Once the new Buffalo Bills stadium opens in 2026, Erie County won’t own it anymore. But one thing the county will have is its own luxury suite.
Identified as an “Erie County Hospitality Center,” the suite’s use will be up to the discretion of county. And in light of past controversies related to the use of New York State’s luxury box at Highmark Stadium, Legislature Chairwoman April Baskin wants there to be a clear policy on how the county’s suite will be used two years from now.
Baskin, D-Buffalo, and Legislator Christopher Greene, R-Clarence, co-sponsored a bipartisan resolution asking for an update from the county administration about how the county intends to use the suite. The resolution also requests the administration’s assistance in drafting a policy that states how the new hospitality center may be used.
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But she’s not going to get any answers before she leaves her Legislature seat to serve in the State Senate in January.
“They did not say why,” said Baskin, clearly frustrated at the lack of cooperation from the County Executive’s Office. “They did not say things are still in motion. They just said Mark Poloncarz said it is a ‘hard no.’ “
Highmark Stadium (copy) (copy) (copy) (copy)
Erie County owns the current Bills Highmark Stadium, but doesn’t have a luxury box there. Legislature Chairwoman April Baskin said she wants to make sure that when the new stadium is built with a county hospitality suite, there are rules on who can use it and how. Derek Gee/News file photo
The resolution related to the suite is one of three resolutions that Baskin submitted to tie up loose ends regarding the stadium agreement before she leaves the Legislature. She also submitted two resolutions to the Buffalo Bills asking for more reporting on how many local, small businesses have been awarded construction or post-construction stadium contracts, and how to make it easier for community members to submit proposals on how community benefit money should be spent.
She has not received much positive feedback to the three resolutions so far. The Bills called her resolutions “unnecessary” and beyond the terms of the stadium agreement. And Poloncarz told Baskin, via staff, that he does not intend to make anyone available to speak with the Legislature at its Finance and Management Committee meeting on Thursday to talk about the future county hospitality center at the stadium.
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The hospitality suite is the subject of ethical concerns and questions over whether it has fulfilled its mission of promoting economic development.
“What we are, indeed, talking about here is a suite that does not exist today and will not be completed for more than a year,” said Poloncarz’s spokesman Peter Anderson. “It is far too premature to discuss how that space will be used, who will use it and for what purposes, what events it will be used for, what costs will be associated with that usage, and who will be paying for what in the suite. These are just some of the unknowns at this time and as such there is nothing to discuss currently.”
Baskin said if Poloncarz doesn’t want to help craft a policy on the stadium’s luxury suite, then the Legislature should move forward without him.
“It is my suggestion that me and my colleagues work on producing a policy since it seems as though the county executive doesn’t have one, or isn’t willing to share with the public what his plans are,” she said, pointing out that $850 million in public money is going toward the $2 billion stadium.
Poloncarz has previously talked about how he envisions the stadium suite functioning. In August, Anderson sent The Buffalo News comments on his behalf regarding his expectations.
“As national and international interest in the team has skyrocketed, having a hospitality suite available for the county’s use at the new stadium will provide a unique opportunity for potential new businesses to experience the excitement for themselves, learn more about the many advantages of locating their business in Erie County, and gain a new and deeper perspective on being a part of our dynamic economy,” the statement read.
The statement went on to say that a complete set of standards for usage of the suite would be done before the start of the 2026-27 season.
“Specifics for the usage of the suite are still being formed but will compare to best practices from other communities utilizing such suites to attract business,” according to the statement. “Only a handful of cities can employ a business recruitment asset such as this and Erie County plans to do so aggressively.”
Baskin said she was warned by lawyer Frank Jones, who represented the county’s interests in stadium deal negotiations, that such government suites lend themselves to controversy.
Hochuls in Suite at Buffalo Bills Game (copy)
Gov. Kathy Hochul watched the Buffalo Bills with her husband Bill Hochul in a luxury box during the first quarter of a game against the New England Patriots at Highmark Stadium in Orchard Park on Jan. 8, 2023. But state records didn't list the Hochuls as using the state's suite for this game. Erie County Legislature Chairwoman April Baskin said she wants more transparency, and a formal policy, for how the county's future "hospitality center" luxury suite in the new stadium is used. Derek Gee/News file photo
“The attorney advised that this could go bad if it’s not planned well,” she said.
Poloncarz’s concept of using a stadium suite to woo prospective business owners to establish businesses in Erie County may be different from what legislators want. They may envision the suite as a place where community members like youth groups or senior center participants, with limited access to the stadium, would have an opportunity to enjoy such an experience, Baskin said.
She also expressed concern that the use of the suite will be developed at a later date with no input from the Legislature, noting that Poloncarz has rolled out other major programs without seeking any legislative input. She said she wants to ensure that suite access is fair and accessible to everyone.
“What I don’t want to happen is for the stadium to be done and a policy to be released in the paper, and then the Legislature have absolutely no say on it, when we are the ones who know what the community agencies in our districts need,” she said.
Anderson said Poloncarz is not rejecting a request to talk with legislators about the use of the county suite at the new stadium. He’s just delaying it.
“These conversations will be had with the Legislature when the suite is closer to being a reality, either late in 2025 or in 2026, and a comprehensive policy will be formulated at that time with input from the then-Legislature chair and others,” Anderson said his email.
Baskin said she intends to ask her colleagues to work on a bipartisan policy regarding usage of the suite after the New Year and expressed frustration that Poloncarz sounded dismissive of the Legislature’s request to have a representative attend the finance committee on Thursday.
“It’s not transparent,” she said, “and that’s what we need from him.”
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