Pittsford, N.Y. (WBEN) - The excitement over the new Highmark Stadium in Orchard Park continues to ramp up with construction well underway along Abbott Road, across the street from the current facility.
The Buffalo Bills released a number of new renderings on Monday of the new stadium's club area seating, which includes sneak peaks of:
- Founders Club: The most exclusive New Highmark Stadium experience featuring top-tier amenities such as all-inclusive food and beverage, heated wider cushioned seats, a private whiskey locker, access to the climate-controlled Founders Club, Suite Atrium, Field Club and East Club interiors, and more.
- Field Club: The ultimate Bills Mafia experience featuring premium amenities such as inclusive food and non-alcoholic beverages, wider cushioned seats, access to the climate-controlled Field Club with visibility into the player tunnel, access to the field level patio behind the Bills sideline, and more.
- East Club: A premium experience featuring overhead heat and coverage, premier food and beverage options, wider cushioned seats, access to both levels of the 50,000-plus square foot climate-controlled East Club with interior visibility to the field/seating bowl, and more.
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While the renderings give many Bills fans a sampling of what's to come at the new Highmark Stadium starting in 2026, some fans continue to share their concerns over the pricing of these club level seats when it comes to Personal Seat Licenses (PSLs).
Over the last several months, Season Ticket holders have been given the chance to visit the Stadium Experience center in Williamsville to not only get an exclusive look at the future home of the Bills come 2026, but it also allows them the chance to reserve their spot in the new stadium once it opens. The team started with club and suite level Season Ticket holders at the Stadium Experience, with the remaining group of Season Ticket holders being invited over the course of the next several months.
Longtime Season Ticket holder Michael Ryan from Tonawanda was among the many Bills fans getting the early chance to see what's to come with the new stadium. He's been a Season Ticket holder for several years, sitting in Section 207, located in the Pepsi Club.
"It was, and it is going to be beautiful," said Ryan in an interview with WBEN. "The whole design, I love the way the club is going to be set up. You're going to be able to go up in the club, out of your seats, and still be able to view the game not watching on a TV screen. From that, I really think it's going to be a beautiful stadium."
However, like other Bills fans to have already taken the Stadium Experience tour, Ryan says he's going to have to opt out of his Season Tickets by the time the new stadium opens in 2026.
"I was so torn, but being newly retired, they wanted $10,000 a seat, plus the ticket, which was going to be approximately $4,300 a seat and going up every year," Ryan detailed. "As much as I wanted to be there, I just couldn't see spending that kind of money."
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While Ryan was aware of the PSLs with the new stadium and the costs associated with some of the seats, he didn't think his tickets, in particular, would still be in that range that other fans were not willing to pay.
"I thought maybe the highest might be, might be, $10,000 and go down from there, but it was a shock when I heard that's how much it was going to be," Ryan thought before the Stadium Experience opened in March. "And I'm looking at it this way: We're not going to have Josh Allen, Sean McDermott and Brandon Beane running our team for forever, for 30 years. What is that PSL going to be worth down the road? And I look at it as like buying a new car: As soon as you can drive it off the lot, it decreases in value.
Despite the sticker shock with the pricing of his PSLs in the new stadium, Ryan does admit if something else comes available that is a bit more in his price range, he would consider making a change to a new section for Season Tickets.
"I left it open that it's still a potential," he said.
"If it got down to the $2,500 or $5,000 [range], somewhere in there, I probably would do it. But I just can't see spending $10,000 on something that's not even really there. They say that you own that seat, but if I'm a Season Ticket holder now and I'm purchasing that seat without a PSL, I technically own that seat. And if I want to transfer it, sell it, I got the ability to do that. So I don't understand the reason for it."
Ryan says he has talked to a few of his relatives and friends that sit near them at the current stadium, and they, too, have expressed similar feelings about the pricing for PSLs at the new stadium.
"They don't want to do it, it's just a lot of money. They chose to opt out," Ryan said. "One of them said that, 'If it gets down into the $2,500-to-$5,000 range, let me know.' To me, that just seems more reasonable. I think, in my opinion, you might be knocking out the true fans."
Despite the pricing for the new stadium shying some Bills fans away from purchasing their PSLs in advance, Ryan does hope that other Season Ticket holders can still enjoy their experience when it comes their time to visit the Walker Center in Williamsville.
"I think the main thing is keep an open mind. When you go in there, don't go in there with a thought, 'I'm definitely not doing it,' because you're probably gonna go in there and be negative the whole time," Ryan advised. "Go in there and view it, and if you can afford it and you're young, I say go for it."