ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. — Western New Yorkers have varying opinions on the new Bills stadium agreement.

Some are excited it’ll stay in Orchard Park, but others still look at the price tag and potential local impact as a negative.

What You Need To Know

  • New York state, Erie County and the Buffalo Bills reached an agreement on a new stadium in Orchard Park
  • Many local businesses are excited the Bills and the new stadium will stay in Orchard Park
  • A lot of Western New Yorkers who were against it continue to be

“It's a staple of this community and it'll continue to be for a long time,” said Jeff Rapini, Big Tree In cook.

There’s no doubt the businesses near Highmark Stadium benefit from the Bills being pretty much right across the street.

Now, that’ll continue — and places like the Big Tree Inn are celebrating.

“We're sitting right here next to Darryl Talley and all the greats that have been on the wall and the continued greats that will be able to walk in until I can tell my kids and my kids are able to come in this bar some time to have a drink,” said Rapini.

Across the street at Danny’s, the excitement continues, with season ticket holders like David Graziano.

“Upgraded amenities will be really, really nice and larger concourses, which will reduce the amount of people butting up against each other during the game, will be nice too,” said Graziano.

But not everyone was on board.

“If I went to the games or something, I’d buy into it, but I don't, so why should I have to pay for it?” said Mike Dulkiewicz, of Cheektowaga.

“It's a lot of money to invest in and then what’re they going to do with the old one,” said Kim Kales, of Cheektowaga. “It's demolished and it's a lot of a waste of money.”

The price tag, $850 million of which is local and state funding, remains a big sticking point.

“Why should we pay for another stadium that we're not going to get anything back from?” said Dulkiewicz. “Doesn't make any sense to me. The Pegulas are the billionaires. We're not. We're the taxpayers.”

And while a temporary boost in construction jobs, and a potential for other sports like soccer is there, for some, it’s not enough.

“That doesn't add up dollar-wise,” Dulkiewicz said. “I think it's a bad investment.”

Bills Mafia, though, is still looking forward to the future.

“Change is great for the community,” said Rapini. “Change is great for us to build in the NFL and everybody comes to a championship stadium to see this championship team play.”

It’s potential they can’t wait to see play out.

“I think all of us, Bills Mafia, are excited for 30 more years and to bring a couple of Lombardis home,” said Graziano.