Jason Fitz believes it is a myth that the Bills won't be able to attract talent after signing Josh Allen to a six-year contract. (1:51).
Will Josh Allen's deal make a Bills build around him difficult? (1:51).
BUFFALO (N.Y.) -- Monday's celebrity golf tournament was attended by Jim Kelly. Roger Goodell, NFL commissioner, said that the league wants the Bills to remain in Buffalo, but in a new stadium.
Goodell stated, "You have to think long-term." This has been going for decades and it's now that the Bills can have a new stadium built so they can continue to be successful for many, many more decades.
"We are focused on keeping the Bills [in Buffalo] at a new stadium in public-private partnership. This is what this is all for and that's why we're focusing.
Kim and Terry Pegula, Bills owners, submitted a proposal to build a $1.4 Billion stadium right across from Orchard Park's current stadium. This 10-year lease will expire in 2023.
Jim Wilkinson, spokesperson for Pegula Sports & Entertainment (PSE), stated that the team will not move forward with plans for the stadium until a deal is made with Erie County and that the "city of Buffalo" and the state would have to decide if they wanted a team.
Goodell's comments give credence to the belief PSE's vague threat to relocate is a negotiation tactic and that the team will eventually remain in western New York.
Since 1990, the commissioner for 15 years has been talking about the Bills' stadium almost every time he visits Buffalo. This is back when the discussion was more focused on renovations to the stadium. Goodell stated that they knew that renovations would be temporary and that a new stadium would be needed.
He said, "We're certain beyond that." "I believe a new stadium will be needed. It will require a public-private partnership, I believe. The Bills, the community, and the NFL will all need to work together to make this happen in a smart manner.
The Bills have been playing in the Erie County-owned Highmark Stadium since 1973. It is the fourth-oldest NFL stadium. Over the term of its 2013 lease, the county invested more than $200 million in renovations to the stadium. Wilkinson estimates that renovating and modernizing it would cost approximately $1 billion. However, any talks about renovations are now "over".
Goodell stated that he wasn't sure when the stadium would be completed, but said that the new stadium must be built for Buffalo and fit Buffalo.
Mark Poloncarz, Erie County commissioner, said that PSE did not make any threat to leave during negotiations. He also stated that the county was open to negotiating a deal as long as it was fair for all involved.
