ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. (WBEN) - Steve Ranalli has overseen a number of development projects across his storied career but none have had him working under such a microscope and public fish bowl as Highmark Stadium.
And now, after more than three years of actual construction and several years before that in the planning phase, Ranalli will be among the more than 63,000 people Thursday night as the Buffalo Bills host the Detroit Lions in the first regular season game in the $2.2 billion Highmark Stadium.
"It was a long road to get here," Ranalli said.
As Erie County Stadium Corp. president, Ranalli spent virtually every day for the past few years at the massive Orchard Park construction site. As of this year, the stadium corporation - an affiliate of Empire State Development - is the venue's and Buffalo Bills' landlord.
"Everything looks and feels ready," Ranalli said
True, there are some punch list items - nothing major - that need to be addressed.
And, the stadium corporation is working with the Bills on a $15 million project to renovate the team's former administration building at the eastern end of the old Highmark Stadium site into offices for staffers.
Also, crews are finishing with the demolition and clean up of the old stadium site - just across Abbott Road from new Highmark Stadium. The old site, for now, will be filled in and paved and used for parking until the Bills determine what will be developed on the property..
For now, Ranalli is focusing on the community's reaction to the stadium.
"Even from the outside, it has a very campus-like feel," Ranalli said.
Robert Duffy, stadium corporation chairman and former New York Lieutenant Governor, agrees.
"I think this stadium will be the pride of Western New York," said Duffy, who is the Rochester Chamber of Commerce president and CEO. "The Buffalo Bills deserve the best home possible in the NFL and they have it.'
Duffy was a key player in the 2013 negotiations with then-Bills owner and founder Ralph Wilson Jr. and his executive level team. Those talks actually helped create a baseline and foundation for what became the new stadium - a $2.2 billion investment shepherded by team owner and president Terry Pegula.
"The one thing that constantly came up (in the 2013 talks) is that Mr. Wilson, his family and team never wanted the Bills to leave Buffalo," Duffy said.
Meanwhile, the economic impact of the new stadium is already being felt.
Patrick Kaler, Visit Buffalo president and CEO, said downtown hotel rooms for Thursday's game are in short supply, with some going for more than $1,000 a night.
And, Kaler said Bills fans and football fans, in general, are making the trek to Buffalo just to check out the new stadium. That translates into booked hotel rooms, new dinner reservations and an increase at attractions and some neighborhood retailing destinations like the Elmwood Village.
"We are going to ride this wave as long as we can," Kaler said.
Stadium is ready and more than good to go says EC Stadium Corp. president
Stadium is ready and more than good to go says EC Stadium Corp. president
