Buffalo, N.Y. (WBEN) - The Buffalo Pro Soccer group is getting the ball rolling for a new stadium after acquiring rights for a team in the USL Championship club.
Peter Marlette Jr., president of Buffalo Pro Soccer, hopes the solution in Buffalo will be a plan for a "modular stadium."
"A modular stadium is a fully customizable prefabricated stadium. The pieces are built elsewhere, then brought to the site and installed. They are completely customizable. They are world class. World Cup games and last World Cup were played in a modular stadium. Lionel Messi, arguably the best player to ever play, plays in a modular Stadium in Miami right now. They are absolutely top quality." said Marlette in an interview with WBEN. "They are quick to install easily within a year, and they are a lot less expensive than a classic, concrete, traditional stadium. If we go that route, I think we can absolutely build what Buffalo needs."
The expected cost of the stadium is around $15 million, but Marlette said things could change if a principal owner steps forward and decides to increase the budget.
Marlette explains the stadium can also be used throughout the year for a variety of events that aren't soccer related.
"The occupancy of a stadium about this size could fit as a concert venue. There's a gap in the Buffalo market right now at that exact level. There's also charity walks, conferences, events and taste of Buffalo, whatever it may be. There are a ton of things that would fit within this stadium and I envision it being used hundreds of times a year, not for 20 soccer games."