12-23-12: Courtesy of WBEN. Deputy County Executive Richard Tobe talks with Dave Debo on Hardline about the ins and outs of the new 10-year lease agreement with the Buffalo Bills.

12-21-12: Courtesy of WGR 550. Mark Poloncarz joins voice of the Bills John Murphy to discuss the newly announced 10-year stadium lease agreement with the Buffalo Bills.

12-21-12: Courtesy of WKBW. As part of a new 10-year lease between the Buffalo Bills, Erie County, and New York State, Ralph Wilson Stadium will see significant upgrades. $130 million dollars will be spent to renovate the stadium. The Bills will contribute $35 million, while Erie County will add $41 million, and the State will put in $54 million. “This renovation is focused solely on fan experience,” added Bill CEO Russ Brandon. “We are committed to making the fan experience as good as it gets in the National Football League.” Fans can expect to see the renovations begin soon and they will include new technology in the stadium such as video boards in the east end. There will be a new store, enhanced gate entries, creation of a new west end plaza, and upgrades to concessions and restrooms. Overall, fans are happy with the lease because they believe it will keep the NFL team in Buffalo for many years to come.

12-22-12: Courtesy of WIVB. The Buffalo Bills will in fact be Western New York’s football team and call Ralph Wilson Stadium home for several more years. Russ Brandon, Buffalo Bills CEO says, “Today is a significant step in securing the long term future of the Buffalo Bills in Western New York.” The deal also calls for $130 million dollars in renovations to the Ralph. If the team were to break the contract, the team would be subject to a $400 million dollar fine; just over half the team’s total value according to Forbes. But one of the more interesting comments from Friday’s announcement came from Governor Andrew Cuomo about the future home of the Bills plans. Governor Cuomo says, “Exploring options for a new stadium down the road, if that is financially feasible and intelligent from a development point of view.”

12-19-12: Courtesy of YNN. After being awarded more than $100 million in 2011, Wednesday marked round two for development funding through Governor Cuomo’s Regional Economic Development Council Initiative. YNN’s Meg Rossman has more on how the Western New York Economic Development Council fared, and what they plan to do with the money. According to state officials, Western New York is on the road to becoming a strong economic engine for their region, and an additional $52.8 million in funding awarded to the Western New York Regional Economic Development Council in Albany Wednesday is only meant to help pull that engine along. “We’re very pleased,” Erie County Executive Mark Poloncarz said. “Things have been going along excellent with regards to economic development issues.”

12-21-12: Courtesy of YNN. The stadium lease deal comes after a private group presented a proposal to build a new football stadium and multipurpose sports complex on Buffalo’s waterfront. YNN’s Kevin Jolly talked to one of the people behind the proposal about how the new lease could impact their plans.

12-21-12: Courtesy of WKBW. Governor Andrew M. Cuomo and Erie County Executive Mark Poloncarz today announced that the Buffalo Bills have committed to remain in Western New York for at least the next seven years. The Agreement signed today by the Governor, the Buffalo Bills, and Erie County includes a commitment from the Bills to stay in Buffalo for at least the next seven years, and $130 million in upgrades to Ralph Wilson Stadium. The agreement also includes the creation of a New Stadium Working Group and Fund to explore the potential for constructing a future new professional sports stadium in Western New York.

12-21-12: Courtesy of WIVB. The Buffalo Bills have reached an agreement with Erie County and the state on a lease deal for the Ralph Wilson Stadium that will keep the NFL franchise in western New York until at least 2020, Gov. Andrew Cuomo and team officials said Friday. The agreement includes $130 million in renovations for the nearly 40-year-old stadium, with the Bills providing $35 million and the state and county covering the other $95 million.

12-21-12: Today, Mark Poloncarz joined Lt. Bob Duffy and Bills CEO Russ Brandon to announce a 10 year lease agreement to keep the Bills in Buffalo. www2.erie.gov

12-17-12: Courtesy of YNN. Erie County Executive Mark Poloncarz helped deliver hundreds of toys Monday. The donations were collected at the Rath County Office Building as part of the Toys For Tots program. The items were brought to the Navy Operational Support Center on Porter Avenue and will be distributed by Marines to local non-profit organizations this holiday season. Poloncarz says that this program is a popular one around the holiday season and isn’t limited to toys. “There are other items there was clothing, there was hair product material like blow dryers and things like that that were required and were asked for, curling irons for young girls. So it’s just not toys but other needed items including new clothes,” Poloncarz said. Toys for Tots has been around since 1947 and provides toys to children nationwide.