Steps are being taken to make the new Buffalo Bills stadium a reality.
The Erie Stadium Corp., a state-controlled corporation, will disburse the first $300 million in state benefits with an eye toward beginning construction in June.
New York will offer up $600 million in total funding, while Erie County will chip in another $250 million, meaning that public funds will cover more than half the expected cost of the $1.4 billion stadium.
The team and NFL will cover the remaining $550 million and any cost overruns. The Bills will enter into a new 30-year lease as part of the deal.
The Stadium Corp. will also spend $2.6 million on administrative staff to manage the building of the stadium. Part of that process is having the state purchase land owned by Erie County where the new stadium will be built.
The Bills hope to have their new venue ready for the start of the 2026 season.
The stadium designs call for a 60,000-63,000 capacity stadium with no roof. The facility will have stacked seating and a canopy to offer some protection from the elements. Buffalo’s average temperatures are regularly below freezing during the winter months.
The Stadium Corp. has noted that the stadium would have been significantly more expensive if it included a roof or was located in downtown Buffalo.
