'It's Wrong!' Buffalo Bills' Ticketing Prices Ripped by Erie County Executive

The Buffalo Bills' decision to use personal seat licenses at their future stadium has proven quite controversial.

Bills fans watch as the team warms up out of uniform. / Tina MacIntyre-Yee /Rochester Democrat

The Buffalo Bills are still two years away from moving into their brand-new stadium, but already, the team's practices at the new venue have come under fire.

Once the new stadium opens, the Bills will require fans to purchase a personal seat license (PSL) in order to purchase a season ticket. That alone isn't the controversy as over half the teams in the league use a similar system.

Instead, it's the process behind buying those PSLs that has started a fire storm among fans. The prices for PSLs are not publicly available, and many fans have reported prices as much as $50,000 per seat.

Jan 21, 2024; Orchard Park, New York, USA; Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen (17). / Mark Konezny-USA TODAY Sports

The situation has even caught the attention of local politicians. On Friday, Erie County Executive Mark Poloncarz harshly criticized the Bills and their partners for their poor handling of the PSL rollout.

“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, per WIVB. “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.”

New York Gov. Kathy Hochul, a Buffalo native, also issued a statement on the subject: “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.”

Poloncarz will continue to fight for the common Bills fan, but no matter what changes follow, he remains disappointed in the NFL's business practices.

“I want to remind everybody, the NFL is the entertainment business,” Poloncarz said. “… They love you as much as the amount of money you 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.”