The Buffalo Bills are officially on their way to a new stadium.
Alaina Getzenberg of ESPN is reporting that the last hurdle for the organization has been cleared. An 11-member legislature for Erie County had to approve the 30-year lease for the stadium, and they did so unanimously.
Construction on Buffalo’s new stadium, which is expected to be open for business in 2026, will begin this June.
“As much as everybody would like to think the Bills were never moving, there was always a risk being a small market and larger markets that were interested in the team,” Erie County executive Mark Poloncarz said after the signing.
“So, because of the tremendous work of so many, including from the Pegulas’ team, I can guarantee you that this team is staying here for the rest of my life and everyone will be able to cheer on the Buffalo Bills for decades to come.”
This is a huge win for both Buffalo and Bills fans, as the new stadium should be an epic successor to Highmark Stadium, which has been in operation since 1973.
The initial price tag for the new stadium was estimated at $1.4 billion, with the state and county on the hook for a combined $850 million in funding. The cost of the build has since jumped up to $1.54 billion, with team owners Terry and Kim Pegula covering the additional amounts.
While we have to wait and see what $1.54 billion can build Buffalo, we do know for sure that Bills games will still be cold. Very cold. True to Bills form and history, the new structure will be an open-air stadium. No dome or roof is in the plans. It is expected to be able to hold between 60,000-62,000 people.
