When the Bills signed a 10-year lease to remain at Ralph Wilson Stadium, the agreement came with a vow to begin looking at options for a new stadium that would keep the team in Buffalo for an even longer period of time.
On Monday, New York Governor Andrew Cuomo appointed five people to the New Stadium Working Group as a first step toward exploring those options. New York State, Erie County and the Bills can each name seven members to the group. In a letter to the county and team, senior policy adviser to the governor Howard B. Glaser said they hoped to have an initial meeting of the group in the next two weeks.
“The purpose of the group is to explore options for development and construction of a new stadium in Western New York to serve as a home for the Bills, a catalyst for economic growth and a premier sports and entertainment venue for the region,” Glaser wrote, via the Buffalo News.
The five members appointed by Gov. Cuomo are Lt. Gov. Robert Duffy, Buffalo Mayor Byron W. Brown, Niagara Falls Mayor Paul Dyster, Buffalo Niagara Partnership CEO Dottie Gallagher-Cohen and Empire State Development President Kenneth Adams.
The group is expected to consider a variety of options for the stadium, including locations in suburban Erie County and Niagara Falls in addition to Buffalo proper. As they work toward that goal, renovations jointly financed by all three parties will be taking place at Ralph Wilson Stadium.