DONE DEAL: New Bills arena gets last governmental approval, building can begin

ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. (WIVB) - - At long last, the deal is done.

The Erie County Legislature voted all Thursday to authorize the deal for a brand-new Buffalo Bills stadium on Abbott Road across the street from Highmark Stadium. The vote was the final obstacle in the process prior to construction, which can now formally start.

Following the approval, the Bills announced that construction on the stadium will start "right away" which excavation will start in June. The multi-year job is expected to be completed in 2026 and expense approximately $1.54 billion - - up $140 million from the initial cost estimates, an excess that will be footed by the Bills.

Expenses EVP Ron Raccuia stated that a ritualistic groundbreaking will likely take place in late May or early June. In addition, the club stated they will be moving forward on last design components in addition to the advancement of the stadium experience center.

The final arrangement on the stadium in between New York State, Erie County and the Bills was reached on April 4.

The breakdown of how Erie County and New York State will be sharing the cost is as follows:

• Erie County: $250 million



• New York State: $600 million

The brand-new stadium is projected to produce roughly 10,000 tasks and the offer's Community Benefits Agreement consists of the Bills investing $3 million every year, which changing for inflation, will likely total up to approximately $100 million throughout the 30-year lease.

As part of the 30-year lease, the Bills, the county and the state all approved a Non-Relocation Agreement to keep the group in Western New York and locations extreme punitive damages if any other owner attempted to move them. In other words: the Bills are not going anywhere in the foreseeable future.

The Bills have actually launched a number of makings in time, giving fans the chance to get an idea of what the team's future home could look like:

• ( Photo thanks to the Buffalo Bills)
• ( Photo thanks to the Buffalo Bills)
• ( Photo courtesy of the Buffalo Bills)
• ( Photo thanks to the Buffalo Bills)
• ( Photo thanks to the Buffalo Bills)
• ( Photo thanks to the Buffalo Bills)
• ( Photo thanks to the Buffalo Bills)

Erie County released 19 public documents connecting to the new arena deal in April, which can be seen here.

• Daytime Buffalo: May 4, 2023

Due to the fact that support slats can break ,
• Bunk beds recalled
  
• DONE DEAL: New Bills stadium gets last governmental approval, construction can start


• Jury finds Ed Sheeran didn't copy Marvin Gaye classic


• Senate Democrats berate GOP financial obligation limit costs in Budget hearing

Adam Gorski is a Buffalo local who signed up with the News 4 team in 2022. You can discover more of his work here.