Buffalo Bills fans can finally have a sigh of relief after the team and New York state agreed to $1.4 billion worth of private-public funding for a new stadium.
The lease on the Bills’ current stadium is set to expire around August 2022 and they badly need a deal in place to keep the team in Buffalo.
The new lease will be for 30 years and the new 62,000-seat, open-air stadium will be finished by 2026.
Out of the agreed value, $850 million will come from taxpayers’ money, with $600 million coming from the state budget while Erie County contributes $250 million.
As always, there will be apprehension regarding the use of public money for stadiums that will house professional sporting teams owned by billionaires.
With all their money, why can’t they use their own funds to build the stadium without assistance?
Likewise, there’s always the concern of delegating the funds for better use.
An $850 million dollar investment in a Buffalo Bills stadium is an insult to thousands of unhoused and hungry New Yorkers.
— Jeremy Felt (@jeremiahfelt) March 28, 2022
The other problems of the city and the state come at the forefront whenever deals for a new stadium are in the works.
However, this Twitter user was quick to point out the terms of the funding.
The $850 mil public funding for the new Bills Stadium isn’t all going to be from taxes. Some will be paid from the lease with the Bills over time.
Let’s build this thing! Go Bills
— The_Matt_In_The_Hat (@beardedphotog24) March 28, 2022
The Citizen’s Robert Harding seconded that thought by sharing that “The current Bills stadium, along with the new one, will be owned by the state. Erie County owns the current stadium.”
The Benefits Outweigh The Risks
Furthermore, Harding added that “the State will own the new stadium and adjoining complex, which will be leased to the Bills.”
If the Bills default on the agreement, New York state can enforce non-relocation terms.
Since the State owns the stadium, it can be used for civic purposes like vaccination delivery, elections, and emergencies.
On the sporting side of things, Erie County Executive Mark Poloncarz got this soccer fan excited with his latest announcement.
!! for soccer fans.
Mark Poloncarz calls the new #Bills stadium a multi-use facility and specifically mentions trying to get international soccer friendlies in WNY.
— Nick Veronica (@NickVeronica) March 28, 2022
While the debate regarding the new stadium’s funding rages on, the Bills Mafia are thrilled to have their beloved team for at least three more decades.
They don’t want a repeat of what happened to the Cleveland Browns when they left after the 1995 NFL season.
This new Bills stadium better have the cheapest beer if taxpayers are putting up that much for it
— Toby (@TonyDeanPuleo) March 28, 2022
But once the new stadium is open, die-hard and casual fans can relate to this guy’s plea in the above tweet.
NEXT: Bills Commit To A New Stadium Perfect For Buffalo
