The state of New York is exploring a new stadium for the Buffalo Bills in Western New York.

New York governor Andrew Cuomo's office sent a letter to Bills CEO Russ Brandon and Erie County executive Mark Poloncarz announcing that he had appointed the first five members of a "new stadium working group," according to the Buffalo News.

Ralph Wilson Stadium is undergoing major renovations this offseason, including a new videoboard and entrance areas, but the 40-year-old venue is outdated by NFL standards.

The cost to build an NFL stadium has been about $1 billion, which might not be economically feasible in Western New York, despite the Bills having a passionate fan following in the region. 

The greater Buffalo area has lost more than 15 percent of its population between 1970 and 2010.

The Bills have played one game per season in Toronto over recent seasons, a city with a much larger population.