ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. (WBEN).....The same trip down memory lane...or sentimental journey, if you will...brought Amy Rushford and Tim McAvor to the "old" Highmark Stadium site in Orchard Park.
Ditto for Sal and Betty DiCembre.
With demolition of the old stadium underway - and it began earlier this month - and construction of the new Highmark Stadium approaching 97% complete, Buffalo Bills fans like the DiCembres, Rushford and McAvor to the Abbott Road parking by the Bills Store to catch a glimpse of "old" Highmark Stadium being razed.
In fact, the demolition work has become something of a daily attraction bringing fans - both and young old
The 53-year-old stadium has deep memories for Bills' fans, be it O.J. Simpson rushing for 2,000 yards or Jim Kelly leading the team to four straight Super Bowls or Josh Allen carrying the team deep into the NFL playoffs.
Bands like the Grateful Dead, Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers, the Jacksons and the Rolling Stones all played there.
"I have a lot of memories in that stadium,": McAvor said.
Top among them: The Bills record-breaking playoff win against the then-Houston Oilers.
Ironically, that playoff game is one of the DiCembre's top memories.
"We stay until the end," Sal DiCembre said. "It was crazy,"
The old stadium is being replace - just across Abbott Road - with the new $2.2 billion Highmark Stadium.
The new stadium is 97% complete and will be fan and football-ready by this summer.
As for the old stadium, crews from Breeze National - a Long Island-based demolition firm who won the low bid, work started in early May and because of good weather, the razing is running slighty ahead of schedule.
"It is sad to see this stadium go, but just across the street we have a beautiful new stadium," Sal DiCembre said.
The bulk of the stadium demolition work should be completed by this fall but work will continue into the winter and early spring months.
The Bills are considering possible development options of the old Highmark Stadium site.
Demolition work is running ahead of schedule
Demolition work is running ahead of schedule
