ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. — As we wait for leaders in Albany to hammer out the details of the late state budget, one of the parts that's been widely discussed is funding for a new Buffalo Bills stadium.

What You Need To Know

  • The state budget is several days late from its expected passage last Friday
  • One of the key issues lawmakers have discussed is funding for a new Buffalo Bills stadium
  • Assemblyman Patrick Burke points out that other stadiums downstate have received public funding

Using public money has created some controversy as lawmakers weigh Gov. Kathy Hochul's plan to contribute $600 million from state for the $1.4 billion project.

But Assemblyman Pat Burke, D-Buffalo, who represents Orchard Park where the new stadium would be built, is confident the deal will be included in the state budget.

"It's a lot of money and it's certainly an issue to be spending money — that much money — for a stadium for people who are enormously wealthy as the Pegulas, but unfortunately that's where we're at and this was the deal that was negotiated by the governor, so I think it will get done," Burke said.

There's been pushback from New York City lawmakers to the plan to contribute that much money for a football stadium. Burke says while he takes issue with parts of the deal and how it's been handled, he's told colleagues that this is not the first time the state has given money to build other stadiums.

"I was quick to remind them of the subsidies that the New York Yankees got, the New York Mets got and the Brooklyn Nets got,” Burke said. “So none of us have to like it, but I encouraged them to leave this a regional issue and I think most of them are doing that.”

Senate Deputy Majority leader Michael Gianaris told Capital Tonight's Susan Arbetter on Tuesday that members from Western New York relayed a similar message.

"They felt it would be unfair if Buffalo got singled out as the one time that these kinds of projects were stopped,” Gianaris said. “It's still under discussion. There's a lot of concern about it. I don't think it's the best way to do economic development or these stadium deals, but we do have a tremendous amount of deference to our members that represent that part of the state.”

The combined $850 million from the state and Erie County would be the largest public funding for a stadium in NFL history. Burke says he would've liked lawmakers to have more say in the negotiations on the deal, and a community benefits agreement will be critical to making sure it's not just the Bills who reap the rewards of the new facility.

"An environmental review of an electrified train line going from downtown Buffalo to the stadium is really important to me,” Burke said. “I think it's a great opportunity to kick-start our public transportation system.”

He adds that while there's plenty happening in Western New York outside of the Bills, they do represent an important piece of the region's identity.

The issue of public funding for stadiums goes beyond the state or the county.

"When they can pit different communities against one another, it's a problem,” Burke said. “We should be looking into the NFL's anti-trust exemption and doing everything we can to create an even playing field.”