Buffalo, N.Y. (WBEN) - Buffalo Pro Soccer may soon have a stadium built in the former Buffalo News parking lot, but in order to do so, they're going to need over $20 million in state funding.
Assembly Majority Leader Crystal Peoples-Stokes says she likes the idea of building a new stadium downtown, but it's going to be difficult getting it included in this years budget.
"I'm not going to make a commitment to a $20 million budget item two weeks before it needs to happen. I think there's going to have to be a lot more conversations. There are a lot more priorities that are already on the state's agenda, as well as the district's agenda for this current budget, and so I'm happy to be engaged in the conversation on it, but I cannot make a commitment to that," stated Peoples-Stokes in an interview with WBEN.
Peoples-Stokes says she spoke with the President of Buffalo Pro Soccer, Peter Marlette Jr., around a month ago at one of the delegation meeting. However, at that point, Governor Hochul already started her budget process.
"I personally think that their first stop should have been trying to get it included in her budget, as opposed to now trying to discuss it with the legislature. I will definitely, as I said before, be happy to communicate with both the organizers and New York state's economic development team as well as people from the governor's office to figure out what the possibilities are and if it's not possible for them to get access to state dollars in the 2025 budget, 26 is coming," explained Peoples-Stokes.
Assemblyman Jonathan Rivera says it's still possible for the funds to be included in this year's budget since the state is still negotiating it.
"That number seems like a high number, but in reality, comparatively speaking to where state assets and state resources are going, we should stand on our feet firmly and say we want more of our tax dollars coming back to this community and in things like this, but in other ways too," stated Rivera in an interview with WBEN.
The hope is for the stadium to be built and open to the public by March 2026.
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