Former longtime Western New York Congressman Brian Higgins is now in his first week in his new job as president and CEO of Shea’s Performing Arts Center.  

"As the second largest city in New York state and having this beautiful theater, which is magical, this becomes very, very attractive," Higgins said Tuesday.

One of Higgins’ goals is to attract more people from Canada to see Broadway shows and concerts and spend time and money in downtown Buffalo and the Theatre District.

"We think that that’s a market that we can play into,” he said. “If you look at other sectors of the Western New York economy — professional sports, retail, college enrollment — all have a significant portion coming from southern Ontario or the entire province of Ontario.” 

Higgins would also like to tap into his own city, creating partnerships with organizations in Buffalo’s African American Heritage Corridor to make Shea’s more accessible and enjoyable for all.

"This is the theater of everybody from Buffalo and Western New York so we want to create a diverse and inclusive environment," he said.

Much like he did in Congress, one of Higgins’ biggest jobs will be fundraising, including a multimillion-dollar expansion and improvement at Shea’s to come in the next few years.