BUFFALO, N.Y. — It's been quite the process for Buffalo Pro Soccer. While we are still a ways away from the newest pro team in Buffalo taking the pitch, more than a handful of town hall-style meetings have helped shape the organization thus far.

"We're all from Buffalo. We all know this area. We know this market," said Buffalo Pro Soccer owner Peter Marlette Jr. "But at the same time, how can we assume that what we're going to put in the stands and on the field is exactly what they're looking for."

A firm is diving into what the team name should be, their color scheme and some of the finer identity points. Location was a major factor for everyone standing the team up for next season.

"Since the first town hall, a ton has happened and it's been great," Marlette said. "That town hall really kind of set the tone and proved that we were doing something right. We were on the right track. And our theories about Buffalo being a perfect market for us and soccer might be accurate." 

It was important to keep this in Buffalo.

"So, we, over the course of the better part of a year, went from basically endless potential stadium sites down to three, which were all great sites, all checked just about every box that you are looking for in Buffalo," he said. "Then we dug in just as deep as we possibly could do on each one of those sites; studied environmental reports, engaged with the surrounding communities, engaged with the stakeholders around these areas and all of that research and everything we dove into led us to make the decision and the determination that this is where our stadium should be."

It's not quite the downtown locale many were expecting, but the former Division III Medaille sports complex on Buffalo's Southside makes for a quick turnaround.

"This turf is spectacular. It's FIFA quality. This is broadcast-quality lighting. It was the only one of our finalists that is going to require no additional remediation to what's already been done here," Marlette said. 

Some concerns have been voiced about the air quality next to a chemical plant, as well as traffic and accessibility, but the Department of the Environment and Conservation cites no issues dating back to 2018. Traffic studies were part of the selection process and BPS is already in lock step with the local transit authority to get people in on match days.

"You can drive here and there's adequate parking. But we're also a mile less than a mile from Larvinville, [which is] a neat neighborhood," Marlette said. "We're working with [Niagara Frontier Transportation Authority] to engage in a shuttling system. There are numerous bus stops within a short walk."

Most of the turf will stay as is, with a notable paint job.

"It's going to be special. It's going to be something that Buffalo has not had," said Marlette. "It's going to add a real dimension to this neighborhood and to the city and to our region that we badly need. And then just the ability for kids, adults, young people, old people, whoever it may be, from this city, from around this area to be able to see a stadium that was built for them by people exactly like them. And to come play in it, it's going to be a community asset. And that's the most exciting part."

The hope is that this opens the door for more cities to follow this model and get top-tier soccer in New York markets for players to aspire to.