Highmark Stadium

About

Highmark Stadium is an American football stadium located in Orchard Park, New York, a suburb south of Buffalo. Opened in 2026, it replaced Ralph Wilson Stadium as the home field of the Buffalo Bills of the National Football League (NFL).

The stadium was built adjacent to Erie Community College's south campus across the street from the existing Highmark Stadium, which is to be demolished following the completion of the new stadium. The stadium is being designed by Populous, who previously designed Sahlen Field in downtown Buffalo and twelve other active NFL stadiums, with which the stadium shares numerous design elements and features. The stadium has a seating capacity of 60,108, the smallest among NFL venues. However, the 63,000 total capacity (counting standing room-only possibilities) could reach 66,000 depending on the event.

The stadium is estimated to cost $1.7 billion. Under an agreement with the state of New York, taxpayers paid $850 million of the construction cost (with $600 million coming from New York State and $250 million coming from Erie County). With the State of New York also paying for all maintenance and repair costs once the stadium opens, it is the largest taxpayer contribution ever for an NFL facility.

Groundbreaking for the stadium occurred in June 2023, with major construction starting that same month along with a groundbreaking ceremony on June 5, 2023. The same day the Bills announced an extension to its existing stadium naming rights deal with Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield, with the Highmark Stadium name to be used for the new venue; it has been referred to as "New Highmark Stadium" during construction to distinguish it from the Bills' previous home, which was also called Highmark Stadium since 2021. Highmark Stadium opened on June 23, 2026.

Adapted from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA)。Photography via Wikimedia Commons.