PALM BEACH, Fla. 鈥 Buffalo Bills Chief Operating Officer Pete Guelli responded emphatically to that the team is lacking transparency in how it is executing the community benefits agreement connected to the construction of the new Highmark Stadium.
鈥淚 don鈥檛 know the rationale (of Baskin鈥檚 comments),鈥 Guelli said during an interview with The Buffalo News during the NFL鈥檚 annual meeting in South Florida. 鈥淚 can only assume it鈥檚 politically motivated in some respect and with some agenda, but the Bills aren鈥檛 here to play politics. We鈥檙e here to make sure we鈥檙e invested constructively in the community, and that鈥檚 what this agreement is set up to.鈥
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The community benefits agreement, forged between the Bills and Erie County in March 2023, called for the club to invest $3 million annually for 33 years to support the social, educational and economic health of the Buffalo area.
Baskin, who led the CBA negotiations when she was the county鈥檚 legislative chairperson, also slammed the Bills for the lack of local involvement in developing a community arts program.
鈥淚t was a little bit surprising,鈥 said Penny Semaia, the Bills vice president of stadium relations, in a phone interview with The News. 鈥淥ne of the things we have been is transparent. If you look at the minutes of all 11 of our community benefits oversight committee meetings, we were very transparent in the data and information we were sharing as well as the type of work we were doing to invest in the community.鈥
A view of the construction taking place at the new Highmark Stadium, which is scheduled to open in the summer of 2026.
Semaia said he has not spoken to Baskin about her criticisms and concerns.
According to the Bills, they invested $3,682,553 in the 2023 fiscal year as a part of the CBA and should be around $3.1 million for this fiscal year. Guelli said this is separate from the Buffalo Bills Foundation and community relations investments.
鈥淲e understand exactly what the (CBA) says,鈥 Guelli said. 鈥淲e are 100% compliant and not only that, we鈥檙e looking to exceed those percentages wherever we can and candidly, it鈥檚 disappointing when people question our commitment to the community when you see what our owner (Terry Pegula), our organization and our players commit.鈥
The Community Benefits Oversight Committee was created to make suggestions to the Bills on potential investments.
鈥淭he committee in place makes recommendations on where we invest, and we want to work with them,鈥 Guelli said. 鈥淭here are monthly meetings, and we鈥檝e hired people specifically to manage this part of the process. That鈥檚 how seriously we鈥檙e taking it. It鈥檚 surprising when somebody questions it. There will be no lack of transparency or a lack of investment. Anything anybody wants to know about it, we鈥檙e happy to provide it.鈥
Semaia said on the construction side, the goal for local business participation was 36% and the Bills are currently at 38.7%.
鈥淲e want to make sure we鈥檙e being inclusive and engaged with the community,鈥 he said. 鈥(The transparency) is very important for us.鈥
Semaia said the Bills have assisted multiple companies earn New York State and Erie County certifications over the last year.
Said Guelli: 鈥淲e鈥檙e always going to take the high road, and we鈥檙e not focused on the politics of the matter, we鈥檙e focused on executing that agreement to the highest level possible and continue to invest in the community wherever we can.鈥
