It is expected that the basic framework of a new lease deal between Erie County and the Buffalo Bills could be structured within the next few weeks.
County Executive Mark Poloncarz is working to put protections for the county and for taxpayers into that deal. The News reports that Poloncarz is looking to force the team to remain in the region for the length of the lease, expected to be a decade or more. The other option is a significant financial penalty if the team leaves, one expensive enough to cover the taxpayer expense of updating Ralph Wilson Stadium. That price tag is estimated at $200 million.
Poloncarz hopes to have the new deal in place by the end of this year.
