Bills, Sabres COO addresses stadium construction, PSLs

BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) - WIVB News 4 has updates on the big improvements coming to the homes of both the Bills and the Sabres. The chief operating officer of both teams spoke Thursday.

In a wide-ranging interview, Pete Guelli also discussed events the Pegula's would like to bring to Buffalo.

Guelli has one hand on the construction of the new Highmark Stadium and the other hand on the Keybank Center. During the Buffalo Niagara Partnership's annual report for members, Guelli gave an update on stadium construction, which has reached a milestone with the canopy now going up.

"We're comfortably on schedule right now at the stadium, we'll see how the winter goes. I've been gone for 15 years, but I know how that works in Buffalo, so we'll see how that happens," Guelli said. "Every time I walk in there and I get a tour every couple of weeks, I'll look up and the first question I'll ask the head of construction is, 'are you sure we can fit a football field in here?' because it's close, it's straight up, it's set up in a way to make the gameday experience even better."

He also gave an update on personal seat licenses, also known as PSLs.

"From a PSL perspective, things are going well, the club seats are completely sold out, suite sales are going incredibly well. We've gone on sale with the lower level and those are moving very quickly as well," Guelli said.

As for future events in Orchard Park, the Pegula's are thinking big.

"We've already reached out to the NFL and we've asked them about the 2028 or 2029 NFL Draft. We know it's on their radar and we know we're a potential destination for that event, so we're going to continue that process," Guelli said. "I have spoken to the NHL about the Winter Classic. 2028 is the 20 year anniversary of the first one, it would be great if those things lined up."

Switching to the home of the Sabres, Guelli points to the new roof and score board and video board being key investments.

"That's just phase one, so we're already talking about, 'what are we going to do next year?' and then 'what's the long term plan for that building?' We're still in the initial discussions, but we're looking out at least five years right now," Guelli said.

Dottie Gallagher, the president of the Buffalo Niagara Partnership, hopes the KeyBank Center becomes even more of a destination.

"I hope that what we eventually get downtown is a multi-use sports facility to really cater to all the amateur athletics that happen in our region. Those are huge drivers of tourism dollars, they are recession-proof, families will always bring their kids in for swimming, for soccer for all of those things," Gallagher said.

Gary Bettman, the NHL commissioner, said last year that when there's a new stadium, the NHL would be "more than happy to bring back an outdoor game," referring to the Winter Classic.