ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. (WBEN)......With NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman = and other top NHL brass in town this past weekend for the league's annual draft - it presented a golden opportunity for top Bills (and Sabres) officials like owner Terry Pegula and Chief Operating Officer Pete Guelli to showcase new Highmark Stadium.
Their intent: Convince the key NHL leaders to bring at least one "Stadium Series" game to the soon-to-open, $2.2 billion stadium.
"I think Gary was very impressed," Guelli said.
Chances are good that the NHL may bring a Sabres' "Stadium Series" game to Highmark Stadium - perhaps sooner rather than later.
The push by Pegula and Guelli - among others - is have Highmark Stadium active for a lot more than just 10 Buffalo Bills' home games each NFL season.
Off the field, interest is high for special events set to be held in one of the stadium's private club areas like the Seneca Resorts & Casinos Field Club.
But, Guelli said the push is on to bring more on-field events to the stadium too.
"We want this place active," Guelli said.
That could mean bringing in lacrosse games, soccer matches and concerts.
It is a clean white board when it comes to possible bookings.
Within the NFL hemisphere, many of the stadiums are used for a lot more than just home games.
The template is there with places like Tampa Bay, Kansas City, Chicago and Philadelphia as just one set of examples.
Guelli said the Bills organization will be aggressive in its approach of bringing more on and off-field events to the new stadium.
"We do want to host more events, but we also don't want to take away from the football team, either," Guelli said.
Bills looking at different ways to fill Highmark Stadium
Bills looking at different ways to fill Highmark Stadium
