next nine months if they will continue playing at their suburban stadium or if a new one will be built downtown.That's the timeframe given to two firms hired by the parent company that owns the Bills and the NHL's Buffalo Sabres to study the future needs of both teams' facilities Jaquan Johnson Buffalo Bills Jersey , including determining whether to build a new football stadium to replace 45-year-old New Era Field.On Tuesday, Pegula Sports and Entertainment chief operating officer Bruce Popko said the study was necessary because the facilities, including the Sabres' 23-year-old KeyBank Center, "have fallen behind modern standards.""Ultimately, it's going to give us options," Popko said, referring to the study being conducted by CAA ICON, a consulting firm, and Populous, an architectural firm. "It's going to provide for us what can happen at New Era Field. It's going to also provide for us what may be the chance to entertain a new option of a stadium."Popko stressed there are no preconceived notions favoring renovations versus a new facility in launching the feasibility study that will include input from state and local governments and fans.He said it's premature to estimate the costs and how much taxpayer assistance might be required."Until we have more specifics about what the stadium may look like, what may be related to it, it's too early to tell you what the pitch may be," he said.As for the Sabres' home, the study will identify what structural upgrades and other modernizations are needed. The facility has undergone only minor renovations since it opened in 1996."We've spent about $26 million of our own money in the last five years just on the small pieces here and there, but in terms of a large renovation, we have not undertaken one," said Popko, noting that many fan amenities, scoreboards and sound systems have become outdated. "There's lots of those things that we don't enjoy right now, and I think we're going to need moving forward."The study comes as the Bills have five years remaining on their lease with the state and county, while the Sabres have eight years remaining on their lease with the county.The future of the Bills' home, currently located in suburban Orchard Park, has been a major topic of discussion since Terry and Kim Pegula purchased the franchise in 2014 following the death of Hall of Fame owner Ralph Wilson.The sale came two years after the Bills agreed to a 10-year lease. The deal committed nearly $227 million of taxpayer money toward extensive renovations and annual capital and game-day expenses.During the sale process, a state-funded study identified three sites in downtown Buffalo as possible locations for a new football stadium Color Rush Jaquan Johnson Jersey , while also examining the cost of the team remaining at its current site.Both options carried hefty price tags: A new stadium would cost at least $1 billion, while the next round of renovations would cost $540 million, in part because of major renovations to the stadium's third deck, according to the study.Popko told The Associated Press the new study would start from scratch, while using the 2014 study as a reference point."It'll be good information for us. But I don't think it'll be the roadmap," Popko said. "This is really kind of a blank slate."However, there are limitations to how blank the slate might be.Any major renovations at New Era Field would be expected to include mandatory upgrades that fall under the Americans With Disabilities Act.As for new stadium sites, there's a limited amount of open spaces downtown large enough to accommodate such a development. One of the three sites identified in 2014 has since been developed.The site that drew the most attention is a large two-block parcel of street-level parking lots located in the city's emerging Cobblestone entertainment district. The site is located a block east of the Sabres' arena and within two blocks of HarborCenter, a $200 million hotel and hockey entertainment facility built by the Pegulas, and a newly opened brew house operated by the Pegulas.One person directly involved in discussions four years ago told the AP in January the Pegulas were focused on building a downtown stadium, and that the Cobblestone site was regarded as "one of the prime target areas." The person spoke on the condition of anonymity because the talks were private.It's unclear whether those plans have changed.Without revealing the locations, Popko said the Pegulas own "a decent amount of land" downtown."Our investment here would lead you toward thinking at least it has to be one of the options," Popko said. "But again, no preconceived notions going into this entire study." On Wednesday, the NFL will release schedules for all 32 teams. What will the Bills’ schedule look like?"WhiteFanposts Fanshots Sections NewsNotesOpinionAnalysisDiscussionPodcastNFL DraftSalary CapOpinionOne season-ticket-holder’s wish list for Buffalo Bills' 2019 scheduleNew,7commentsOn Wednesday, the NFL will release schedules for all 32 teams. What will the Bills’ schedule look like?EDTShareTweetShareShareOne season-ticket-holder’s wish list for Buffalo Bills' 2019 scheduleOn Wednesday night, 8 p.m. EST, the NFL will unveil schedules for all 32 teams—an activity that has morphed into a national holiday of sorts. The release allows season-ticket holders like myself (this fall represents my 12th season as a faithful season-ticket holder) a chance to plan out their football schedules for the fall and winter. It also leads to heated debates and overly optimistic projections, as fans of most teams try and come up with ways their team will conquer the schedule and make the playoffs. Fans can also identify the road games they will travel to in support of a young Buffalo Bills team that is coming off a 6-10 season in year one of the Josh Allen era in Western New York. Despite taking a step back one