Restaino Seeks $200 Million in State Funding for Centennial Park During Albany Budget Hearing

     Niagara Falls Mayor Robert Restaino traveled to Albany on Wednesday, February 12th to formally request $200 million in state funding for his proposed Centennial Park events center, using his appearance at a joint legislative budget hearing to press lawmakers for what he described as transformational investment in the city’s future.

     Speaking before state legislators during the annual budget session – often referred to as “Tin Cup Day” (i.e.: begging for money) because of the number of municipal leaders seeking financial assistance – Restaino argued that Niagara Falls faces unique fiscal limitations that make large-scale public investment difficult without state support.

     The mayor pointed to the substantial amount of tax-exempt land within city limits, including state-owned property, and acreage belonging to the Seneca Nation. He said the concentration of tax-free property significantly reduces the city’s ability to generate local revenue to finance major development projects on its own.

     According to Restaino, state-owned properties in Niagara Falls are valued at approximately $284 million and account for roughly 15 percent of the city’s total assessed property value. He also referenced 51 acres of Seneca Nation territory in the downtown tourism district, including the Seneca Niagara Casino.

     “If I was able to tax the state-owned and state-authority property, Niagara Reservation State Park, land owned by the New York Power Authority and other tax-exempt acreage, Niagara Falls would collect approximately $11 million annually,” he said. “Other cities can make similar claims about not being able to tax state-owned property, not to the degree that Niagara Falls is impacted.”

     Restaino contended that if Niagara Falls were able to collect those funds, it would be better positioned to finance projects like Centennial Park independently. Instead, he said the city requires state partnership to move forward with the initiative.

     Restaino has consistently described the project as a way to diversify the city’s tourism economy and reduce reliance on seasonal visitation. He told lawmakers that amateur and youth sports represent one of the fastest-growing segments of the hospitality industry and argued that Niagara Falls is well-positioned to capture a share of that market.

     He also referenced aggressive tourism expansion efforts underway in Ontario, saying New York must think boldly if Niagara Falls is to remain competitive.

     “Across the border, the Ontario government has announced a multi-billion dollar effort to double the tourism sector’s economic impact,” Restaino said. “They are thinking big and I would impress upon you all that the adoption of that mentality is what is direly needed for the revitalization of Niagara Falls USA.”

     The mayor’s funding request comes as the total estimated cost of Centennial Park has risen to at least $250 million. The $200 million figure he requested from the state would represent the majority of project funding, with the remaining costs expected to be covered through a combination of local resources and potential additional support.

     Restaino has repeatedly cited a feasibility study conducted by Sports Facilities Advisory, a Florida-based consulting firm, as evidence that the project is financially viable. The study, partially funded by Empire State Development, concluded that the arena could generate more than $50 million in total economic impact during its first five years of operation.

     “Dispels the notion” that the project is unrealistic, Restaino has said of the study’s findings, arguing that Centennial Park is not a “pipe dream.”

     “This project has the potential to add to the downtown revitalization of Niagara Falls by stimulating local businesses, encouraging new development and increasing foot traffic by attracting year-round activities and events,” Restaino said.

     While the mayor has framed Centennial Park as an economic catalyst, many economists remain skeptical about the broader economic benefits of publicly funded stadiums and arenas.

     Research conducted over the past several decades has consistently questioned the economic return on public investment in sports facilities. A 2022 analysis titled “The impact of professional sports franchises and venues on local economies: A comprehensive survey” examined more than 120 studies related to stadium subsidies. The report reaffirmed a long-standing academic consensus that while sports venues can generate social benefits, civic pride and localized spending, their measurable economic impact on host communities tends to be limited.

     Restaino referenced other large-scale public expenditures supported by state leaders in recent years including the $2 billion Buffalo Bills stadium project in Orchard Park, billions in incentives for Micron’s semiconductor manufacturing campus in central New York, and $400 million allocated for downtown redevelopment in Albany.

     Whether lawmakers will agree remains uncertain. State budget negotiations are ongoing and large capital commitments often face intense scrutiny, particularly when tied to projects still subject to litigation and land acquisition disputes. Up to this point the state has refused to participate in any meaningful funding negotiations while litigation is ongoing between the City and Niagara Falls Redevelopment (NFR).

     Time will tell.

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Restaino Seeks $200 Million in State Funding for Centennial Park During Albany Budget Hearing