The Pit New Highmark Stadium (construction) | |
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 Artist rendering of the new stadium. | |
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| Full name | Highmark BlueCross BlueShield Stadium |
|---|---|
| Former names | New Highmark Stadium (2023–2026, construction) |
| Location | Orchard Park, New York |
| Coordinates | 42°46′22.7″N 78°47′31.9″W / 42.772972°N 78.792194°W |
| Owner | State of New York |
| Operator | Legends Hospitality |
| Capacity | 62,000 |
| Surface | Grass |
| Construction | |
| Broke ground | June 5, 2023 |
| Opened | July 1, 2026; (Planned) |
| Construction cost | $1.7 billion [1] |
| Architect | Populous |
| Structural engineer | Walter P Moore |
| Tenants | |
| Buffalo Bills (NFL) (2026–future) | |
Highmark Stadium (also referred to as New Highmark Stadium and colloquially as The Pit[2][3]) is an American football stadium that is under construction in Orchard Park, New York. It will replace the Bills' existing stadium of the same name and is expected to open in time for the 2026 NFL season.
The 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.[4]
The stadium is estimated to cost $1.7 billion.[1] 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 a National Football League facility.[5] Economics professor Victor Matheson, who studies stadium subsidies, described the deal as "one of the worst stadium deals in recent memory."[6]
Groundbreaking for the stadium occurred in June 2023, with major construction starting that same month along with a groundbreaking ceremony on June 5, 2023.[7] 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.[8]
- ^ a b Wawrow, John (August 9, 2023). "New Buffalo Bills stadium cost overruns approaching $300M, AP sources say". Associated Press. Archived from the original on December 24, 2023. Retrieved January 22, 2024.
- ^ Treacy, Dan (January 21, 2024). "Bills 'feed the pit,' explained: Why a viral TikTok has Buffalo warning fans against ill-advised stadium trend". The Sporting News. Charlotte, North Carolina: Sporting News Holdings. Archived from the original on January 23, 2024. Retrieved January 22, 2024.
- ^ Fitzgerald, Katherine (January 19, 2024). "What's going on with The Pit? An explainer – and a poem – on the Buffalo Bills' new stadium". Buffalo News. Archived from the original on January 20, 2024. Retrieved January 20, 2024.
- ^ Wojton, Nick (April 1, 2022). "Which stadium did the Bills' architects recently design? Check it out". Bills Wire. USA Today. Archived from the original on April 17, 2023. Retrieved April 2, 2022.
- ^ Ferré-Sadurní, Luis (March 28, 2022). "Buffalo Bills Strike Deal for Taxpayer-Funded $1.4 Billion Stadium". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived from the original on March 28, 2022. Retrieved March 28, 2022.
- ^ Matheson, Victor (April 15, 2022). "I've studied stadium financing for over two decades – and the new Bills stadium is one of the worst deals for taxpayers I've ever seen". The Conversation. Archived from the original on December 13, 2023. Retrieved December 13, 2023.
- ^ Getzenberg, Alaina; Olivieri, Anthony (June 8, 2023). "FAQ: The Buffalo Bills' new stadium: What you need to know". ESPN. Bristol, Connecticut: ESPN Inc. Archived from the original on October 26, 2023. Retrieved May 22, 2023.
- ^ White, Alec. "'The future is bright': Bills and Highmark announce naming rights deal for New Bills Stadium". Buffalo Bills. New York: NFL. Archived from the original on December 7, 2023. Retrieved January 22, 2024.