Orchard Park, N.Y. (WBEN) Demolition of the old Highmark Stadium in Orchard Park has begun, with construction crews removing seats, bleachers and other items that will be offered for sale - including urinal troughs.
Baye Keita, CollectionsXChange project manager, said 14 of the stadium's 40 urinals have been removed and will be put up for sale soon, although an exact price has yet to be determined.
Also gone are thousands of weather-worn red seats and metal end zone bleacher seats.
CollectionsXChange must have all seats, bleachers, signs, turf and goal posts removed by May 1 as the "old" Highmark Stadium will then be prepped for demolition.
"The amount of interest is amazing," Keita said. "The attachment people have for this stadium surprised me."
Prepping 'old' Highmark Stadium for demolition is part of an Abbott Road construction ying and yang. On one side of the road, crews are finishing the $2.2 billion new Highmark Stadium that will officially make its debut this summer.
And, other side, the old stadium will be razed and gone within the next 18 months, with the site used for parking and future developments.
Keita said the removal process began in February with signs taken down from the 100 and 200 levels. Sign removal on the 300 level is underway - all being overseen by Buffalo's 34 Group.
A small army of crews are removing the seats - working daily from 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Seat removal began on March 16.
"Not a lot of wiggle room," Keita said.
More than 4,000 season ticket holders have put a bid in on their seats. Each seat has a QR code so crews know who gets them, Keita said.
"People have an attachment to their own seats," Keita said.
The turf and goalposts are expected to be removed next.
CollectibleXchange has partnered with the Buffalo Bills to sell memorabilia from the stadium. The company will handle fabrication and repairs, with remaining proceeds split evenly between the company and Erie County.
Orders are expected to begin shipping in April, with a local pickup option available.
Stadium memorabilia is up for sale here:
