Buffalo Bills want a new stadium – and for taxpayers to foot the bill

[Ann]

More on the FOIA referred to in the tweets above

 

AECOM study for new Bills stadium assesses Orchard Park, 'South Park' sites

 

Empire State Development released details of AECOM’s contract with the state Wednesday evening in response to a Freedom Of Information Law request from Spectrum News 1. ESD selected the real estate and infrastructure consulting firm to do a study on locations and costs for a new stadium.
 

AECOM is, in particular, looking at the cost of an Orchard Park site compared to other sites.

 

AECOM in its description of the initial scope also says it’s reviewing a “South Park Site.” A previous study the firm did for the state identified a site near South Park Ave. and Louisiana St. as a potential place for the stadium.

 

</snip>

 

 

[Ann]

 

 

 

https://twitter.com/RyanWhalenCT/status/1445930189385515016

[Ann]

 

Looks like the same FIOA info:
 

Is a new stadium in Buffalo for the Bills on the mind of Gov. Kathy Hochul?
 

Two On Your Side has obtained a copy of the contract between Empire State Development (ESD) and AECOM, a multinational engineering and consulting firm. The company was hired in September to do a stadium study. AECOM agreed to do the work for $150,000.
 

</snip>
 

Under "Scope of Work," the winning bidder for the job was expected to conduct "feasibility analysis of proposed (stadium) sites in Buffalo and surrounding areas."
 

In a letter from AECOM Senior Council Stephen Gawlik to ESD there is a notation on the possible stadium sites to be examined. They include: "Orchard Park Site: New Build or Renovation," "South Park Site" and "additional sites that should be evaluated."
 

</snip>

 

 

[Spartacus]

1 hour ago, Ann said:

 

Looks like the same FIOA info:
 

Is a new stadium in Buffalo for the Bills on the mind of Gov. Kathy Hochul?
 

Two On Your Side has obtained a copy of the contract between Empire State Development (ESD) and AECOM, a multinational engineering and consulting firm. The company was hired in September to do a stadium study. AECOM agreed to do the work for $150,000.
 

</snip>
 

Under "Scope of Work," the winning bidder for the job was expected to conduct "feasibility analysis of proposed (stadium) sites in Buffalo and surrounding areas."
 

In a letter from AECOM Senior Council Stephen Gawlik to ESD there is a notation on the possible stadium sites to be examined. They include: "Orchard Park Site: New Build or Renovation," "South Park Site" and "additional sites that should be evaluated."
 

</snip>

 

 

more kickbacks and graft with downtown site

 

[Ann]

In Buffalo Bills' stadium talks, one branch of state government is left out
 

The New York State Legislature decides hundreds of billions of dollars in spending, from how much school districts receive to which roads and bridges are repaired.
 

So what role will it have in deciding whether to build a stadium for the Buffalo Bills?
 

That’s uncertain, largely because no one yet knows the ways taxpayers might help fund the $1.4 billion project – if a deal is made.
 

What is certain is that state lawmakers don’t have a seat at the negotiating table, now made up of representatives from the Hochul administration, the Erie County executive and the team.
 

</snip>

[RochesterRob]

On 10/7/2021 at 1:47 PM, Spartacus said:

more kickbacks and graft with downtown site

 

  That's an understatement.  There will be hundreds with their hands out for a cut of what I would expect to be 200M if the figure of a 1.5 billion dollar stadium holds up.  Too late for me to take up residence in the city to get my cut?

[Ann]

More politicians...
 

 

The Buffalo Common Council is pushing to bring the Bills back into the Queen City.
 

On Tuesday, members passed a resolution calling on all City, County and State representatives of the City of Buffalo to explore the “feasibility of a Downtown Buffalo Bills stadium.”
 

“If you’re a Buffalo elected official and you’re not cheering for the Bills to be in Buffalo, what are you doing?” asked Councilmember Rasheed Wyatt, who introduced the resolution. “We made a mistake some years ago by letting the Bills go to Orchard Park. The economic base that the Bills can bring and the businesses impact downtown could be off the chart.”

</snip>

[Ann]

Everyone's gonna poke their nose in...
 

 

[Ann]

 

 

https://twitter.com/MikeBaggerman/status/1450855790521237509

[Crap Throwing Clavin]

7 hours ago, Ann said:

Everyone's gonna poke their nose in...
 

 

 

That picture make me think that a downtown stadium would be the tallest building on the skyline.

[Ann]

13 minutes ago, Crap Throwing Monkey said:

 

That picture make me think that a downtown stadium would be the tallest building on the skyline.

Not unless it was 40 stories high… but you never know..

[B-Man]

 

 

We don't need a palace.

 

 

Something similar to Indianapolis would be great.

 

 

[Crap Throwing Clavin]

34 minutes ago, B-Man said:

 

Something similar to Indianapolis would be great.

 

 

Well, there's something you never hear...

