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A new era for the Buffalo Bills begins on Thursday.
Not only did the franchise promote Joe Brady to head coach this past offseason, leading to a Week 1 win over the Texans, but another massive (and more expensive) change has arrived: the Bills' brand-new stadium.
While the name of Buffalo's home remains Highmark Stadium, on "Thursday Night Football" in Week 2, the team will be making its official debut in the venue, the NFL's newest.
Here's a breakdown of the new Highmark Stadium, including its cost, construction timeline and why it's been criticized during preseason.
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How much did Highmark Stadium cost to build?
Bills president of business operations Pete Guelli confirmed in June that the team's new stadium, in final total, cost over $2.1 billion to build. A chunk of that total came from New York taxpayers.
Under an agreement with the state of New York, the new Highmark Stadium received $850 million in taxpayer funding. That $850 million was split between $600 million from New York State and $250 million coming from just Erie County; in total, it became the largest taxpayer contribution ever for an NFL facility.
Outside of the taxpayer funding, the Bills reportedly agreed to pay $350 million and the NFL $200 million. The team signed a 30-year lease with a buyout option after 15 years for the stadium, which is owned by New York State, rather than Erie County, like before. New York will also contribute $280 million over a 30-year period for maintenance and $6 million per year over the course of the lease for capital improvements.
How long did construction take?
It took just around three years for Highmark Stadium to be ready from groundbreaking to opening.
After a first proposal came in 2012, it wasn't until 2021 that the Bills submitted their plans for a stadium in Orchard Park to representatives of the state and Erie County to be completed by 2027. In March 2022, a deal was officially struck.
Ceremonial groundbreaking for the new stadium took place on June 5, 2023. On June 23, 2026, a ribbon-cutting ceremony was held, with the stadium ready to host games.
Where is Highmark Stadium?
Highmark Stadium is in the same location as the Bills' old stadium: Orchard Park, New York.
In fact, the new stadium was built adjacent to Erie Community College's south campus, just across the street from where the Bills previously played.
Highmark Stadium capacity
Highmark Stadium now has the smallest seating capacity of any NFL stadium at 60,108 fans. However, the total capacity can vary.
Depending on the event, Highmark Stadium can host up to 62,000-66,000 people, including standing room. The stadium was also designed with steeper seating, intended to create a louder environment and get fans in closer proximity to the field.
The previous Highmark Stadium had a seating capacity of 71,608 fans.
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What is Highmark Stadium named for?
Since 2021, the Bills have been in a naming rights agreement with Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield, a nonprofit health insurance company based in Western New York. The agreement lasts 10 years.
The "Highmark Stadium" name carried over from the Bills' old stadium to the new one when the team moved.
Special features in new Bills stadium
Here's a look at some of the unique features of Buffalo's new stadium
Partial roof
Highmark Stadium has just a partial roof, allowing 65% of seats to be protected from the elements.
The team left the field uncovered so the Bills can continue to uphold their reputation for hosting difficult weather matchups, from rain and wind to snow. Still, fans are more protected from the weather at the new stadium compared to the former one.
Buffalo statues
Outside of Highmark Stadium, fans will see statues of three stainless-steel bison, a project completed in July as a nod to the team's name.
At "Family Circle," there is a "22-foot-tall, 23-foot-long cow, which weighs about 23,000 pounds," according to the Bills, plus a "27-foot-tall, 29-foot-long bull" and a calf in between them.
Sculptor Blessing Hancock designed them to represent "family, strength, resilience and Western New York's enduring spirit," the team said, and ART Research Enterprises in Lancaster, Pa., fabricated and installed the bison.
"Faceted stainless-steel surfaces catch and reflect shifting light, revealing new angles as people pass by," Hancock said in the team's release. "The bison hold their ground as one, their shapes suggesting both momentum and togetherness. Bull, cow, and calf, each distinct, yet all part of Buffalo's enduring strength, generation to generation."
The bison family is complete. 🦬 pic.twitter.com/ANnCXWTUOm
— Buffalo Bills (@BuffaloBills) July 8, 2026Each of the bison includes a steel frame and stainless-steel exterior to withstand weather — and even more interestingly, the bull and cow are able to release smoke from their nostrils, giving the appearance of them breathing in the cold.
New-look concourse
When fans go to Highmark Stadium, they'll notice it's organized with a full, 360-degree concourse that allows them to move around while still having a view of the field.
