Bills begin next era in Orchard Park at new Highmark Stadium

The Buffalo Bills, alongside state and local officials, cut the ribbon at the new Highmark Stadium on Tuesday. Construction on the Bills’ new home began three years ago.

Team owner Terry Pegula and COO Pete Guelli welcomed Gov. Kathy Hochul and Erie County Executive Mark Poloncarz to officially open the Bills’ new home.

Hochul said that the new Highmark is the largest construction project in Western New York history and represents the “relentless energy and grit of Buffalo.”

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“Welcome to the new home of the Buffalo Bills! Today, we are not just opening a stadium, we are cementing the Buffalo Bills’ rightful place in Western New York for generations to come,” Hochul said. “We are profoundly grateful to Terry and Kim Pegula for their visionary leadership and unwavering commitment to Buffalo, and the hardworking men and women of labor who have made this idea a reality. This state-of-the-art facility represents a historic investment in our community, creating thousands of good-paying jobs and delivering a world-class experience for the best fans in the NFL. New York State promised to keep the Bills home, and today we fulfill that promise with a stadium that matches the relentless energy and grit of Buffalo.”

This is the first year the Bills will play their home games at the new Highmark Stadium, after 52 years at the old Highmark Stadium across the street. The Bills’ first game in their new home will be in week two against the Detroit Lions.

(Spectrum News 1)

“Our journey began on June 5, 2023, when several of us stood out here with shovels in our hands at the ceremonial groundbreaking of Highmark Stadium. Highmark has been a true partnership — a partnership between government, private business, the NFL and our fans, the Bills Mafia. I made a promise to our workers that somehow we would have their names visible on the stadium, where their offspring and friends could come and look and see their name on the side of the stadium. It’s one thing to talk about it, it’s one thing to get the money, and it’s another thing to get it done,” Pegula said.

The first event scheduled to take place at the stadium is the annual Return of Blue & Red scrimmage, which traditionally takes place in early August. Details will be announced at a later date.

(Spectrum News 1)

“Every time I walk in here, it is just amazing,” Pete Guelli said. “Every seat in this place is great, the facilities are incredible, and the way it is set up for the team is perfect. As soon as you walk in here, you are able to see the field. I think it is built perfectly for Buffalo. I am impressed by every aspect of it.”

The new stadium will feature state-of-the-art concourses, seven sensory rooms — the most of any venue in the world, according to the Bills — and the “Family Circle,” which will feature three giant bison statues outside the stadium.

“Today’s opening of the new home for the Buffalo Bills marks a historic moment for Erie County, New York State, the team and Bills fans everywhere and is the culmination of many years of hard work. More importantly, today’s stadium opening ensures the Bills stay in the only community it has ever known and will belong to for the next generation and beyond. I thank the thousands of skilled men and women of local labor who built this stadium and helped ensure that hundreds of millions of dollars were invested back into our community. This project is a win for Erie County taxpayers, a win for our local workforce, a win for our economy and a win for the greatest football fans in the NFL. Go Bills!” Poloncarz added.

(Spectrum News 1)

The more than $2 billion stadium — $850 million of which is coming from New York state and Erie County taxpayers — is set to hold just over 60,000 fans.

(Spectrum News 1)

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