BUFFALO, N.Y. (WKBW) — Buffalo Pro Soccer is keeping Western New Yorkers in the conversation as they work to bring professional soccer to the Queen City.
A community town hall was held at Larkin Square, where fans shared their hopes and questions about the future team.
WATCH: 'A little more breathing room': Buffalo Pro Soccer connects with community as stadium search continues
Earlier this month, the club announced it would no longer move forward with its plan to build a stadium at Elk and Lee Streets in the City of Buffalo due to concerns about the nearby PVS Chemicals facility.
WATCH: Buffalo Pro Soccer scraps plan to build new stadium at Elk and Lee Streets, will search for new home
The original plan to build the stadium was announced in April. The team said it would feature 7,600 seats with 12 suites, two private party areas and club-level seats. Plus, office and training areas for the team.
Buffalo Pro Soccer is now working to find a new stadium site and has officially reopened the site selection process with plans to play its inaugural season in 2027.
"It's to give everybody who's interested in learning more a brief update on everything, but really the main purpose of these is to engage with the people who are clearly interested and care about what we're doing here to make sure that we're building this in a way that is reflective of them," said Peter Marlette, Buffalo Pro Soccer president.
The organization is committed to finding the right location for a 10,000-seat modular stadium that could eventually expand to 15,000 seats. While Marlette indicated the Cobblestone District in Downtown Buffalo remains under consideration, he emphasized they are exploring multiple options.
"It had one issue that we couldn't get around, and now we have 12 more months, and the timeline is no longer a major deciding factor in what site we pick," Marlette said. "We have a little more breathing room and we're going to use it to make the right choice."
For lifelong soccer fans like Al Zarcone, the prospect of professional soccer in Buffalo makes perfect sense given the city's strong interest in the sport.
"In Buffalo, we are one of the top cities for English Premier League viewership," Zarcone said. "So, I think bringing a team at this level is a natural fit."
His son AJ, who plays soccer for Canisius University, sees the potential impact on youth development in the region.
"I'm super excited," AJ Zarcone said. "Being a local soccer player, it can almost be a goal in the future. It definitely gives the ability for growth in the area because young kids will go to the game and then they'll want to join soccer, so it just makes it even bigger, locally."
The community town hall also revealed interest in women's professional soccer, with fans like Dina Rizzotto hoping Buffalo's soccer future includes opportunities for female athletes.
"I have three kids and they play," Rizzotto said. "We have actually taken them to New York to see a professional women's game. I've been to Toronto for a game. We just got back from Cincinnati. I'm here today because I'm excited to learn more about what they are going to do and also in the hopes of getting a women's team."
Earlier this month, Marlette identified the former HSBC Atrium parking lot in the city's Cobblestone District, owned by Douglas Jemal, as a potential site. He would not name other potential sites.
In January, first reported by Buffalo Business First and confirmed by 7 News, the parking lot between Perry and Scott Streets was one of three sites being considered for the stadium.
WATCH: Downtown site among three being considered for soccer stadium for Buffalo Pro Soccer
