New Highmark Stadium, now home to the Buffalo Bills, is set to host its first regular-season game more than four years after plans were revealed to replace its predecessor in Orchard Park.
Team ownership joined state and local politicians for a ribbon-cutting ceremony June 23. Now the Bills are set to host the Detroit Lions
at 8:15 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 17, on Prime Video in the stadium’s first regular-season game.So, what makes this stadium unique? What has changed and what remains the same?
Here’s everything Bills fans should know about new Highmark Stadium.
What Buffalo Bills fans should know about new Highmark Stadium
New Highmark Stadium sits at 10 Bills Plaza. Abbott Road separates it from the stadium where the Bills played from 1973 through
the 2025 season.
Construction of New Highmark Stadium cost approximately $2.2 billion, including $600 million from New York state and another $250 million from Erie County. Demolition of the old stadium remains ongoing.
The Bills held the first public event at the new stadium Aug. 8 with their annual Return of the Blue and Red practice. Attendance was limited to personal seat license holders.
Personal seat license purchases also helped finance the stadium. Bills owner Terry Pegula said fans contributed $263 million through PSL purchases.
How new Highmark Stadium puts Bills fans closer to the field
Bills owner Terry Pegula mentioned London’s Tottenham Hotspur Stadium at the Highmark Stadiumribbon cutting ceremony June 23. This building’s structure, he said, was inspired by one of the English Premier League’s top stadiums, which has hosted nearly a dozen NFL games since 2019.
New Highmark Stadium places fans closer to the field than its predecessor. It features a steeper, taller seating bowl that rises roughly 120 feet and is designed to provide strong sightlines throughout the stadium.
It also has fewer seats – 60,108 compared to the old stadium’s capacity of 71,608. Concourse design creates more open space, helping fans see more of the game while preventing bottlenecked foot traffic.
The playing surface is natural Kentucky bluegrass, a switch from the old stadium’s artificial turf. Beneath it lies a heating and irrigation system designed to melt snow and maintain the surface's temperature.
How parking, entry and weather protection have changed
A 360-degree canopycovers roughly 64% of the seating bowl. Made of steel, the canopy is designed not only to shield fans from inclement weather but also to trap crowd noise and direct it toward the field.
Atop the canopy sits the world’s largest stadium snow-melt system.
Engineers studied regional wind patterns while creating a perforated metal exterior designed to direct wind away from the stadium’s interior. Radiant heating systems aim to ensure fan comfort in seating and concourses when weather turns cold.
Stadium parking lots are designed to accommodate more tailgate space. Stadium entryways were designed to streamline security screening and improve ingress.
New Highmark Stadium clubs, premium seating and amenities
Highmark Stadium is built to reflect Buffalo. It features nearly 50 locations with local artwork and murals, including a hanging sculpture located in what will be known as the M&T Lounge.
Fans can enjoy several club seating options, including the Founders Club, an all-inclusive space the Bills call the new stadium’s ‘most exclusive experience. Aside from prime sideline views, Founders Club members will enjoy all-inclusive food and beverage, heated seats, and access to a private whiskey locker.
Field Club members have access to a field-level patio behind the Bills sideline and a climate-controlled view of the players’ tunnel. The East Club, a climate-controlled space spanning more than 50,000 square feet, will feature interior field visibility alongside premium food and beverage options.
Family Circle, located near the stadium’s north entrance, features three massive bison statues. It also features the Bills Legend Wall and displays that celebrate Western New York history.
What Bills fans should know about PSLs and ticket prices
PSLs are currently sold out. Fans can join a priority list for a $150 deposit, which is refundable.
Finding affordable tickets might prove difficult for Bills fans throughout 2026. As of Sept. 14, the cheapest listing on StubHub for the Bills’ opener against Detroit sat at $423, and the cheapest for Buffalo’s Thanksgiving game against the Kansas City Chiefs was listed for $454. Prices and availability can change.
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What accessibility features new Highmark Stadium offers
Highmark Stadium has seven sensory rooms, which the Bills say is the most of any venue in the world.
The Bills partnered with KultureCity, a leading nonprofit on sensory accessibility and acceptance, to develop these spaces. Each is designed to “provide a calming, supportive environment.”
Kaleida Health, Golisano Children’s Hospital of Buffalo and the Doug Flutie Jr. Foundation for Autism worked with KultureCity to develop the rooms.
What events new Highmark Stadium could host beyond Buffalo Bills games
The state-of-the-art stadium could also bring more non-football events to Orchard Park.
The Bills could pursue concerts, outdoor NHL games, corporate events, weddings and even a future NFL Draft.
Old Highmark Stadium hosted 13 concerts in its final 10 years. It hosted the first NHL Winter Classic game in 2008.
Jeff Uveino joined the USA Today Network in 2023 and began covering Rochester-area high school sports in 2026. He is a graduate of St. Bonaventure University's Jandoli School of Communication and native of Perry. Contact him at juveino@usatodayco.com. Follow him on X @realjuveino and on Instagram @jeffusports.
This article originally appeared on Rochester Democrat and Chronicle: What Buffalo Bills fans should know about New Highmark Stadium
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