[Ann]

Public will have the chance to be heard on any Bills stadium lease agreement
 

</snip>
 

Legislators unanimously adopted a resolution Thursday that would allow for at least three public hearings to be held prior to a Legislature vote on a stadium lease agreement. The governing body would also have 30 days to review any draft lease agreement.
 

The adopted resolution is meant to prevent the county administration from submitting lease agreement documents at the last minute and seeking Legislature approval the same day without any public input, which is what occurred the last time around.
 

</snip>

[Ann]

Bills lease could be finalized before the new year, Erie County officials say
 

The current Buffalo Bills lease is still 21 months away from expiring in July of 2023, but one of the key negotiators revealed there is hope to reach a deal by the end of this year.
 

The negotiations have been going on for months but Erie County Executive Mark Poloncarz revealed that the goal is to reach an agreement on a Bills lease in the next ten weeks. “I think we all want to get the deal done and we’d like to get a deal done by the end of the year, it’s as simple as that. the end of the year is not that far away haha, two and a half months, so for us, the goal is to get a deal done that’s fair for all.”
 

</snip>
 

“They’re not gonna negotiate this,” said Poloncarz regarding city lawmakers. “If it’s decided that the location for Buffalo is appropriate, then we’d approach the city because the city would have an interest and certainly we’d expect the city to contribute substantial dollars. The Council passed a resolution saying move it to the city but they didn’t pledge any money on behalf of the city towards the project and if it was to be moved to the city, there would be an expectation that the City of Buffalo would be contributing substantially as well.”
 

</snip>

[Alaska Darin]

2 hours ago, Ann said:

Bills lease could be finalized before the new year, Erie County officials say
 

The current Buffalo Bills lease is still 21 months away from expiring in July of 2023, but one of the key negotiators revealed there is hope to reach a deal by the end of this year.
 

The negotiations have been going on for months but Erie County Executive Mark Poloncarz revealed that the goal is to reach an agreement on a Bills lease in the next ten weeks. “I think we all want to get the deal done and we’d like to get a deal done by the end of the year, it’s as simple as that. the end of the year is not that far away haha, two and a half months, so for us, the goal is to get a deal done that’s fair for all.”
 

</snip>
 

“They’re not gonna negotiate this,” said Poloncarz regarding city lawmakers. “If it’s decided that the location for Buffalo is appropriate, then we’d approach the city because the city would have an interest and certainly we’d expect the city to contribute substantial dollars. The Council passed a resolution saying move it to the city but they didn’t pledge any money on behalf of the city towards the project and if it was to be moved to the city, there would be an expectation that the City of Buffalo would be contributing substantially as well.”
 

</snip>

I can't imagine the graft going on behind the scenes to get ANY deal done here.

[Beer__League__Hockey]

21 hours ago, Alaska Darin said:

I can't imagine the graft going on behind the scenes to get ANY deal done here.

Just wait until the communist party India lady gets involved.  Hopefully they kill the downtown City of Buffalo option quickly, otherwise this team is gonzo.

[Ann]

3 minutes ago, Beer__League__Hockey said:

Just wait until the communist party India lady gets involved.  Hopefully they kill the downtown City of Buffalo option quickly, otherwise this team is gonzo.

I think you are correct, if she gets elected, any hope of a city stadium is done. 

[RochesterRob]

22 hours ago, Alaska Darin said:

I can't imagine the graft going on behind the scenes to get ANY deal done here.

  Bogus environmental impact studies.  Neighborhood impact studies.  Eminent domain suits.  Equal opportunity suits.  Bids put out to rework streets.  I'd probably be very amazed at the resourcefulness employed to get money out of the government.  

[Ann]

The Buffalo Bills @ The Buffalo Central Terminal
 

Developer Paul Ciminelli has conducted his own study that leads him to believe that the Central Terminal is the ideal location for an urban Buffalo Bills stadium.
 

Speaking with Ciminelli, I learned that one of the main reasons behind supporting this location was the opportunity and ability to help create a sports district in the city of Buffalo. After all, the Central Terminal campus will become whatever we deem it will become. In the case of Buffalo sports, Ciminelli feels that by placing the Bills stadium at the site, sports-mania will take hold and ripple outward, thus creating a sports destination unto itself.
 

The study pointed to the following attributes as reasons for pushing for the Central Terminal site:

• Ability to strengthen Buffalo’s national presence
• Historic adaptive reuse opportunity
• Unique fan experience
• Access to public rail and bus service
• Access to and from multiple travel arteries including I-9-, I-190, Route 33, and Route 62
• Potential year round revenue sources
• Close proximity to Buffalo’s Central Business District
• Close proximity to International border crossings and Canadian fan base
• Direct rail service to and from Toronto and New York City
• Ability to revive Broadway-Fillmore neighborhood
• Opportunity to spark further growth in the City of Buffalo

</snip>