New Highmark Stadium
Updated: 21.07.2024
Target capacity | 62 000 |
---|---|
Country | United States of America |
City | Buffalo |
Clubs | Buffalo Bills |
Category | Construction in progress |
Construction | 2023–2026 |
Cost | $1.7 B |
Design | Populous |
Contractor | Gilbane Building Company, Turner Construction Company |
Advertisement
New Highmark Stadium – construction description
How did the construction of the new Buffalo Bills stadium come about?
The Buffalo Bills' existing facility, Highmark Stadium, opened in 1973 and is one of the longest-used venues among current NFL stadiums. The construction of a new stadium for the team has been under discussion for some time, and in 2014 a special team was set up to work on the project, made up of Buffalo Bills representatives, local politicians or businessmen.
Several different locations were considered for the new stadium, besides the idea of building near the existing facility, a location in downtown Buffalo was also seriously considered. In the end, however, it was agreed that the new stadium would be built right next to Highmark Stadium, on the other side of Abbott Road. The new ground lease is to run for 30 years.
In March 2022 it was announced that a funding model had been agreed, and shortly afterwards the renowned design studio Populous was engaged to work on the project. The first renderings of the new stadium were released in October 2022, and the companies responsible for the construction work, Gilbane Building Company and Turner Construction Company, in partnership with 34 Group, were also subsequently selected.
What will the new Buffalo Bills stadium be like?
The architectural concept for the new Buffalo Bills stadium can be seen on a separate subpage
The new facility will have a capacity of 62,000 spectators, almost 10,000 fewer than its predecessor. The stadium will thus rank among the smallest in the NFL league. However, comfort and visibility will be improved, and spectators will be able to enjoy a more diverse range of seating choices. From the outside, the facility is intended to be reminiscent of local architecture.
The stands will be divided into multiple levels and will be roofed at the top (the roof will cover 65% of the seats). Full roofing was abandoned not only because of the high cost of such a solution, but also because broadcasts from snowy Buffalo have often attracted attention and have almost become part of the Bills' image.
How much will the new Buffalo Bills stadium cost?
The cost of the investment was initially estimated at $1.4 billion, with later reports of further increases, reaching a figure of $1.7 billion. New York State and Erie County's share is expected to total $850 million – at the time of the announcement, this was a record amount of taxpayer funding for the construction of a stadium for an NFL team, although a design for a new stadium for the Tennessee Titans unveiled shortly thereafter called for an even larger public subsidy ($1.26 billion).
How is the construction of the new Buffalo Bills stadium progressing?
Site preparation work began in early May 2023, with the official groundbreaking ceremony taking place on June 5, 2023, with the facility scheduled to be ready in July 2026.
At the start of construction, a sizable pit was dug into the ground, giving the facility under construction the nickname 'The Pit'. There is even a humorous urban legend according to which the pit demands a sacrifice and, in order for the Bills to win, one of the fans must throw himself into the pit before every game.
The actual name of the new facility, however, is 'Highmark Stadium', thanks to an extended partnership with Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield, which is the title sponsor of the existing Buffalo Bills stadium (for the duration of construction, the new facility is to be referred to as 'New Highmark Stadium' for distinction).
Advertisement
Pictures
-
21.07.2024
21.07.2024 © Buffalo Stadium Live 21.07.2024 © Buffalo Stadium Live 21.07.2024 © Buffalo Stadium Live 21.07.2024 © Buffalo Stadium Live 21.07.2024 © Buffalo Stadium Live 21.07.2024 © Buffalo Stadium Live
14.07.2024
14.07.2024 © Buffalo Stadium Live 14.07.2024 © Buffalo Stadium Live 14.07.2024 © Buffalo Stadium Live 14.07.2024 © Buffalo Stadium Live 14.07.2024 © Buffalo Stadium Live 14.07.2024 © Buffalo Stadium Live
04.07.2024
04.07.2024 © Buffalo Stadium Live 04.07.2024 © Buffalo Stadium Live 04.07.2024 © Buffalo Stadium Live 04.07.2024 © Buffalo Stadium Live 04.07.2024 © Buffalo Stadium Live 04.07.2024 © Buffalo Stadium Live 04.07.2024 © Buffalo Stadium Live 04.07.2024 © Buffalo Stadium Live 04.07.2024 © Buffalo Stadium Live
