BUFFALO, N.Y. (WBEN) "This started organically when Buffalo council member Rasheed Wyatt started pushing for a downtown stadium and the council backed him up," said Ben Siegel, co-founder of the Bills in Buffalo.
"We just decided to jump into it and look at the feasibility, the amenities, the infrastructure and light rail to see how viable it was. It kind of spiraled into the Bills in Buffalo committee that was recently formed," said Siegel.
The cost differential is one of the biggest differences between the two potential stadium sites. The cost to build a new stadium in Orchard Park is estimated to cost $1.35 billion according to the most recent state study. That is slightly less than the Bills projection from an internal study that has not been shared publicly. A new stadium in the City of Buffalo could cost at least $2.1 billion according to both studies.
"It's hard to compare the reports because no one has eyes on the Bills private study," said Siegel. "The 2.1 billion is the absolute maximum if everything escalates. One of the things we have is adequate parking in the city. Nearly 100-million dollars goes to surface parking and structured parking. The state report did not take into account the fact that not nearly as many people are going to be driving to the stadium, partly because it's only seats 60K people and because of light rail. Not every single person has to drive," he said.
Siegel asks what if the two sites were equal? "What if we can figure out a way that the NFL and Buffalo Bills are investing the same amount of money that they said they would. And the city gets creative." He suggests potential gambling revenue, or taxing tourism through bed taxes, or rental cars.
"Let's make it even. If we can make it even, why wouldn't they choose to be downtown?" Siegel says the state report cites a greater possibility of spin off development downtown, than in Orchard Park.
One factor that may separate the two stadium sites is time. While the Orchard Park site is ready, it would take time to make a downtown site shovel ready. From land acquisition to infrastructure requirements and the preservationist movement that can hold up projects.
"We can't just go for the easy solution. I think that's what the Buffalo Bills are looking to do." Siegel says for the Bills, it's all about maximizing profit quickly,
cheaply and easily. "I think that's the wrong approach. This is a big decision."
The Bills' lease on their current stadium doesn't expire for 21 more months, but the team has said they will not negotiate an extension without a deal in place for a new facility.
The Bills' preferred location for a new stadium has been in Orchard Park, next to the current facility. The team cites extra costs associated with building downtown as well as the need for urgency with the project.
Buffalo Common Council members passed a resolution recently calling for consideration of a downtown location. Lawmakers largely feel the city has been ignored as a viable option.
The Council will host a special public hearing about the location of the new Bills stadium Tuesday November 9, at 5:30pm, in council chambers.