The open-concourse design was a significant change from the old stadium. Fans won't miss any of the game if they head to the concourse in Buffalo.
Turf heating system
Perhaps the most intriguing part of the Bills' new stadium is the blend of openness to the weather, leaving the roof open to the elements, while accommodating fans and others to enjoy a weather-safe experience when necessary.
A canopy, perforated facade, enclosed circulation areas, and snow-mitigation systems all help provide protection for fans and the playing surface.
Additionally, the field features an underground heating and snow-melting system, helping to keep the ground from freezing.
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Is Highmark Stadium grass or turf?
Highmark Stadium uses natural grass, a change from the old stadium's artificial turf. With the NFLPA pushing for more grass fields to help prevent injuries, it was a welcomed change for most players.
According to The Athletic, the Bills are using Kentucky bluegrass grown at Tuckahoe Turf Farms in New Jersey, which is the same company used for Acrisure Stadium, Lincoln Financial Field, Fenway Park and Citi Field.
Before the new NFL season, however, following criticism of the playing surface, the team re-sodded the field after the original sod failed to take proper root, leading to concerns.
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Criticism of Highmark Stadium
There have been some complaints about the new Bills' stadium in preseason, leading to changes already.
Playing surface
The opening weeks of Highmark Stadium hosting football resulted in criticism of the playing surface.
In preseason, large chunks of sod were repeatedly being torn out by the players, a bad sign for the new grass field. After the first preseason game, one Bills player said to The Athletic that “the field is a– right now.”
After originally planting the grass in October 2025, going unused for 10 months, the team decided just before the 2026 season to tear out the original field and start over, seeking to solve the preseason issues before its Week 2 debut in Bills vs. Lions.
“That’s the worst sod I’ve seen in the NFL in my career," a sports agronomist told The Athletic of the Bills' original field. "I can’t even imagine how that could have happened.”
According to The Athletic, after the original grass field was implemented in October 2025, the new Highmark Stadium didn't stage any events until a public practice on Aug. 8, 2026.
“We have consulted with the NFL and an independent expert who works with multiple NFL teams,” the Bills said in a statement about re-sodding the field, per The Athletic. “These consultants recommended utilizing this three-week window before the home opener to install the sod. The NFL inspects every field and determines whether it meets league standards. We are confident that they are the appropriate group to ensure the field performs at the necessary level.”
On Buffalo's team website, the Bills also explained why they chose to re-sod before Week 2.
"We chose to re-sod because we were not happy with the way the current field was performing," Aaron Ramella, Bills senior director of fields and grounds, said. "Until we can get a full season of play on the field, we will continually be learning and correcting what we do to the field."
Sight lines from seats
Following the Bills' first public event at the stadium, an open practice that drew over 50,000 fans, there was some online criticism of seats with obstructed views by railings, safety glass partitions and staircases.
The obstructed view seating inside the Bills new Highmark Stadium is definitely a significant problem
The fact there are fans claiming ticket reps blatantly lied to them is an even bigger issue pic.twitter.com/Agl1CyRFw2
Whoever designed the new Bills stadium should wasn't very keen to detail. Imagine paying tens of thousands on PSLs and season tickets and walk into a view like this... pic.twitter.com/mGhzbCaMVs
— BuffaloWeather (@weather_buffalo) August 9, 2026The team's president, Pete Guelli, said in response that fewer than one percent of personal seat license holders raised their concerns with obstructed views to the field — and that virtual buying process made them clear — with complaints to be handled individually, per NBC Sports.
Prices
With the expensive new stadium has also come concerns over a hike in prices.
A study before the 2026 NFL season by The Action Network found that the Bills' new stadium was the most expensive in the NFL for a family of four to attend a game, with a total price of $2,193.95 for four tickets, two beers, two soft drinks, four hot dogs and parking.
Buffalo's stadium ranked as the fifth-most-expensive in 2025, per BTPM, before jumping up to No. 1 in the study for 2026.
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Bills new stadium photos
Here are some shots of the new Highmark Stadium ahead of its official NFL debut:
This week. 🔜 pic.twitter.com/Ca8hfJA689
— Highmark Stadium (@HighmarkStadm) September 14, 2026Same place. Same energy. September 17th. pic.twitter.com/37XKcGYEct
— Highmark Stadium (@HighmarkStadm) August 28, 2026Rise and shine. 😄 pic.twitter.com/7MAZi1poVX
— Highmark Stadium (@HighmarkStadm) August 18, 2026
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