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New Highmark Stadium
Highmark Stadium (also referred to as New Highmark Stadium and colloquially as The Pit) is an American football stadium under construction in Orchard Park, New York. It will replace the existing Highmark Stadium as the home field of the Buffalo Bills of the National Football League (NFL) starting with the 2026 NFL season.
The 67,000 capacity, 62,000-seat stadium is being built adjacent to Erie Community College’s south campus across the street from the existing Highmark Stadium, which will 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 new Orchard Park stadium will share numerous design elements and features.
The stadium is estimated to cost $1.7 billion. Under an agreement with the state of New York, taxpayers will pay $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. Economics professor Victor Matheson, who studies stadium subsidies, described the deal as "one of the worst stadium deals in recent memory."
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 will be referred to as "New Highmark Stadium" during construction to distinguish it from the Bills' current home.
The Buffalo Bills' lease included a provision allowing for the creation of a working group to explore options for either a new stadium for the team, or an extensive retrofit of their current Highmark Stadium.
On February 10, 2014, Governor Andrew Cuomo's administration appointed Buffalo Mayor Byron Brown, Niagara Falls Mayor Paul Dyster, Lt. Gov. Robert Duffy, Buffalo Niagara Partnership CEO Dottie Gallagher-Cohen and Empire State Development President Kenneth Adams to a new study board to discuss the feasibility and plans for a new stadium.
Later, on March 6, 2014, the County of Erie appointed its seven members to the board, including future New York State governor Kathy Hochul, then with M&T Bank, and Richard Tobe, the Deputy Erie County Executive.
Shortly after the death of owner Ralph Wilson, on March 27, 2014, the Bills selected their members for the panel, including U.S. Senator Charles Schumer, Bills CEO and President Russ Brandon, local developer Louis Ciminelli, Bills CFO Jeff Littman, New Era Cap Co. CEO Christopher Koch among others. The group's first meeting was held on April 1.
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New Highmark Stadium
Highmark Stadium (also referred to as New Highmark Stadium and colloquially as The Pit) is an American football stadium under construction in Orchard Park, New York. It will replace the existing Highmark Stadium as the home field of the Buffalo Bills of the National Football League (NFL) starting with the 2026 NFL season.
The 67,000 capacity, 62,000-seat stadium is being built adjacent to Erie Community College’s south campus across the street from the existing Highmark Stadium, which will 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 new Orchard Park stadium will share numerous design elements and features.
The stadium is estimated to cost $1.7 billion. Under an agreement with the state of New York, taxpayers will pay $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. Economics professor Victor Matheson, who studies stadium subsidies, described the deal as "one of the worst stadium deals in recent memory."
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 will be referred to as "New Highmark Stadium" during construction to distinguish it from the Bills' current home.
The Buffalo Bills' lease included a provision allowing for the creation of a working group to explore options for either a new stadium for the team, or an extensive retrofit of their current Highmark Stadium.
On February 10, 2014, Governor Andrew Cuomo's administration appointed Buffalo Mayor Byron Brown, Niagara Falls Mayor Paul Dyster, Lt. Gov. Robert Duffy, Buffalo Niagara Partnership CEO Dottie Gallagher-Cohen and Empire State Development President Kenneth Adams to a new study board to discuss the feasibility and plans for a new stadium.
Later, on March 6, 2014, the County of Erie appointed its seven members to the board, including future New York State governor Kathy Hochul, then with M&T Bank, and Richard Tobe, the Deputy Erie County Executive.
Shortly after the death of owner Ralph Wilson, on March 27, 2014, the Bills selected their members for the panel, including U.S. Senator Charles Schumer, Bills CEO and President Russ Brandon, local developer Louis Ciminelli, Bills CFO Jeff Littman, New Era Cap Co. CEO Christopher Koch among others. The group's first meeting was held on April 1.