BUFFALO, N.Y. (WBEN) - A final report on a new convention center should be released in the coming weeks.
The current Buffalo Niagara Convention Center on Franklin Street in Buffalo is more than 40 years old and it lacks many amenities that other convention centers in similar markets have.
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The two main options for a future convention center is to expand the current one on Franklin Street into Statler City and the block north of that or to create an entirely new site at the HSBC lot located by the arena. The expanded option was preferred by some surveyed event planners because of its proximity to hotels and restaurants and because the convention center can remain operational during its construction. Building a new convention center, though, would offer a blank slate.
Neither option is perfect, though. The expanded site wouldn't lend itself to further expansion after it's completed and the exhibit hall would require elevators for freight movement. An entirely new convention center is not close to many hotels and restaurants.
Kaler has no preference yet on a site, though he said he wants the region to remain in the convention center business. Cost estimates of a new or upgrade convention center tentatively range from $263 million to $343 million.
"By pretty much doubling the size of the convention center, that economic impact would increase to about $72 million to $75 million of economic impact," Kaler said.
The final report was expected to be released in December. Kaler, who is on the steering committee for both studies on the convention center, said that the timing of contract signing may have caused some delays. He said he is sure that Poloncarz is going through the final stages of the report.
Poloncarz did not return our multiple requests for comment on this story. The Erie County Legislature is expected to hold committee discussions on the convention center sometime in mid-February.
"If we do have money coming from the state that makes a new convention center viable, I will carry that torch and see that that option gets further explored," Lorigo said.
Chairwoman April Baskin also did not return our request for comment, though a spokesperson for the legislature's majority said she would once the report is out.