season after snapping the franchise’s 17-year playoff drought, there is reason for optimism in Buffalo. The team overhauled the offensive line (SIX new linemen!) and found the anchor of the o-line in center Mitch Morse. They brought in offensive weapons like wide receivers John Brown and Cole Beasley and tight end Tyler Kroft, and added ageless running back Frank Gore. On defense, they shored up the secondary with the additions of Kevin Johnson and E.J. Gaines, and improved the depth of the defensive line with the signing of situational pass rusher Eli Harold and the re-signing of defensive tackle Jordan Phillips. To improve their special-teams play Youth Jaquan Johnson Jersey , they brought in All-Pro returner Andre Roberts to shore up the woeful return game. So what can we expect when the schedule is released? Will the schedule makers reward the Bills with another home prime-time game, or will Buffalo recede into the background and only make a token prime-time appearance on Thursday Night Football? The Bills will host the New England Patriots, Miami Dolphins, New York Jets, Baltimore Ravens, Cincinnati Bengals, Washington, Philadelphia Eagles, and Denver Broncos. Buffalo will travel to New England, Miami, the Jets, the Pittsburgh Steelers, Cleveland Browns, New York Giants, Dallas Cowboys, and Tennessee Titans. Here’s my biased wish list for the 2019 Buffalo Bills schedule: Two home games in each month, or preferably three home games in either September or October (with one fewer home game in either November or December to make up for this). There’s nothing like watching a Buffalo Bills home game on a picture-perfect fall day in Western New York—the parking lots filled with rabid Bills fans partying in one of the most intimate and unique tailgating atmospheres in all of sports. Yet too many times the schedule makers will only give Buffalo one home game in September and October while back-loading the schedule with three December home games. I love a snow football game as much as the next fan, but it would be great to have two (or three) home games in September and October to make the most out of the beautiful fall weather we enjoy in Western New York. At least one primetime game, and maybe two so the national audience can watch Allen mature and develop into one of the more exciting quarterbacks in the league. A right elbow injury robbed Allen of six games in 2018, but he came back and guided the Bills to a 3-3 record over their final six games, completing 52.8 percent of his passes for 2,074 yards with 10 touchdowns and 12 interceptions. He also rushed for 631 yards and eight touchdowns on 89 carries (an average of 7.09 yards per rush). Allen’s 67.9 passer rating and a 52.0 Total QBR were second-best to Baker Mayfield among rookies and 12th-best among rookie quarterbacks since ESPN began tracking the stat in 2006. For years, Buffalo’s lone primetime game would be against the Jets. This year, that wouldn’t be the worst thing Womens Jaquan Johnson Jersey , as a budding rivalry between second-year quarterbacks Allen and Sam Darnold would give the Bills/Jets games added intrigue. A balanced schedule that doesn’t have the Bills leading the league in number of games against opponents coming off of either their bye week or a Thursday night game, which leads to an unfair rest advantage. From 2002-2014, the Bills played twice as many of these games as the other teams in the league, and it would be great if the new mathematical approach the league is employing for mapping out the schedule would yield a fair and equitable schedule for Buffalo. The league is celebrating its 100th anniversary this fall, with longtime rivals the Chicago Bears and Green Bay Packers kicking off the season Thursday, Sept. 5 at Chicago’s Soldier Field. In line with honoring longtime rivals, it would make sense for the Bills and Broncos to open the season, as both were charter members of the AFL. Buffalo last hosted Denver on Sept. 24, 2017, earning a 26-16 win at steamy New Era Field, and owns a 21-16-1 edge in the all-time series. An opportunity for an early-season statement win. The Bills face four teams that made the playoffs last year: a home-and-away with Tom Brady and the reigning Super Bowl champion Patriots, home games with the Ravens and Eagles, and a trip to face Dak Prescott, Ezekiel Elliott and the Cowboys. Buffalo would certainly garner attention with a win over any of these playoff teams from 2018—more so if it came at the expense of the Patriots or the Cowboys. A Buffalo/Cleveland showdown with something at stake. For too many years, these two teams with passionate fan bases have met with nothing on the line other than pride. With the excitement building in Cleveland after a busy offseason, and with the quiet upgrades Buffalo has made, it would be nice for the Bills/Browns clash to have playoff implications. You have to go back to the 1994 season for the last time both the Bills and Browns made the playoffs. With two exciting second-year quarterbacks in Allen and Mayfield, and two up-and-coming defenses, these franchises could finally be on the rise after years of mediocrity. A balanced schedule that doesn’t have Buffalo playing New England twice in the final month. The Patriots treat the first four games of the season as their extended preseason, and it would be nice if Sean McDermott and the Bills could get a **** at Bill Belichick and the Patriots early in the season, when the Patriots are still making adjustments (especially to life after Rob Gronkowski).The Bills have ended the last two seasons with four of their final five games against AFC East foes. Usually, those games are against the Patriots and Dolphins. Here’s hoping for a home finale in the snow against the Dolphins, with a Buffalo playoff berth at stake. Mark your calendars for 8 p.m. EST Wednesday when the league’s schedule is announced!