BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) — Erie County lawmakers were split along party lines when it comes to whether or not they should be allowed inside the county’s luxury hospitality suite at the new Highmark Stadium.

WIVB-TV News 4 was in county legislative chambers Thursday morning for the vote where we asked lawmakers why the amendment was voted down.

Erie County Republican legislator Lindsay Lorigo introduced the legislative amendment that would have prevented all elected officials from using — or even entering — the suite.

“No elected official shall be permitted to enter or use the Center and/or hospitality suite at any time, in any capacity, whether as a formal guest, informal guest, or otherwise,” the amendment read. “No exception to this prohibition may be granted by the County Executive’s Office or any other administrative authority.”

While the amendment failed, the overall legislation related to the hospitality suite passed, giving the county executive’s office control over the lottery system to decide who gets in. Additionally, there will be a log to track everyone who enters.

So, who gets to go?

A few different groups are listed as permissible to attend the game in the suite, including full-time civil servants employed by Erie County. In fact, according to the bill, tickets will be reserved for them to attend all pre-season games, and the county’s Department of Personnel will generate the eligible list to be decided in a lottery. This excludes managerial county employees as well as elected officials and their staff.

Additionally, tickets for three games per season will be reserved for “economic development” purposes, according to the language of the legislation, which also states that all tickets for remaining games that are not reserved will go to charitable organizations.

When it comes to elected officials and elected office, the legislation says that the suite cannot be used for political events or fundraisers. However, Lorigo doesn’t feel that goes quite far enough.

“I proposed that no elected officials would be allowed in the county hospitality suite at the new Bills stadium,” Lorigo said. “It is a very simple thing that we should all be able to come together and say if we have this suite for public use, elected officials will not be in it, but unfortunately, the Democrats voted that down.”

The amendment was split along party lines, with all Republicans voting for it and all Democrats voting against it. Legislator Lawrence Dupre was among those lawmakers who voted no. That’s something News 4 asked him about.

Rob Petree (RP): “Do you think it’s right for you as an elected official to be able to go in there when your average constituent can’t?”

Lawrence Dupre (LD): “When you say go into there, you say it as if I’m going to go hang out in there, if anything, it would be me going to say hello.”

That’s when News 4 pressed further, asking Dupre if he would commit to not entering the suite. He would not.

RP: “Can you commit to not going in the suite at all?”

LD: “No, that seems … if I see constituents who have got this right to use this, that was negotiated on, I should be able to go say hello, and then I go back to the seat I’ve paid for.”

That’s a notion Dupre’s colleague from across the aisle took exception with, saying there’s nothing preventing any elected official from spending however much time they please inside the suite.

“I think they want to go in there and shake hands and kiss babies, and I just don’t think that that’s appropriate,” Lorigo said. “There’s a huge loophole right now where you can go and stand in that suite for really as long as you want. Let’s say one of my constituents are in there, they win the lottery, it’s a boys and girls club. I’ll send them an email and say I hope they enjoy the game. They’re not going to see me in there. I think it’s totally inappropriate.”

So, what do the constituents think?

News 4 caught up with a man having lunch in downtown Buffalo, just outside the county building, to get his reaction to the vote. He just so happened to be a huge Bills fan and season ticket holder.

“I should be in government,” Tom Hall said, laughing. “I paid a lot of money. I’m still paying on my season tickets, and it’s sort of gratuitous to be in that position to be able to go and enjoy the box with no cost.”

The hospitality suite measure wasn’t the only development to occur Thursday morning in legislative chambers. Separately, lawmakers voted in favor of overriding the County Executive’s veto on legislation allowing 12- and 13-year-olds to hunt deer with guns with an experienced adult mentor.

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Rob Petree is an anchor and reporter who joined the News 4 team in 2025. See more of his work by clicking here.

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