Buffalo Bills Agree to Lease Extension to Remain at Ralph Wilson Stadium

The Buffalo Bills will play their home games at Ralph Wilson Stadium for at least one more season after agreeing to a lease extension.

The Associated Press reported via ESPN.com that the franchise has agreed to a short-term deal with Erie County to remain at the stadium through the 2013 season. The article quotes county executive Mark Poloncarz saying the following:

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Nobody wants to have a gun at their heads thinking if we don't get it done by the end of the season then what's going to happen. By doing an extension, it guarantees the Bills are here for the full 2013 season, and it gives us ample time during the next 18 months or so to continue these negotiations.

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The stadium opened in April of 1972 and the Bills have occupied it since the 1973 season. It was originally named Rich Stadium, but was renamed in 1998 after current Bills owner Ralph Wilson.

The ESPN article quotes Bills CEO Russ Brandon discussing a stalemate in negotiations over renovations that range from anywhere between $200 and $220 million and would be paid for jointly by the franchise and the county. He said:

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They have stalled over the last few months, and hopefully, we'll restart the process and reset the calendar in the near future. We've been ready to go and have been in discussions with the appropriate parties for many months now. Over the last few months, we've hit somewhat of a cone of silence in the discussions.

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In a ranking of all 31 NFL stadiums, National Football Post’s Joe Fortenbaugh wrote, “When it comes to architecture and amenities, RWS is going to rank at the bottom of the list.” The stadium badly needs to be renovated and both the state of New York and the Bills have plenty of motivation to come to terms on a mutually beneficial agreement.