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For a while, the team even said it was premature to answer questions about the potential for future development surrounding the Orchard Park stadium now under construction.

But, as it turns out, stadium development was being considered all along.

John Polka, vice president for Bills stadium development, recently said the stadium project, from its infancy, was designed with opportunities in mind for development around the team鈥檚 Abbott Road campus.

Before stadium architect Populous put pencil to paper to design the stadium, the Bills met with the design firm to look at the bigger picture. They analyzed what might be coming down the road, before dropping a stadium into the area.

That meant considering how the stadium placement and orientation on the west side of Abbott Road and the footprint of the Bills campus 鈥� which will include the team鈥檚 field house and offices on the east side of Abbott 鈥� impacts future development in the area.

Polka said the team is optimistic about private developers adding to the area close to the stadium, especially on the current Highmark Stadium side of Abbott and on the SUNY Erie Community College South Campus, which will likely be for sale by the end of the year or early next year.

鈥淲e were thinking through what could the rest of the campus or what could the rest of the area be? It was important for us to not just focus on the stadium being developed across the street but also understand what the future might hold in the area,鈥� said Polka, who spoke earlier this month during a meeting of the WNY Regional Economic Development Council.

鈥淲e thought through what could come later by doing this all up front and not just jumping into it and limiting ourselves,鈥� he added.

While the Bills say they have not finalized any development outside the property of the new stadium, it was certainly part of the thought process.

鈥淲e have not thought through what the development may be,鈥� Polka said. 鈥淚t was more about understanding what future development might look like with this massive project that we鈥檙e putting across the street.鈥�

Some believe the 102-acre ECC South Campus holds the most potential for future development, including bringing a badly needed multistory hotel to the area or potentially an attraction like Titletown in Green Bay, where developers stepped up, in coordination with the Packers, to build mixed-use projects next to Lambeau Field.

SUNY Erie will move its South Campus to a smaller footprint at 50 Cobham Drive in Quaker Centre Industrial Park starting in the fall semester. There will still be some things going on at the current campus during the fall but that should wind down, readying the site to hit the market.

The team鈥檚 view of the potential for the east side of Abbott may mean the Bills are not just envisioning demolishing the current stadium and turning all that space into a parking lot. There鈥檚 been talk of creating a Bills or tailgate village or another type of destination in that area and possibly a pedestrian bridge for fans to use to cross to the new stadium.

Orchard Park officials adopted new zoning rules for the area around the stadium in October that they hope will spur development once the stadium is completed in 2026.

The town will now allow for hotels up to four floors to try to attract interested developers and help make the town more of a place to stay when events come to the stadium.

The new zoning district also allows for mixed-use development that could bring condos, apartments or townhomes, as well as restaurants and boutique stores and centers, with the stadium in view. It鈥檚 also aimed at improving traffic management and congestion, parking facilities, accessibility and public transportation options around the stadium.

As part of planning for the stadium project, the team thought about what it would take to make the stadium a place that people would want to visit and not just on game days, Polka said.

They looked at what the campus footprint will look like, the topography of the site, and how the recommended north to south orientation of the stadium would fit in the area and accommodate future development.

The entranceway to the stadium, the location of Family Circle in front of the facility at Southwestern Boulevard and Abbott, and pedestrian approach and circulation in the area were all important considerations as well, Polka said.

鈥淚f we were just going to look at the box where the stadium is going, without considering everything around it, we may look back in five to 10 years and say, 鈥楾hat probably wasn鈥檛 the right spot or that wasn鈥檛 the right orientation and we kind of boxed ourselves in,鈥欌�� Polka said.

What happens around the stadium is critical for the potential of increased tourism and has been a focal point for many teams when they build their new stadiums. A new stadium and a Super Bowl-contending team in Buffalo will bring its share of visitors, but year-round attractions are needed to keep them coming and offer opportunities to remain in the area for more than just the game.

Patrick Kaler, president and CEO of Visit Buffalo Niagara, said the Bills already generate $385 million in regional economic activity, and help show off other flavors of the community and destinations in the area during the team鈥檚 many national TV broadcasts each season.

Having a team ultimately brings recognition and prestige, even to one of the NFL鈥檚 smallest markets, but Kaler believes the impact can become even greater.

鈥淭he Bills, along with the Sabres, Bandits and Bisons, really give us a national platform, and Buffalo is looked at more of a destination for other events and activities because of our professional sports,鈥� he said.