $862 million.
Time is becoming an issue, with Raccuia previously saying Pegula Sports and Entertainment has no intention of renewing the lease once it expires in July of 2023 if no deal is in place. The threat of relocation is a possibility — even though it has not been raised in talks. Raccuia maintains the Bills are solely focused on reaching an agreement with state and county officials to help finance the new stadium.
Pegula Sports and Entertainment also prefers having a deal in place in time for the budget, because Hochul is entering an election year and will have little time for negotiations while campaigning. Pegula Sports and Entertainment is also concerned negotiations would have to start over with a new administration, should Hochul not be re-elected.