(WBEN) - We now know how the State is looking to pay for its agreed part of the new Bills stadium.
Governor Kathy Hochul announced Tuesday that the state has received over $564 Million from the Seneca Nation to resolve a long-standing gaming compact dispute, and that the state's share of $418 Million will go towards constructing the Buffalo Bills stadium. The state has agreed to contribute $600 Million in total toward the stadium project.
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"These funds were generated in Western New York, and I am directing the State's share, which is more than $418 million, to the new Buffalo Bills stadium," Hochul said in a statement.
The Seneca Nation Council approved a resolution directing the transfer of $564 Million to the state. The money represents a 25% share of slot machine revenues from the nation's casinos in Buffalo, Niagara Falls and Salamanca from 2017 to 2021.
The Senecas though, say the payment was their only option after the state placed restrictions on several Seneca bank accounts. A freeze on Seneca accounts meant that many went three days without being able to acces their own money.
“The Seneca Nation simply could not stand by while New York State intentionally attempted to hold the Seneca people and thousands of Western New Yorkers hostage,” Seneca President Matthew Pagels said.
