Construction has begun on the new Buffalo Bills stadium in Orchard Park, New York. The ceremony included speeches from NFL commissioner Roger Goodell, Bills owner/CEO Terry Pegula, New York Gov. Kathy Hochul and Erie County Executive Mark Poloncarz. The new stadium will officially be called Highmark Stadium, thanks to a new naming rights agreement with Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield of Western New York. The stadium is expected to seat about 63,000 and will not have a dome, but it will include stacked seating and a canopy overhang to protect fans from the elements. It will also feature a natural grass field, a change from the turf field at the current stadium.
Background
The Bills have played in the Erie County-owned Highmark Stadium since 1973. The lease for the stadium has been extended to 2028 to allow for any potential construction issues or delays. The construction of the current stadium was originally 100% publicly financed. With years put into coming to an agreement with New York state and Erie County on a deal, construction on the new stadium grounds began in time for the 2026 season. The cost for the new Bills stadium, which is expected to seat about 63,000, is now $1.54 billion, with the Pegulas responsible for any additional costs. The agreements include a 30-year lease and a non-relocation agreement that makes it difficult for the team to leave Buffalo, the second-smallest NFL market (larger than only Green Bay).
Community Benefits Agreement
Included in the documentation for the new deal is a community benefits agreement that includes the team investing at least $3 million a year in the community, with that amount adjusted every year by the price index (subject to a maximum increase of 2.2% a year). That would raise over $100 million over the terms of the lease. The Bills are committed to investing in and giving back to the community.
Goodell’s Speech
Goodell, a native of Jamestown, New York, located about an hour and a half from the stadium, described the Buffalo community as “extraordinary” and said they deserve an “extraordinary” stadium. He said he thinks of the deal as a lifetime, not just 30 years, and that the Bills are now secured in western New York, which is something that everyone should take great pride in. Goodell is considered one of the people who made the stadium deal happen, with the league office supporting getting a deal done.
Pegulas’ Contribution
Bills owner/president Kim Pegula played a significant role in the stadium process, but was not able to be present at the groundbreaking ceremony as she continues to recover from a cardiac arrest last June. Terry Pegula announced that the new stadium will officially be called Highmark Stadium, thanks to a new naming rights agreement with Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield of Western New York to extend the partnership with the Bills. The Pegulas are responsible for any additional costs for the new stadium.
The Bills have become a national brand, gaining national attention and attracting national opportunities. As an organization, they carry the banner with commitment and pride. The Bills are never leaving western New York. The agreements include a 30-year lease and a non-relocation agreement that makes it difficult for the team to leave Buffalo, the second-smallest NFL market (larger than only Green Bay). The stadium will be an extraordinary addition to the Buffalo community and will be a testament to the team’s commitment to their fans.
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