Using football parlance, construction of the new Highmark Stadium is well into the fourth quarter and the home team has a sizeable lead.
Buffalo Bills officials confirmed construction on the $2.2 billion stadium has passed the 93% mark, but, John Polka, Bills' vice president of stadium development, be cautiously optimistic about the venue being football and fan-ready by mid-summer.
"It's always the last 20% that is the most difficult," Polka said.
But, there are signs that the stadium's construction pace is moving along at a breakneck speed.
Consider: The all-grass field is in and has settled nicely.
Artificial turf around the player's bench has been installed as have the goal posts.
All 60,000 red and blue seats are in place
And, coming in June..a trio of stainless steel bisons that will be the centerpiece of the family circle gathering spot just outside the stadium.
The largest of the bisons is 27-feet tall and weighs 23,000 pounds. The middle bison is 24 feet tall and weighs 18,000 pounds and the "smallest" is 12 feet tall and weighs 12,000 pounds.
"I could see them becoming Buffalo's 'Touchdown Jesus'," said Frank Cravotta, Bills' vice president of design.
The stadium is loosely modeled after Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in England, Cravotta said.
"It was a design that we and, especially, Terry Pegula liked," Cravotta said.
As for the stadium, all signs point to the Bills taking it over from the Gilbane/Turner construction team in June and then running some limited special events in July followed by scrimmages and pre-season games in August, Polka said.
"That's the schedule," Polka said.
Could three large bisons be Buffalo's 'Touchdown Jesus'?
