Erie County lawmakers will meet in May for approval of Bills stadium funding

BUFFALO, N.Y. — The dates are set for the final approval of the new Buffalo Bills stadium. The documents and contracts have been signed and it’s now up to the Erie County Legislature to approve the documents.

Lawmakers have scheduled hearings in May to go over the documents with a final vote possible on May 25, according to Buffalo-area NBC affiliate WGRZ. The Bills organization said it would like the project to break ground by June.

New York State approved the construction of the $1.54 billion stadium on March 28, which will ensure that the Bills stay in western New York for at least the next 30 years. $600 million in funding will come from the state, including $418 million in payments from the Seneca Nation. $250 million is coming from Erie County taxpayers. The NFL and the Bills franchise agreed to pay the remaining amount, $550 million.

The Bills organization hopes to start work on the stadium by early April. The governor appointed Bob Duffy, Rochester Chamber of Commerce CEO, to chair Erie County Stadium Corporation that oversees the stadium.

The deal also contains a community benefits agreement, which requires the Bills to pledge $100 million over three decades to the region.

The stadium is still set to be completed by fall of 2026 on the other side of Abbott Road in Orchard Park.

More of our coverage:

• Bills release new renderings of stadium, including the view from seats (March 27)
• Bob Duffy will lead corporation overseeing new Bills stadium construction (Jan. 24)
• Bills release images of what new stadium may look like (Oct. 28)
• Fact Check: Buffalo Bills stadium & Gov. Hochul’s husband (April 28)
• Taxpayer money for Bills stadium included in ‘conceptual’ budget agreement (April 7)
• Seneca Nation leaders aren’t happy with plans to finance new Bills stadium (April 1)
• New Bills stadium projected to create at least 10K new construction jobs (March 29)
• Taxpayers will put up $850 million for new Bills stadium (March 28)