In an interview with the Buffalo News this week, Bills co-owner Kim Pegula sounded a doubtful note about the chances of building a new stadium in Buffalo.
Pegula noted the high cost of building a stadium, the lack of desire from fans to buy personal seat licenses, the lack of desire from public officials to fund a stadium and the money spent to buy the team as reasons for that pessimistic take. Erie County Executive Mark Poloncarz responded to Pegula’s comments on Thursday.
“I’ve been saying this for years,” Poloncarz wrote on Twitter. “Recently built stadiums are approaching $2 billion. That is a ridiculous amount of money to spend for just a stadium if you think about all the other needs a community has to address. I’m glad Kim Pegula said publicly what all with the team knew.”
The Bills have a lease at New Era Stadium through the 2022 season and can opt out after the 2020 season, although the team has said they do not plan to exercise that option. There is an $18 million renovation project in the works, but the question of what path the team takes beyond this lease will remain a question in the coming years.