GABRYSZAK HOPING NFL WILL RELAX RULES, HELP BILLS WITH RENOS

With the start of the Buffalo Bills pre-season schedule already at hand, the attention of many is turning to issues involving the renewal of the team's lease and the stadium improvements being demanded by its owner, Ralph Wilson.

Who will pay for the upgrades needed?

Assemblyman Dennis Gabryszak of Cheektowga/Lancaster sees hope in the possibility that the NFL will relax its rules on giving teams loans for stadium renos. He is also encouraged by the fact that Gov. Cuomo has hired a prestigious Washington sports law firm to aid Albany's efforts to keep the franchise here.

“The NFL has a loan program which can be used for such purposes,” he points out. “It allows for the money to be paid back within 20 years. However, if a team which takes out such a loan is sold, the current rules state that the loan must be paid back in full at the time of the sale. Obviously, this would put a tremendous burden on any local ownership group that wanted to buy the team once current owner Ralph Wilson were to leave the scene for any reason. "

The solution, in Gabryszak's view, is for the National Football League to relax this rule, allowing any new local owner the full 20 years to pay back the money..

“This would make the whole thing more doable and make it more likely that the Bills can stay here,” he notes. “Obviously, Erie County and the State of New York can not come up with the $200 to $220 needed alone. The Bills do create jobs here in WNY and are an important part of our economy and our whole way of life here in this area. With Ralph Wilson now 93 years old, keeping the Bills here after he should leave the scene for any reason is a subject we have to start facing right now.”

That's why he is happy that NYS Gov. Andrew Cuomo and US Senator Chuck Schumer seem to be taking a personal interest in this issue.

“The fact that Gov. Cuomo has hired a high priced Washington sports law firm to advise him on this issue is very important,” he adds. “And, also the fact that Senator Schumer is taking a personal interest in it and has been speaking out is very helpful.”