New York State takes control of Bills’ new Highmark Stadium

Image: Grace Urbanski & Buffalo Bills

New York State has officially assumed ownership of the new Highmark Stadium kicking off a new era for the NFL’s Buffalo Bills.

WIVB said ownership of the new stadium was transferred to the state from Erie County, marking a major milestone for the Bills’ new home.

The Buffalo Bills are a professional American football team based in the Buffalo-Niagara Falls Metropolitan area (US). The Bills compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a Member of the American Football Conference (AFC) East Division.

The 60,108-seat Highmark Stadium is an American football stadium located in Orchard Park, New York (US), a suburb South of Buffalo. Opened in 2026, it replaced the now-demolished 71,608-capacity Ralph Wilson Stadium as the home field of the National Football League (NFL) team Buffalo Bills.

Erie County Executive Mark Poloncarz said, “Today’s ownership transfer caps off a significant series of events that resulted in the construction of a state-of-the-art facility. As a result, for the first time since 1973, Erie County is longer in the stadium ownership business.

“I thank Governor Kathy Hochul, the Erie County Stadium Corporation, Erie County Attorney Jeremy Toth and Assistant County Attorney Richard Stanton for their efforts in completing the property transfer.

“The historic investment made in our community is complete and as fans of the Buffalo Bills we can all look forward to enjoying football games and other events at the brand new 60,000 seat stadium.”
 

Why has New York State taken control of the stadium?

New York State has taken control of the new Highmark Stadium as part of the financing and ownership agreement for the Buffalo Bills’ new home.

The Buffalo Bills do not own the stadium. Instead, the team has signed a 30-year lease to play there, ensuring the franchise remains in Western New York for decades.

The transfer became official in early August 2026, ending more than 50 years of Erie County ownership of the Bills’ stadium.

The State of New York is now the legal owner of the stadium and surrounding complex through the Erie County Stadium Corporation.

The ownership structure reflects the project’s financing with New York State contributing $600 million and Erie County contributing $250 million. The Bills and the NFL financed the remainder, including all construction cost overruns, which ultimately pushed the project’s cost above $2.1 billion.

The new stadium spans about 1.6 million square feet across 242 acres of land. It features a 360-degree canopy, stacked seating for improved sightlines, and a heated, natural turf field.

The state-of-the-art venue features modern amenities, premium seating options, expansive concourses, and cutting-edge technology designed to create an unmatched game day atmosphere, all while honoring the blue-collar spirit that defines Buffalo.

The Bills’ Return of the Blue & Red practice welcomed fans to the new stadium for the first time on August 8.

The Bills will take on the Detroit Lions for their first regular season home game on September 17.
 

New Highmark Stadium Fast Facts:

• Groundbreaking: June 5, 2023
• Ribbon Cutting: June 23, 2026
• First Regular Season Game: Thursday, Sept. 17, 2026, vs. Detroit Lions
• Capacity: 60,108
• Playing Surface: Natural Grass
• Architect: Populous
• Owner’s rep: Legends Global
• General contractor: Gilbane | Turner
• Total Workforce: Approximately 6,000 persons
• Labor Hours: More than 5,000,000 hours

 
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