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Council members would welcome downtown stadium

WBFO File Photo

Buffalo Common Council members say they want to be ready if there is a push to build a new city stadium for the Buffalo Bills.

The NFL has made it clear it wants a new stadium to replace the rehabbed facility in Orchard Park and Governor Cuomo has a committee meeting behind closed doors looking at what to do. That could range from building a new facility in Orchard Park to building somewhere else.

Fillmore District Common Council member David Franczyk said the major rehab which is just being completed is putting "lipstick on a pig."

Common Council President Darius Pridgen says downtown business interests want a downtown stadium.

"As long as that stadium isn't going to be used for more than just seven, eight times in a year and then sit vacant. I think everybody, many people are pushing for that," Pridgen said.

Several downtown sites are near First Niagara Center, home of the Sabres, also owned by Buffalo Bills owners Terry and Kim Pegula.

 

Mike Desmond is one of Western New York’s most experienced reporters, having spent nearly a half-century covering the region for newspapers, television stations and public radio. He has been with WBFO and its predecessor, WNED-AM, since 1988. As a reporter for WBFO, he has covered literally thousands of stories involving education, science, business, the environment and many other issues. Mike has been a long-time theater reviewer for a variety of publications and was formerly a part-time reporter for The New York Times.