Bills Stadium Generating Buffalo Buzz

         In the foreseeable future, a new Buffalo Bills stadium might be built in downtown Buffalo. The Bills are beloved by thousands. Fans around the world cheer for them and are passionate. If they want the franchise to have continued success, a new stadium is needed. 

Four preferred sites have been identified, three in the city, and one in Orchard Park. Others have received mention, but there are four main positions. East of First Niagara Center in the Cobblestone district, Exchange and Michigan Avenue, and southeast of South Park Avenue - Louisiana Street along the Buffalo River are the city sites. The Orchard Park location is simply next to the current stadium. Sean Green is the Director of Operations Sports Development at RiverWorks, and he believes a new stadium would be a great idea.

“I think it would be phenomenal, it’s another piece to the puzzle in terms of excitement and opportunities to bring people down here,” said Green. He expressed the thought of 80,000 people going downtown, everyone would benefit from it. RiverWorks is still being completed, but among themselves they have discussed the potential for a stadium downtown. They would plan their events around it, and stadium events would help structure RiverWorks, along with other city attractions.

As the new Bills owners, Terry and Kim Pegula have a large task at hand. They have expressed their desire to keep the Bills in Western New York, and have a commitment to winning. For the Pegulas, a new stadium could cost between $784.6-$911.9 million, pending which city location chosen, if any.

Green feels the general perception is fans want a stadium downtown with all the excitement. “The city is growing and it’s changing, sometimes change is good,” says Green. A new stadium downtown would make the city the place to go.
        “You hear the excitement of people staying here or coming back home here, sports is a huge part of people’s lives and activities and families, the tradition of going together if it’s a Bills game, Sabres game, Bandits game, or whatever else, families come together,” said Green. 

With Green’s role being to schedule events and attract people, bringing so much activity downtown, he doesn’t think it’s a bad idea. There are already major events occurring. Garth Brooks recently came to Buffalo. Six shows in four days, with two of those days holding two shows per day, Buffalo seems ready.

Parking is a big concern for some. Green sees it as a non-issue. RiverWorks held the Labatt Pond Hockey Tournament with 15,000 people in January. With only 500 parking spaces, Green recalled it wasn’t a problem. Obviously 80,000 is more than that, but he believes the minds behind the parking and traffic flow will be ready to tackle the issue.

The thought of having a home Bills and Sabres game in one day, in close proximity, appeals to Green. “Two wins! I picture a vibrant, energetic city, that’s going to have a passion for a Sunday,” says Green. 

Understandably, many Orchard Park residents and business owners would not want the Bills to leave the area. People who allow parking on their lawn during game days would lose out financially. “A guy who has parking at his house maybe counts on that $5,000 revenue, that may not seem like a lot when you’re building a billion dollar stadium, but to them maybe that was their family vacation money,” says Green.

Ben Stack, a manager at O’Neill’s, a bar located across from Ralph Wilson Stadium, wouldn’t want the Bills to relocate. Game days would be the biggest loss for O’Neill’s. Stack sees the “The Ralph” as a staple of the area.

“It’s an influx in a positive way for our sales, it’s like getting a bonus or a raise, we do well, then that’s kind of the cherry on top,” said Stack. He discussed Canadians who come down to Buffalo, spend the night, then go to O’Neill’s before the game, would be a loss.

“It brings together the community, loyal Bills fans in the area,” Stack says. He also thinks the fans of Orchard Park would suffer the most rather than the local businesses. The tailgaters outside the stadium nearly match the number of people attending the game.

The stadium has helped O’Neill’s build a name for itself. Food vendors or parking officials can move downtown, but the businesses can’t.

           Buffalo fans are diehard. Before the Pegulas purchased the team, there was an abundance of outcry due to the team possibly moving to Toronto.Whether a stadium stays put or moves elsewhere, seats will be filled by the loyal fans whose hearts beat for their Buffalo Bills.