The owners of the Buffalo Bills and Sabres plan to ask for public funding for the construction of a new stadium for the Bills and renovations to KeyBank Center.
The Buffalo News is reporting that Pegula Sports & Entertainment, the teams’ owners, are asking for $1.5 billion for a new stadium in Orchard Park for the Bills and to help cover renovations to the Sabres arena in downtown Buffalo. Preliminary talks have begun between the Bills' owners, the state and Erie County for a new stadium.
Sources told The Buffalo News that the public would cover 100% of the costs of the proposal. The new stadium is expected to be built adjacent to the team's current stadium, Highmark Stadium, at a cost of $1.1 billion, with several hundred million going to renovations to the Sabres’ home arena.
The most any American city has ever spent in public funding for a sports stadium was $750 million, for Las Vegas' Allegiant Stadium, the new home of the NFL's Raiders.
The Bills’ lease of the stadium from Erie County ends in 2023, assuming no temporary extension during construction of a new stadium.
ESPN is also reporting that team owners are threatening to move the team to another city if a new stadium is not approved.
Austin, Texas, has been reported as a possible landing spot, according to ESPN.