BUFFALO, N.Y. (WBEN) – Buffalo lawmakers on Tuesday called on city, county, and state representatives to advocate for the serious consideration of the feasibility of a downtown stadium for the Buffalo Bills.
The resolution, which was approved unanimously, does not specifically call for a downtown stadium to be built. However, with much of the focus on a new stadium across Abbott Road from Highmark Stadium, lawmakers largely feel the city has been ignored as a viable option.
“I understand some of the dollars and that it may increase the cost, but with the infrastructure bill on the table in Congress, I think it may be well-suited that we have the money to do something,” Councilman Rasheed Wyatt, the resolution’s sponsor, said. “For us not to speak up as the leaders of the City of Buffalo and to say a word just to let them go into that dark night back in Orchard Park, I think, would be unforgivable.”
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Mayor Byron Brown last week told WBEN he was not optimistic about a downtown stadium, citing the team’s desire to stay in Orchard Park.
A new stadium in Orchard Park is estimated to cost $1.4 billion while a downtown stadium would add another $1 billion because of infrastructure upgrades that would be required. Lawmakers expressed broad concerns about the impact a downtown stadium would have on places like the Perry Projects, which would be eliminated with the creation of a downtown stadium.
However, others said a downtown stadium could benefit the city with the creation of new businesses. Some feel it’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.