The latest reports that the Bills are potentially looking to construct a new facility in Orchard Park has prompted optimism from town stakeholders.
It’s also prompted renewed conversation about how to make the town more Bills friendly – with some wondering if a hotel could potentially help make Orchard Park a destination location for Bills fans throughout the state.
That might mean creating more opportunities for lodging around the stadium and the village.
Don Lorentz, the executive director at the Orchard Park Chamber of commerce, said that there has been chatter about a potential hotel in past years. Most recently, Ellicott Development proposed a massive rezoning that could accommodate a multi-story hotel back in 2019, but that has yet to move forward.
Lorentz said that investors have moved away from a hotel in Orchard Park as speculation swirled around the Bills’ future here, and rumors spread that they may look to relocate downtown or elsewhere.
If the latest reports hold true, the long-term commitment from the Bills – coupled with the fact that the Bills are now a viable playoff team – could once again attract interest from developers looking to build a hotel, Lorentz said.
Orchard Park Councilman Conor Flynn also noted that he’d like to see reconstruction of the Bills stadium come with a deeper, town-wide look at how Orchard Park can make itself a “world-class destination” for football fans.
He suggested that creating opportunities for places to stay near the village could help drive more football fans to the village's businesses.
- By James Farrell, Sun reporter
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