New Era Field II

New Era Field II is the working title for a proposed American football stadium located near or within Buffalo, New York for use by the Buffalo Bills. Numerous proposals have been submitted to the City of Buffalo, Erie County, the Bills, and the State of New York. Regardless of whatever proposal is built, New Era Cap Company will hold right of first refusal over naming rights to the stadium as part of a naming rights deal with the team's current stadium that was signed in August 2016.^[1]

Background

The Buffalo Bills' lease included a provision allowing for the creation of a working group to explore options for either a new stadium for the team, or an extensive retrofit of the current New Era Field.

On February 10, 2014, Governor Andrew Cuomo's administration appointed Buffalo Mayor Byron Brown, Niagara Falls Mayor Paul Dyster, Lt. Gov. Robert Duffy, Buffalo Niagara Partnership CEO Dottie Gallagher-Cohen and Empire State Development President Kenneth Adams to a new study board to discuss the feasibility and plans for a new stadium.^[2]

Later, on March 6, 2014, the County of Erie appointed its seven members to the board, including Kathleen Hochul of M&T Bank and Richard Tobe, the Deputy Erie County Executive.^[3]

Shortly after the death of owner Ralph Wilson, on March 27, 2014, the Bills selected their members for the panel, including U.S. Senator Charles Schumer, Bills CEO and President Russ Brandon, local developer Louis Ciminelli, Bills CFO Jeff Littman, New Era Cap Co. CEO Christoper Koch among others.^[4] The group's first meeting was held on April 1.

On November 5, 2014, Terry and Kim Pegula joined the working group.^[5]

In mid-January 2015, AECOM, retained by the State of New York, released a report detailing suggested stadium sites based upon criteria of site size, cost of land, infrastructure and external development, among other factors. The study narrowed the search to four sites.^[6]

The Pegulas indicated on July 31, 2015 that they had no immediate plans to pursue a new stadium.^[7]

Proposals

Outer Harbor stadium proposal

On October 23, 2012, George Hasiotis and Nicholas Stracick of Greater Buffalo Sports and Entertainment Complex, a Delaware-based LLC, presented a rendered plan created by architect firm HKS, Inc. to the Buffalo Common Council. The plan included a $1.4 billion, 72,000-seat retractable roof stadium, convention center, hotel and sports museum plan for the Buffalo Outer Harbor.^[8] At first this plan was met with some cynicism, in particular because of the feasibility of the project.

On December 11, the company met with local AFL-CIO members to discuss the amount of jobs created by the proposed project, which was said to be 10,000. Stracick also disclosed that there are "15 private, secret sponsors" willing to fund the project. He also stated that no tax money would be used to fund a stadium.^[9]

In January 2013, the group met with Erie County legislators, their second major appearance since October. During this meeting, the idea of having the Strong Foundation open a sports museum on the $1.8 billion premises was also strengthened.^[10]

Howard Zemsky, chairman of the NFTA has said that he is opposed to the project, referring to the idea of granting a nine to twelve month option on the waterfront land, saying simply "we're not doing that."

In May 2013 the GBSEC submitted a $500,000 offer to the NFTA for the exclusive right to negotiate the purchase of 150 acres of outer harbor land.^[11]

On August 26th, 2014, it was announced that the Outer Harbor site was no longer being considered, after a study showed that at least four bridges would need to be built to effectively service the increase in traffic.^[12]

Buffalo Sportz Corridor

On May 11, 2014, another proposal for an outer harbor sports complex was announced by Buffalo Sportz Complex, known as "Olympia Sports Park." This complex would be located slightly south of the GBSEC proposed site.

Thomas Dee, President of the Erie County Harbor Development Corporation, acknowledged the proposal but also noted that similar projects, including the GBSEC proposal, also exist for competition.^[13]

Artvoice proposal

The August 7, 2014, issue of Artvoice, a local magazine for the Buffalo area, detailed a plan for a new Bills stadium and retail in downtown Buffalo, immediately to the east of the First Niagara Center.^[14]

Possible locations

The AECOM report recommended four sites, including along the Buffalo River and Ohio Street, next to the First Niagara Center, at the current site of Ralph Wilson Stadium, and across from Coca-Cola Field.

Other potential stadium locations have been mentioned or rumored, including:

• Land bordered by Illinois, Exchange, Michigan and Perry Streets in downtown Buffalo, near the First Niagara Center^[15]
• A former Bethlehem Steel plant in Lackawanna, New York
• Land north of Interstate 90 outside of Batavia, New York^[16]
• Pyramid Companies developer Scott Congel once suggested a plot of land in West Seneca, New York, on the site of the former Seneca Mall^[17]

On August 26th, 2014, it was announced that the Niagara Falls (which may have used a large plot being held by Howard Milstein) and Buffalo Outer Harbor sites have been ruled out based on similar issues with infrastructure related to the two sites.^[18]

References