Ownership of new Highmark Stadium transferred to New York

Ownership of the new Highmark Stadium officially transferred over from Erie County to the state of New York.

With the transfer of ownership, the process of the largest construction project in the history of Western New York is now complete. 

“Today’s ownership transfer caps off a significant series of events that resulted in the construction of a state-of-the-art facility. As a result, for the first time since 1973, Erie County is longer in the stadium ownership business,” said Erie County Executive Mark Poloncarz. “I thank Governor Kathy Hochul, the Erie County Stadium Corporation, Erie County Attorney Jeremy Toth and Assistant County Attorney Richard Stanton for their efforts in completing the property transfer. The historic investment made in our community is complete and as fans of the Buffalo Bills we can all look forward to enjoying football games and other events at the brand new 60,000 seat stadium.”

This marks the first time since the original Highmark Stadium was built back in 1973, that Erie County will not own the stadium that the Buffalo Bills call home, according to Poloncarz.

The first official public event at the new Highmark will take place Saturday, Aug. 8 with the Bills inaugural “Blue & Red Practice.” The first-ever NFL preseason game in the new facility is scheduled for Saturday, Aug. 15, while the first regular season home game for the Bills is slated to take place on Thursday, Sept. 17 againstthe Detroit Lions.