Buffalo Pro Soccer getting close to identifying new stadium site
0
BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) — Buffalo Pro Soccer is getting close to identifying a new stadium site.
The franchise and president Peter Marlette said the decision for a new stadium site is imminent. Earlier this month, it was announced that the previously selected stadium site at Lee Street and Elk Street will not happen due to a dispute with PVS Chemicals, a chemical plant next door.
Among the sites that the franchise is looking at is an area in the Cobblestone District in the old Buffalo News parking lot adjacent to KeyBank Center. That was previously said to have come with a $40 million price tag, but Marlette has said more recently that it could end up being lower.
Several other sites across Buffalo have been discussed as well. Marlette has emphasized that the team remains committed to being within city limits.
"I'd say we could make a decision today but we want to make sure we have really figured everything out and making sure we're making the right choice," Marlette said prior to a community town hall Thursday night at Larkin Square. "It's really all I'm doing right now."
The announcement of re-opening the site selection process has pushed back beginning play until 2027 after they planned to begin play in 2026.
"You wouldn't believe the amount of sites that have been emailed to me in the past couple of weeks," Marlette said. "And honestly a couple of them are decent, so that's not a bad thing at all. But the public reaction, we're not talking stakeholders, we're not talking landowners, just the general public reaction, has been largely very positive. I think people were excited about that site, I was excited about that site, I was excited to be playing in a new stadium in 2026, but there were some public hesitations around that site."
No matter where it is the modular stadium will hold up to 10,000 spectators with future plans to expand it to 15,000. The team will play in the USL, the second-highest tier of the American professional soccer ladder.
"I think people are maybe re-invigorated by a new opportunity for some different options," Marlette said.
At the event the team had a whiteboard for fans to suggest a team name and primary colors. Buffalo Blizzard, which would pay homage to an indoor soccer team that played in Buffalo from 1992 until 2001, was a popular choice among fans. As for team colors, several fans suggested they wanted blue to be part of the color scheme.
Aidan Joly joined the News 4 staff in 2022. He is a graduate of Canisius College. You can see more of his work here.