Poloncarz slams Buffalo Bills PSL process: 'It's wrong'

BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) – Erie County Executive Mark Poloncarz unloaded on the Buffalo Bills Friday for how the team and its partners have handled the rollout of personal seat licenses at the team's new stadium that is receiving $850 million in public funding.

"The modern NFL really doesn't care about smaller markets," Poloncarz said during an acerbic four-and-a-half minute response to a question about PSLs. "It is a business. The other owners don't care if the average fan in Buffalo can afford tickets in the new stadium. They just want to make as much money as they can. And its going to be like that not just for the PSL cost but with the increased prices associated with, probably, the tickets themselves."

Earlier this month, the Bills began inviting high-end season ticket holders to tour a facility in Amherst called the Bills Stadium Experience that shows off the impressive amenities at the new stadium. At the end of the tour, PSL prices and payment plans are revealed for club-level seats, though pricing for other sections is not being shared with attendees.

A personal seat license is a one-time expense that gives the holder the right to purchase a season ticket, and licenses can be re-sold at a later date. None of the pricing has been made public, however, leaving fans to worry as info on the most expensive seats trickles in through social media.

While unconfirmed by the team, fans who attended the Stadium Experience have posted screenshots and other info on social media alleging PSLs in the stadium's three most expensive clubs cost $50,000, $20,000 and $15,000 per seat, before the actual cost of tickets.

"I actually let representatives of the Bills and Legends – which is the sub-agent that's actually selling the PSLs – know, in no unconditional terms, that I found it, first off, very upsetting that they would not announce what the PSL prices were for all the seats," Poloncarz said. "I've talked to the Governor about this, she's very concerned as well.

"Whatever they sell it at," Poloncarz added, "they have a right to do that, but they should at least publicize what the planned PSLs are for all of the seats. So if someone who wants to still attend games but can't afford a $25,000 PSL, but maybe could afford a $5,000 PSL, could buy those tickets. But right now, they have no idea. And it's wrong."

The Bills declined interviews requests about PSLs this week and did not respond to requests for comment Friday.

"I think what they're trying to do," Poloncarz said, "I'm not certain, but I think what they're trying to do is find out how many PSLs they sell in the club seats, and then if they don't have a certain amount of dollars raised, adjust the PSLs for the other seats. That's wrong. We should know now what are the costs associated with every PSL that's going to be sold, from any that are $500 per PSL to the ones you heard about in the club seats that are very expensive. And they were refusing to do that."

The Bills new stadium is scheduled to open in 2026. Funding for the stadium -- initially given a $1.4 billion price tag, which has since risen -- was announced in 2022 as $600 million from New York state, $250 million from Erie County, and $550 million combined from the Bills and the NFL, with all overruns paid by the team. The team's portion includes a $200 million loan from the NFL.

All funds raised through the sale of PSLs offset the amount ownership has to spend on the stadium.

Poloncarz, who spearheaded negotiations for the county in the three-way stadium agreement, said he expressed his displeasure with the team after touring the Stadium Experience.

"I think they thought it was going to be, 'oh, the County Executive is coming in, we're going to wine and dine him and show him this,'" Poloncarz said. "They got more than an earful from me – to the point where I got calls afterwards saying 'man, you were not in a good mood.' I said, 'Well, I'm fighting for our residents.'

"I want to remind everybody, the NFL is the entertainment business," he added. "... They love you as much as the amount of money you to bring to the table -- what you're willing to pay for a ticket, what you're willing to pay for a beer, what you're willing to pay for, depending what stadium you're in, a glass of wine and a steak. It's not your grandfather's NFL, it's not your father's NFL. It's the modern NFL, where it's all about money."

New York Gov. Kathy Hochul, a Western New York native, released a statement Friday that said in part, "Our administration has communicated to the Bills leadership the need to prioritize ensuring as many fans from all walks of life are able to attend games and cheer on the Bills in the new stadium."

With more than 60,000 season ticket holders, the team warned it will take “quite some time” to schedule a tour date for everyone at the Stadium Experience. Season ticket holders who have not yet scheduled a tour are encouraged to email newstadium@bills.nfl.net or call 716-815-7066. Non-season ticket holders can get an invite by joining the “priority list,” which requires a $150 deposit per seat on 2026 season tickets.