BUFFALO, N.Y. — When the Buffalo Niagara Convention Center was built, things looked a lot different downtown.

“The Bills had Joe Ferguson as quarterback and Chuck Knox as head coach and the Sabres were led by captain Danny Gare. It’s been that long, folks,” said Erie County Executive Mark Poloncarz.

The convention center is showing its age, deemed “functionally obsolete” by HVS, a sports and entertainment facilities consulting firm. When compared with other convention centers in similar-sized cities, Buffalo’s ranks near the bottom.

 

 

The study recommended two options if Buffalo wants to continue to attract conventions to the region.

Option One: Renovate and expand the current building, extending out into the rear of the Statler Building and the block north of Mohawk, linking the facility’s sides via skywalk. Estimated cost: Between $350 million and $429 million.

Option Two: Build a new convention center from the ground up at the HSBC site between Washington and Michigan Avenue. Estimated cost: Between $329 million and $368 million.

“The first question that I know has to be answered is do we want to stay in the convention visitors business,” asked Poloncarz. “If so, we’re not going to be able to do it here. We’re going to have to do something.”  

Buffalo residents are being asked to weigh in as to whether they want a new center and whether it’s worth their tax dollars.

A 90-day comment period is open until December 19. More information about the study, and the opportunity to comment, is available here.