13.06.2024
13.06.2024 © Buffalo Stadium Live 13.06.2024 © Buffalo Stadium Live 13.06.2024 © Buffalo Stadium Live 13.06.2024 © Buffalo Stadium Live 13.06.2024 © Buffalo Stadium Live 13.06.2024 © Buffalo Stadium Live 13.06.2024 © Buffalo Stadium Live 13.06.2024 © Buffalo Stadium Live 13.06.2024 © Buffalo Stadium Live
26.05.2024
26.05.2024 © Buffalo Stadium Live 26.05.2024 © Buffalo Stadium Live 26.05.2024 © Buffalo Stadium Live 26.05.2024 © Buffalo Stadium Live 26.05.2024 © Buffalo Stadium Live 26.05.2024 © Buffalo Stadium Live 26.05.2024 © Buffalo Stadium Live 26.05.2024 © Buffalo Stadium Live 26.05.2024 © Buffalo Stadium Live
19.05.2024
19.05.2024 © Buffalo Stadium Live 19.05.2024 © Buffalo Stadium Live 19.05.2024 © Buffalo Stadium Live 19.05.2024 © Buffalo Stadium Live 19.05.2024 © Buffalo Stadium Live 19.05.2024 © Buffalo Stadium Live 19.05.2024 © Buffalo Stadium Live 19.05.2024 © Buffalo Stadium Live 19.05.2024 © Buffalo Stadium Live
07.05.2024
07.05.2024 © Buffalo Stadium Live 07.05.2024 © Buffalo Stadium Live 07.05.2024 © Buffalo Stadium Live 07.05.2024 © Buffalo Stadium Live 07.05.2024 © Buffalo Stadium Live 07.05.2024 © Buffalo Stadium Live 07.05.2024 © Buffalo Stadium Live 07.05.2024 © Buffalo Stadium Live 07.05.2024 © Buffalo Stadium Live
16.04.2024
16.04.2024 © Buffalo Stadium Live 16.04.2024 © Buffalo Stadium Live 16.04.2024 © Buffalo Stadium Live
05.04.2024
05.04.2024 © Ben Green, Buffalo Bills 05.04.2024 © Ben Green, Buffalo Bills 05.04.2024 © Ben Green, Buffalo Bills 05.04.2024 © Ben Green, Buffalo Bills 05.04.2024 © Ben Green, Buffalo Bills 05.04.2024 © Ben Green, Buffalo Bills 05.04.2024 © Ben Green, Buffalo Bills 05.04.2024 © Ben Green, Buffalo Bills 05.04.2024 © Ben Green, Buffalo Bills
25.03.2024
25.03.2024 © Buffalo Stadium Live
09.02.2024
09.02.2024 © Buffalo Stadium Live 09.02.2024 © Buffalo Stadium Live 09.02.2024 © Buffalo Stadium Live 09.02.2024 © Buffalo Stadium Live 09.02.2024 © Buffalo Stadium Live 09.02.2024 © Buffalo Stadium Live
02.02.2024
02.02.2024 © Bill Wippert, Buffalo Bills 02.02.2024 © Bill Wippert, Buffalo Bills 02.02.2024 © Bill Wippert, Buffalo Bills 02.02.2024 © Buffalo Bills Stadium Construction Updates 02.02.2024 © Bill Wippert, Buffalo Bills 02.02.2024 © Buffalo Bills Stadium Construction Updates
12.12.2023
12.12.2023 © Quintin Soloviev (CC BY-SA 4.0)
27.11.2023
27.11.2023 © Buffalo Stadium Live 27.11.2023 © Buffalo Stadium Live 27.11.2023 © Buffalo Stadium Live 27.11.2023 © Buffalo Stadium Live 27.11.2023 © Buffalo Stadium Live 27.11.2023 © Buffalo Stadium Live
20.11.2023
20.11.2023 © Bill Wippert, Buffalo Bills 20.11.2023 © Bill Wippert, Buffalo Bills 20.11.2023 © Bill Wippert, Buffalo Bills 20.11.2023 © Bill Wippert, Buffalo Bills 20.11.2023 © Bill Wippert, Buffalo Bills 20.11.2023 © Bill Wippert, Buffalo Bills 20.11.2023 © Bill Wippert, Buffalo Bills 20.11.2023 © Bill Wippert, Buffalo Bills 20.11.2023 © Bill Wippert, Buffalo Bills
12.11.2023
12.11.2023 © Bob Glover
22.10.2023
22.10.2023 © Buffalo Bills Stadium Construction Updates 22.10.2023 © Buffalo Bills Stadium Construction Updates 22.10.2023 © Buffalo Bills Stadium Construction Updates 22.10.2023 © Buffalo Bills Stadium Construction Updates 22.10.2023 © Buffalo Bills Stadium Construction Updates 22.10.2023 © Buffalo Bills Stadium Construction Updates
16.09.2023
16.09.2023 © Buffalo Bills Stadium Construction Updates 16.09.2023 © Buffalo Bills Stadium Construction Updates 16.09.2023 © Buffalo Bills Stadium Construction Updates
13.08.2023
13.08.2023 © Buffalo Bills Stadium Construction Updates 13.08.2023 © Buffalo Bills Stadium Construction Updates 13.08.2023 © Buffalo Bills Stadium Construction Updates
04.08.2023
04.08.2023 © Buffalo Bills 04.08.2023 © Buffalo Bills 04.08.2023 © Buffalo Bills 04.08.2023 © Buffalo Bills 04.08.2023 © Buffalo Bills 04.08.2023 © Buffalo Bills
16.07.2023
16.07.2023 © Buffalo Bills Stadium Construction Updates
02.07.2023
02.07.2023 © Dave Vogan
11.06.2023
11.06.2023 © Buffalo Bills Stadium Construction Updates 11.06.2023 © Buffalo Bills Stadium Construction Updates 11.06.2023 © Buffalo Bills Stadium Construction Updates
05.06.2023
05.06.2023 © Scott Balzer, Buffalo Bills 05.06.2023 © Scott Balzer, Buffalo Bills 05.06.2023 © Bill Wippert, Buffalo Bills 05.06.2023 © Bill Wippert, Buffalo Bills 05.06.2023 © Ben Green, Buffalo Bills 05.06.2023 © Ben Green, Buffalo Bills 05.06.2023 © Ben Green, Buffalo Bills 05.06.2023 © Bill Wippert, Buffalo Bills 05.06.2023 © Ben Green, Buffalo Bills
25.05.2023
25.05.2023 © Buffalo Bills Stadium Construction Updates 25.05.2023 © Buffalo Bills Stadium Construction Updates