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A majority of Erie County voters support a new stadium for the Buffalo Bills, and most want it to be built downtown, according to a Siena poll conducted for The Buffalo News and WGRZ-TV.
Some 54 percent of voters surveyed last Tuesday and Wednesday said they support building a new stadium, compared to 36 percent who oppose a new facility for the team.
What’s more, 55 percent of all the people surveyed said the new stadium should be located downtown, while 40 percent favor Orchard Park, the poll found.
Among those who favor a new stadium, support for a downtown facility is even stronger: 73 percent.
“I would say that quite clearly, there’s strong support for a new stadium, and a clear preference for downtown over Orchard Park,” said Donald P. Levy, director of the Siena Research Institute.
The survey of 505 Erie County registered voters offered a far different take on the stadium issue than some of the public dialogue about it, which has centered on concerns about financing the facility and the potential loss of the Bills’ tailgating tradition if the team were to move downtown.
In contrast, many of those in the poll see Ralph Wilson Stadium in Orchard Park as past its prime despite $130 million in renovations just last year.
“The stadium is going to be 50 years old in 2022,” when the Bills’ current lease on the facility expires, said Chris Miano, 30, of Buffalo. “It’s time.”
Some 54 percent of voters surveyed last Tuesday and Wednesday said they support building a new stadium, compared to 36 percent who oppose a new facility for the team.
What’s more, 55 percent of all the people surveyed said the new stadium should be located downtown, while 40 percent favor Orchard Park, the poll found.
Among those who favor a new stadium, support for a downtown facility is even stronger: 73 percent.
“I would say that quite clearly, there’s strong support for a new stadium, and a clear preference for downtown over Orchard Park,” said Donald P. Levy, director of the Siena Research Institute.
The survey of 505 Erie County registered voters offered a far different take on the stadium issue than some of the public dialogue about it, which has centered on concerns about financing the facility and the potential loss of the Bills’ tailgating tradition if the team were to move downtown.
In contrast, many of those in the poll see Ralph Wilson Stadium in Orchard Park as past its prime despite $130 million in renovations just last year.
“The stadium is going to be 50 years old in 2022,” when the Bills’ current lease on the facility expires, said Chris Miano, 30, of Buffalo. “It’s time.”
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