Bills need new stadium to remain stable, 'competitive' – The Buffalo News



[ad_1]

BATAVIA – NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell said he continues to believe the Buffalo Bills need a new stadium.

The Jamestown native reiterated that position Monday before teeing off in the annual Jim Kelly Celebrity Golf Tournament at Terry Hills Country Club.

"The reason why I'm supportive is because I want to make sure this franchise remains stable here, and continues, and remains competitive," Goodell told reporters. "And I think it is great for this community and it is able to do these stadiums in such a way that it creates a tremendous economic benefit, too.

"I want the Bills to be successful and I want them to be competitive here in Buffalo."

Goodell made at Kelly's tournament in 2016.

Well, I think that's one of the things Terry's going through, "Goodell said at the time," trying to see what it's all about. That's their objective and I know that's their commitment. We fully support that.

"Stadiums are important, just to make sure the team here can NFL aims to keep us in this environment, because we've got great facilities here now. The Bills have to stay up with that. "

At the NFL owners meetings, Terry Pegula said the NFL "more or less" wants to "see something done one way or the other." He added, "We're one of the smaller markets and we can increase our revenue, they're for it."

[RELATED: The 10 newest stadiums in the NFL — and what Buffalo can learn from them]

Ownership has been commissioned by CAA ICON to help determine the best option and a series of focus groups have been held. More than 30,000 people have been surveyed. The organization has also conducted focus groups. The results of the survey are expected to be available this summer, Terry Pegula told reporters at the NFL owners meetings.

"I think the answer is probably a scaled-down version of some of these palaces that are being built around the country," Pegula said at the meetings. "The thing (Rams owner) Stan (Kroenke) is building in L.A. is amazing, Jerry Jones' facility in Dallas, so we need to do something that's Buffalo style."

Asked if he would be willing to foot the bill for a new stadium, he said, "I do not know."

Erie County Executive Mark Poloncarz has suggested that a renovation may be more beneficial than a new stadium. The Pegulas have invested $ 36 million in the last two years, including $ 18 million on a new sports performance center. The stadium is also getting new turf this spring.

"You have to make the determination of, do you build a new stadium or do you want to find the best stadium and get the best bang for the buck?" Poloncarz said after Pegula's "Buffalo-style" how in March. "We know if we can extend the lifespan of that stadium for another 25 years, and if it worked for our market, why would not we do that?"

Terry Pegula: New Bills stadium would be 'scaled-down … Buffalo style'

[ad_2]

Source link