Public money will be used to cover more than half the cost of a new stadium for the Buffalo Bills football team.

Plans call for $850 million in funds from New York state and Erie County to be used for what is expected to be a $1.4 billion facility in Orchard Park. That would mean more than 60 percent of the stadium cost would be publicly subsidized, which is believed to be a record amount for a sports venue in the United States.

Governor Kathy Hochul said $600 million for the stadium will be included in the state budget proposal for the fiscal year that starts April 1. She said Erie County is to contribute $250 million.

The team's owners and the NFL are to pay for about 40 percent of the project cost.

Hochul had been concerned that Bills owners Terry and Kim Pegula would move the team out of New York state without plans for a publicly-financed stadium in place.

NFL owners on Monday gave their approval to the Bills stadium plan. New York state and Erie County lawmakers also must sign off on the proposal.

The team is expected to start design work for the new facility immediately.

Erie County plans to transfer ownership of the existing stadium and adjacent facility to New York state. The state will own the new stadium complex.

Contact WNBF News reporter Bob Joseph: bob@wnbf.com.

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