ESD announces completion of AECOM Buffalo Bills stadium study

Results of study will be used to inform Bills stadium negotiations 

Empire State Development on Tuesday announced the completion of the Buffalo Bills stadium analysis conducted by AECOM, a multinational engineering and consulting firm. The findings of the study will be used as a tool to help guide “continued good faith negotiations for determining the best location for a future Bills’ stadium.”

"Empire State Development is pleased to present the completed AECOM Bills’ stadium analysis,” said Kevin Younis, chief operating officer and executive deputy commissioner. “We are confident that the results of this analysis will be a valuable tool as the state, Erie County and the Buffalo Bills work together to make sure the team remains in the region in a facility that Bills fans and all New Yorkers can be proud of for years to come.”​

As the current lease with the Buffalo Bills to play home games at Highmark Stadium in Orchard Park expires in July of 2023, AECOM was retained to provide advisory services related to the potential development of a new stadium for the team after ESD requested proposals from previously prequalified firms to provide real estate, economic analysis and related services.

The AECOM study addresses a variety of topics, including consideration of the renovation of Highmark Stadium versus the development of a new stadium; consideration of a new stadium in a downtown Buffalo site versus near the existing stadium in Orchard Park; consideration of an open-air stadium versus an enclosed stadium; and consideration of economic and fiscal impacts related to potential ancillary development, the ongoing operations of the Bills, and the potential loss impact if the Bills were to relocate to another market.

The consultants did not recommend either site. That decision will be based on negotiations between the parties. Factors to be considered will be the additional cost, the additional time to build a downtown stadium and the impacts to the local community, both positive and negative.

A press release stated, “AECOM’s report does provide a solid baseline of facts to better inform New York state’s negotiations with the Bills, as well as a public discussion of the best course of action. The Erie County Legislature is scheduling a series of public meetings to receive comments on a potential stadium project – which will be considered as the state moves forward to shaping a deal with the Bills.”

The AECOM Bills stadium study can be seen in its entirety here.