Pittsford, N.Y. (WBEN) - Following years of discussions and anticipation, construction of the new state-of-the-art Highmark Stadium is well underway for the Buffalo Bills in Orchard Park.
Ground officially broke for the new stadium back in May with the early workings to prepare for major excavation work across the street from the current facility along Abbott Road. As long as construction efforts go according to plan, framing and metal work for a new stadium could begin as soon as this upcoming January.
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In the months leading up to the start of construction, the team was able to give the fanbase a glimpse of what's to come in Orchard Park by the start of the 2026 season when the stadium is slated to open for business. A total of 13 renderings were released by the Bills showcasing what the new stadium may look like inside and out.
In the months after the renderings were released and shovels hit the ground for construction, members of "Bills Mafia" are quite pleased with what they have seen to this point.
"I think it looks awesome. I think it's going to be like a modern stadium," said Bills fan Matt Parr, visiting Bills training camp from nearby Hilton. "I mean, I love the current stadium, but I think it will be nice to kind of upgrade the amenities, and just the overall aesthetic of it."
"From what I've seen, it looks amazing, state-of-the-art. What you would expect a new stadium to be like," said Bills fan Jacob from Henrietta. "You see the new stadiums all around the NFL going up, and they're huge, bringing money into the town. So I'm hoping we'll bring some more tourists into town, and some other people who maybe would not have come here otherwise."
Being a first-time season ticket holder this year, Bills fan Joe Selvaggio from Rochester is really excited for what's coming in Orchard Park.
"I know that a lot of people were torn between a dome or no dome, I'm for an open-air stadium, I think it's gonna be really cool," said Selvaggio at Bills training camp.
As for Bills fan Ryan visiting St. John Fisher University from Utica, he says everything that he's seen in the pictures looks awesome. He just hopes it all will actually be what's rendered to look like.
"I'm glad they're going to grass to prevent injuries, stuff like that. I definitely would've rather had a dome, but it's obviously not feasible for how much money it's gonna cost, and it's already costing taxpayers a lot," said Ryan. "But it solidifies the Bills staying in Buffalo, so that's the biggest thing. You know they're not going anywhere."
While Ryan would have really liked to see Josh Allen performing at his best inside a domed stadium in Orchard Park, he still feels the stadium has, to this point, been everything that he expected.
Other Bills fans share some similar thoughts when it comes to expectations of the new stadium being met, at least to this point in time three years before construction has concluded.
"I know they took some cues from soccer stadiums in England, and some of the top seats will be covered. It's a partially-covered stadium, which I think is a good thing," Selvaggio said. "You'll have the option to have snow if you want to sit in the snow, or not if you don't."
"They're really looking to make it state-of-the-art, so they can attract more people from out-of-town. Maybe with that comes more free agents to the Bills, some highly-touted free agents. So all that comes with the new stadiums and the new additions," added Jacob.
While many Bills fans like what they see with the renderings and future plans, there are some items with the new stadium they'd like to see added once the facility is completed.
"I think maybe the size of the buffaloes. I'm not too sure how big they're going to be. I think they need to be the proper size," Parr said of the Buffaloes statue slated to be outside the stadium.
"Something I'd like to see, maybe some more open concepts, like on the concourse, maybe stuff to do? I think that's what they're gonna bring too with the new stadium," Jacob said. "I think they're doing a great job, though."
Meanwhile, there are some more suggestions from Bills fans with what they hope to see out of the new stadium in Orchard Park.
"I'm just hoping tickets are still affordable and don't go up too crazy, obviously. But I don't know, I guess we'll see," Ryan said. "Tailgating and everything should hopefully stay the same, that's a big part of it. So hoping everything kind of stays how it is, but new facility, new everything."
For the sports betting fanatics like Selvaggio, he's hoping to maybe see an option for those who prefer the live betting aspect of football.
"Maybe a DraftKings booth? Real time, some real live betting, for me. I'm sure a lot of people wouldn't like that, but I'd like that," he said.
As for Parr, he's wondering how the team will change things up with the team Wall of Fame once the new stadium is finished.
"What's going to happen with the Wall of Fame? How's that gonna look in the new stadium? That would be probably my biggest question. Maybe get some new people in it soon," he said.
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