BUFFALO, N.Y. (WBEN) - There were no threat by the Buffalo Bills to leave Western New York for another city, according to Erie County Executive Mark Poloncarz, who is among the prominent officials involved in negotiations with the team over a new stadium.
"I don't want to go into the particulars of where we are in negotiations in something like that, but I will note for the record at no time has the team representatives said 'If you do not build this and pay for it, we are moving.'," Poloncarz said. "They have not said that. I want the public to understand there has been no gun put to the head of Erie County and New York State stating 'If you do not do this, we are moving'. I want people to understand negotiations are a long process."
Reports last weekend surfaced that Austin, Texas was a possible city for the team to move to.
"There's all kinds of speculation out there," Poloncarz said. "It doesn't help in trying to reach an agreement when there's all these people who claim they have knowledge about what's going on talking about this situation and the information is not accurate."
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Pegula Sports and Entertainment reportedly wants a new stadium to be built in Orchard Park. The stadium, according to reports, would cost more than $1 billion with the Pegulas seeking entirely public dollars to fund the project. A deal, if reached, is expected to include public dollars, though it's also likely there will be private investment from PSE.
The Bills opened talks after determining they are in need of a new stadium to be located near their existing facility in suburban Buffalo — though a downtown facility has not yet been entirely ruled out.
The Bills current lease expires in July 2023, and after the state and county committed $227 million toward extensive renovations and annual capital and game-day expenses in 2013.
Further structural repairs and modern-day upgrades are necessary, which in 2014 were estimated to cost $540 million.
The past lease was negotiated by Poloncarz and New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo, and involved Bills Hall of Fame owner Ralph Wilson, who died in March 2014. This time, the talks involve new owners Terry and Kim Pegula, who purchased the Bills for a then NFL-record $1.4 billion, and also own the NHL Buffalo Sabres.
The Pegulas are also seeking public money to upgrade the Sabres' downtown arena, but those discussions have been put off and are separate from the Bills.
Though premature to discuss, the prospect of the Bills relocating is not entirely out of the question based on recent NFL history. The Raiders relocated to Las Vegas last year after failing to secure enough public funds to build a stand-alone football stadium in Oakland, California.
Similar issues led to both the San Diego Chargers and St. Louis Rams relocating to Los Angeles over the past decade.
Wilson, who founded the Bills in Buffalo in 1960 as part of the upstart American Football League, was a long-time advocate against franchise relocation. He cemented that reputation by signing off on a strict non-relocation clause in the team’s most recent lease at a time there were concerns an outside buyer would purchase the Bills and move them to Toronto.
Current negotiations could become complicated as a result of Cuomo’s uncertain status as governor after the results of an investigation, released Tuesday, found he sexually harassed at least 11 women. Should he not heed numerous calls to resign, Cuomo could face impeachment proceedings.
Cuomo has been an advocate for keeping the Bills in Buffalo in part because of the tax dollars they generate in being the only NFL franchise based in New York.
Bills backers are encouraged in knowing the person next in line to replace Cuomo would be Lieutenant Governor Kathy Hochul, who is from Buffalo.
Hochul on Tuesday said, “We’re not feeling threatened,” when asked about the possibility of the Bills relocating. “We’re having conversations with the organization. We’re going to get the result this community needs,” she added.
Poloncarz, who has called for Cuomo to resign, said the governor’s status shouldn’t have an immediate impact on stadium talks because Cuomo hasn’t been involved directly in talks, with the state being represented by legal and consulting teams.
“I do feel that the players in place right now can still move ahead regardless of what’s happening in Albany,” Poloncarz said, referring to the state capital. “If the governor is then Kathy Hochul, I do know Kathy Hochul wants to ensure the Bills stay in Buffalo.”