ALBANY - A nationally-recognized professional sports expert with extensive experience in stadium development and the sports industry, will advise the state's on its efforts to keep the Bills in Buffalo.

Irwin Raij currently serves as a partner with Foley & Lardner LLP and is co-chair of the Sports Industry Team. Mr. Raij has represented and counseled major sports clients including a professional sports league, professional sports teams, owners and acquirers of professional sports teams. He advises clients in connection with a variety of new stadium development projects, construction agreements, new and interim lease agreements, acquisition of professional sports franchises, strategic counsel, and commercial matters.

"New York State is committed to doing all we can to keep the Bills a part of the Buffalo community, while also protecting taxpayer dollars and seeing that the team can thrive in Western New York for years to come," Governor Andrew Cuomo said. "Irwin Raij has years of experience working together with sports franchise owners, local communities, and government in sports development projects, and he will be a valuable addition to the state's efforts to keep the Bills right here in New York."

"I am very much looking forward to the opportunity to collaborate closely with the State of New York on an issue that carries both emotional and economic implications among many residents," said Raij. "Throughout this process, I plan to leverage my and the firm’s collective experience on these complex and evolving issues in order to find a solution that helps keep the Bills in Buffalo."

Mr. Raij's experience includes leading the team that represented Guggenheim Baseball Management in the recent acquisition of the Los Angeles Dodgers, the single largest transaction ever for a professional sports franchise and represented Rangers Baseball Express in its acquisition of the Texas Rangers.

Sen. Charles Schumer (D-NY) also added his support to keeping the Bills in Buffalo.

Schumer stood in front of Ralph Wilson Stadium to launch an effort to urge the NFL to alter its G-4 loan program in a way that allows the Bills to access up to $25 million for much-needed stadium upgrades.

“I will do everything in my power to keep the Bills right here in Buffalo. Because of the their unique situation, the bottom line is that the NFL’s loan program to upgrade stadiums, as structured, is practically useless for the Bills", said Schumer.  "Making some basic, common sense changes to this key NFL loan program is something that can generate significant resources for much-needed stadium renovations, and could do so in a way that provides significant incentive for any future owner to keep the team in western New York.”