Bills, Erie County Unlikely To Finalize New Ralph Wilson Stadium Lease Before Training Camp

Erie County (New York) Exec Mark Poloncarz yesterday said that the Bills and the county are "not likely to hammer out the main terms of a new lease for Ralph Wilson Stadium before training camp begins next week," according to Denise Jewell Gee of the BUFFALO NEWS. Poloncarz and the Bills' front office "started formal talks in April with the hopes of getting the framework of a deal set out in a 'memorandum of understanding' by the start of training camp July 26." Poloncarz said that the informal deadline "isn't likely to be met," but that the talks "are progressing." Neither Poloncarz nor the Bills "will say exactly what the team is seeking in public support." However, Poloncarz has "confirmed that the team has asked for renovations of the county-owned Ralph Wilson Stadium that would cost" $200-220M. Poloncarz has said that he "wants a lease that ties the Bills to the region 'for many years to come.'" The current lease "expires on July 31, 2013" (BUFFALO NEWS, 7/18).