The Buffalo Bills revealed on Thursday that construction of their new taxpayer-funded stadium will commence at once, following approval from the Erie County Legislature. During a special meeting, legislators unanimously endorsed the deal, a month after the Erie County Stadium Corporation gave its approval.
Bills Executive Vice President & Chief Operating Officer Ron Raccuia expressed excitement in a statement, saying, “Now that all the negotiations are over, we are excited to begin the physical phase of this project, which will lead to the opening of the stadium.” Major construction, including excavation, is set to begin in June. While final design elements are still being refined, the project is well underway.
The new 62,000-seat open-air stadium will be situated across from the team’s existing Orchard Park stadium, which has been in operation for half a century. The goal is to complete the construction of the new facility by 2026. The $1.5 billion project comprises $850 million in taxpayer funding, with $600 million contributed by the state, $250 million from Erie County, and the remainder provided by the Bills.
The construction is scheduled to be completed in time for the 2026 NFL season. Raccuia expressed gratitude to Governor Hochul, the County Executive, and other public partners for their successful collaboration on the project. He emphasized that with all legal agreements and public-private partnerships signed, the focus now shifts to the construction and opening of the stadium, which will begin immediately.
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