There may finally be some progress on the Buffalo Bills’ quest for a new stadium.
Representatives from Pegula Sports and Entertainment, New York State and Erie County met in person for the first time Monday, according to Tim Graham of The Athletic. They toured Highmark Stadium together to determine how many repairs need to be made in order for the 48-year-old venue to stay viable.
Sources “close to the meeting” told Graham they’re optimistic the meeting could be a step forward for both parties.
Earlier this summer, Bills co-owners Kim and Terry Pegula submitted a $1.4 billion proposal for a new stadium across the street from Highmark Stadium, but Erie County lawmakers have balked at the plan so far.
“The city of Buffalo and state are going to have to decide if they want a team," said Pegula Sports and Entertainment spokesperson Jim Wilkinson Aug. 18.
On the positive side, it seems as if the two sides are moving beyond the harsh rhetoric, given Monday's meeting. Pegula Sports and Entertainment executive vice president Ron Raccuia and outside counsel Scott Zolke were present, Graham reports. Zolke has played a role in numerous major pro sports deals and acquisitions, including the Vegas Golden Knights’ acquisition and Steve Ballmer’s purchase of the Los Angeles Clippers.
Meanwhile, Erie County, which hired the law firm Greenberg Traurig to manage negotiations, was represented by the firm’s national public finance practice chairman, Franklin D.R. Jones Jr. Jones helped the Miami Dolphins with their recent $450 million renovation of Hard Rock Stadium.
While $1.4 billion may seem like an astronomical number for a sports venue, it’s actually below the cost of recent NFL stadiums. The last two new stadiums to be erected, Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas and SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles, cost a reported $1.8 billion and $2.66 billion. In fact, the last NFL stadium to be built for under $1.1 billion was U.S. Bank Stadium in Minnesota. The building opened in 2016.
There are only three NFL venues that were operating before Highmark Stadium opened in 1973: Soldier Field, Lambeau Field and Arrowhead Stadium.
On Monday, NFL commissioner Roger Goodell voiced his support for a new stadium in Orchard Park.
“We’re certainly beyond [renovating]. I think a new stadium is what’s needed,” Goodell said at Jim Kelly’s charity golf tournament. “I think the Bills, the community and the NFL are all going to have to come together and do that in a smart way.”
Goodell also stressed the importance of a public-private partnership between the Pegulas and Erie County.
“This has been going on for decades, and it's time to get a new stadium done [so] we can make sure the Bills are here and successful for many, many decades going forward,” Goodell said.
Though a deal could remain far away, it’s a good sign the two sides finally got together on Monday. It’s the first genuine step forward we’ve seen so far.
It looks like progress is finally being made on a new stadium in Orchard Park