The Buffalo Bills are charging ahead with one of the most talked-about features of their new stadium.
The team released rendings and video of giant bison statues that will anchor the “Family Circle” outside new Highmark Stadium when it opens in 2026.
The sculptures have been part of the stadium design since the project was first unveiled, sparking years of fan speculation about whether the Bills would actually build them.
New there’s an answer. Yes, and they’re enormous.
How big are the Bills’ bison statues?
The installation will feature a family of three:
The bull statue will weight 11.5 tons. For reference, more than 10 times more than an actual American bison (1,000-2,000 pounds).
Where will the statues be located?
The bison will sit in a new gathering space called Family Circle, located just outside the stadium entrance. No, the bison aren’t climbable.
The area is designed as a pregame and postgame hangout spot that can be accessed year-round, featuring:
“It’s an aspect that does not exist across the street today that we felt was really important to fans in the new stadium,” said vice president of stadium devepment John Polka.
What will the bison statues look like?
The bison are build with a steel frame and plated stainless steel exterior, designed to stand out as a centerpiece outside the $2.1 billion stadium.
Each is adorned with a red motion streak inspired by the Bills logo. Programmable lighting systems bring the sculptures to life at night. The bison are built with smoke effect from their nostrils created by using carbon dioxide to mimic breathing in cold weather.
How will the bison get to Buffalo?
The statues are being constructed in Pennsylvania and are expected to be installed beginning in June.
They’ll be transported by flatbed and installed with cranes.
Who is designing the statues?
The sculptures are being created by artist Blessing Hancock at ART Research Enterprises in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. The team selected the design after a national search for artists specializing in large-scale public sculptures.
This article originally appeared on Rochester Democrat and Chronicle: Bills reveal massive smoke-breathing bison statues outside new Highmark Stadium
Reporting by Ryan Miller, Rochester Democrat and Chronicle / Rochester Democrat and Chronicle
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
