This NFL offseason, crews will "be laying the groundwork" for the initial phase of a $130M face-lift of Ralph Wilson Stadium, according to James Fink of BUFFALO BUSINESS FIRST. The work likely will be the "last to take place at the 40-year-old stadium as the lease talks included a clause that sets the stage for a new Bills venue in the not-too-distant future." While the majority of the work -- such as "adding a pair of end-zone digital scoreboards -- won’t take place for another year, LPCiminelli crews will be at the Ralph this spring and summer for some behind-the-scenes, less-sexy projects." Bills Senior VP/Communications Scott Berchtold said that the "bulk of that work involves meeting new state and local codes, life safety improvements and deferred maintenance." He added that it will "start soon and should be completed before the start of" the '13 season. The renovation "price tag is being divided among the state, county and Bills." Erie County is allocating $40.7M, while the state of New York is "kicking in" $53.9M and the Bills paying $35.5M. Berchtold said that during the '13 season, construction will "get under way on the team store, commissary and operations building." The work "isn’t expected to interfere with game-day crowds" (BUFFALO BUSINESS FIRST, 2/15 issue).
