BUFFALO, N.Y. — A pro soccer group bringing the professional soccer back to Buffalo may be getting closer to narrowing down a potential new location for a stadium.
In March of 2024, rumblings of pro soccer returning to Buffalo became more real.
Western New York native Peter Marlette Jr. announced last March the formation of Buffalo Pro Soccer, which through an agreement with the United Soccer League, would bring a men’s USL Championship team to Buffalo by 2026.
Fast forward to 2025, and the group is now getting closer to finding the sports leagues permanent home.
One of those potential locations could be the former Buffalo News building that was purchased by developer Douglas Jemal in August of 2024.
2 On Your Side reached out to a spokesperson with the pro soccer group on Wednesday morning for confirmation on the former Buffalo News building as an option, to which they said:
“Downtown Buffalo is an ideal location for a professional soccer stadium, though we have not yet made a final decision on our club’s future home. We are evaluating three total sites, each offering unique benefits for our community, and remain committed to exploring all viable options before making a final decision.
One key consideration is that building downtown would require public investment, whereas other potential locations could be developed primarily through private funding.
We remain committed to starting play in the 2026 USL Championship season, as we continue our ambitious site selection and construction process.”
The pro soccer group shared in November that they will need the assistance of taxpayer dollars to help fund construction of the new soccer-specific stadium.
Documents obtained and reviewed by 2 On Your Side Investigates show Club President Peter Marlette Jr. entered into an agreement with Upstate Strategic Advisors to lobby Empire State Development and Gov. Kathy Hochul’s office.
Next up in 5
Example video title will go here for this video
Next up in 5
Example video title will go here for this video
In Other News