ALBANY, N.Y. — Gov. Kathy Hochul has proudly displayed her credentials as a die-hard fan of the Buffalo Bills since taking office, posting photos of herself watching games and peppering her speeches with extemporaneous comments about her hometown football team.
But Ms. Hochul’s most consequential support of the Bills has unfolded in monthslong back-room talks with the team’s owners to build a $1.4 billion stadium.
The negotiations reflect the governor’s desire to keep the team in Western New York during an election year, as well as the state’s unusually rosy fiscal picture: Instead of facing billions of dollars in projected deficits, New York is currently awash in federal funds.