The Cost Of The New Buffalo Bills Stadium Has Increased

It's been a while since we checked in on the progress of building the new Buffalo Bills stadium. As you may remember, the decision was made to build the new stadium in Orchard Park as opposed to a site in Buffalo.

In my August 2021 article when the stadium was announced, the price tag was estimated to be about $1.1 billion dollars to build. In my  December 2021 article after the plans had been announced and before a site has been chosen, the new 60,000-person stadium cost was estimated to cost $1.4 billion dollars.

There was much discussion about who would be paying the price for this new stadium. Many were not happy that New York taxpayers would absorb some of the cost. Concerns were strongly expressed that the rest of the state should not have to pay for a sports stadium in Buffalo, and of course, those who are not Buffalo Bills fans, or football fans in general, among others, are certainly not happy.

According to WIVB-TV Buffalo, the cost of the stadium is now $1.54 billion dollars which is a 10 percent increase. That's $140 million dollars extra for those who don't have a calculator handy. But the good news that that New York State taxpayers will not absorb the increased cost.

The WIVB-TV Buffalo report states that the cost of the stadium would be financed as follows for the original $1.4 billion dollar cost:

• $600 million from New York State taxpayers
• $250 million from Erie County
• $550 million from the Buffalo Bills and the NFL

As for any increases or overruns, the Buffalo Bills will be on the hook for that, including the $140 million dollar increase. Groundbreaking is slated for later this spring with an opening date scheduled for sometime in 2026.