New Highmark Stadium, now home of the Buffalo Bills, will open 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. Six weeks later, the Bills will host their first fan-attended event at the stadium.
So, what makes this stadium unique? What has changed and what remains the same?
Here’s everything to know about the new Highmark Stadium.
What to know about the Buffalo Bills’ new stadium
New Highmark Stadium sits at 10 Bills Plaza. Abbott Road separates it from the building where the Bills played home games from 1973-2025.
New stadium construction cost roughly $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 will first appear at new Highmark Stadium at 7 p.m. on Aug. 8 when they host their annual Return of the Blue and Red scrimmage. This event, typically open to the public, will be available only for personal seat license (PSL) holders.
Another key contributor in stadium funding, the Bills sold PSLs for more than 90% of seats at the new stadium. Purchase of season tickets requires this license.
After their scrimmage, the Bills will hold an open practice for all fans at 8:30 a.m. on Aug. 18. Tickets, limited to four per order, will be available via Ticketmaster starting July 21.
Buffalo will host Carolina at 1 p.m. on Aug. 15 for its first preseason game. Sept. 11 will see the new stadium’s first regular season game, an 8:15 p.m. kickoff against Detroit on Prime Video’s Thursday Night Football.
Inside New Highmark Stadium’s design and seating bowl
Bills owner Terry Pegula mentioned London’s Tottenham Hotspur Stadium at the Highmark Stadium ribbon 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 field is made completely of 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.
New Highmark Stadium parking, canopy and fan comfort features
A 360-degree canopy covers roughly 64% of the seating bowl. Comprised of steel, it’s designed to not only shield fans from inclement weather, but to trap crowd noise and push 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 will enjoy several club seating options, including the Founder’s Club, an all-inclusive space which the Bills labeled as the new stadium’s “most exclusive experience.” Aside from prime sideline views, Founder’s Club members will enjoy all-inclusive food and beverage, heated seats, and access to a private whiskey locker.
Field Club members will enjoy “the ultimate Bills Mafia experience,” including access to both the 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.
The Family Circle plaza, located outside the stadium’s secure entrance, features three massive bison statues. It also features the Bills Legend Wall and displays that celebrate Western New York history.
New Highmark Stadium sensory rooms and accessibility features
Highmark Stadium will boast a world record for its seven sensory rooms – the most of any venue globally.
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 on sensory rooms. Information on each will be available at guest experience booths on game days.
What Bills fans need to 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 July 14, the cheapest listing on Ticketmaster for the Bills’ Sept. 17 opener against Detroit sat at $605, and the cheapest for Buffalo’s Thanksgiving game against the Kansas City Chiefs was listed for $423.
Tickets for the Bills’ open practice at 8:30 a.m. on Aug. 18 will be available on Ticketmaster starting July 21.
What events could New Highmark Stadium host beyond Bills games?
One potential perk of building a state-of-the-art stadium? Hosting non-football events.
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: Bills fans, here’s your guide to new Highmark Stadium
Reporting by Jeff Uveino, Rochester Democrat and Chronicle / Rochester Democrat and Chronicle
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Jeff Uveino, Rochester Democrat and Chronicle | USA TODAY Network
