M&T Bank-Buffalo Bills ‘bank’ on partnership

Image: Buffalo Bills

The M&T Bank in Buffalo, New York (US) and the National Football League (NFL) team Buffalo Bills announced a multiyear, long-term extension during a special event they held recently to celebrate the 40^th anniversary of their first sponsorship agreement and the community impact they have made together in the years since.

‘buffalobills.com’ stated that the financial holding company M&T will remain the ‘Official Bank of the Buffalo Bills’ and will become a Founding Partner for the Bills’ New Highmark Stadium in Orchard Park, New York (US) set to open in 2026.

The M&T is a financial holding company headquartered in Buffalo, New York (US). The M&T’s principal banking subsidiary, the M&T Bank, provides banking products and services with a branch and ATM network spanning the Eastern United States from Maine to Virginia and Washington, D.C.

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

The 71,608-capacity Highmark Stadium is a stadium in Orchard Park, New York, United States, in the Southtowns of the Buffalo Metropolitan area. It is the home venue of the Buffalo Bills of the National Football League (NFL). The stadium opened in 1973.

The 62,000-capacity New Highmark Stadium, colloquially known as ‘The Pit’, is an American football stadium under construction in Orchard Park, New York (US). It will replace the existing Highmark Stadium as the home field of the Buffalo Bills of the National Football League (NFL) starting with the 2026 NFL season.

The New Highmark Stadium, home of the National Football League’s (NFL’s) Buffalo Bills, will open in 2026 in Orchard Park, New York, a suburb of Buffalo. In conjunction with the premium experiences company Legends and the architectural firm Populous the Bills have left no stone unturned in covering every innovative element of the new stadium design and fan amenities featuring iconic Buffalo architecture. The open-air, football-first venue will feature premium, reserved seating that delivers an elevated gameday experience and atmosphere. A striking canopy structure will provide seating bowl coverage enhancing fan comfort and protection from the elements.

New York (US)-based Legends is a global premium experiences company that works with some of the most iconic and innovative brands in sports and entertainment to deliver exceptional experiences for the fans worldwide. The company offers its partners a 360-degree data and analytics-fueled service solution platform to drive revenue, heighten their brand and execute their vision.

Populous is a global architectural and design practice with regional headquarters in Kansas City (US), London (UK) and Brisbane (Australia) specializing in sports facilities, arenas and convention centers as well as in the planning and design of major special events.

‘buffalobills.com’ further stated that the M&T Bank entered its first sponsorship deal with the Bills in 1985, a historic moment when both the organizations were on the rise. To create deeper connections with the fans they put community at the heart of their relationship and developed joint programs to uplift the greater Western New York Region. Now, 40 years later, the Buffalo Bills-M&T Bank brand partnership has become one of the longest-running active sponsorships in professional football.

Observed Eric Feldstein, M&T Bank Regional President for Western New York and Head of Business Banking, “Already 40 years strong this partnership is now poised to deliver an even

greater impact for Western New York. We know that football brings our community together and with this multiyear, long-term extension the M&T Bank is shouting loud that there’s no place we would rather be than right here, right now.”

Pointed out Pete Guelli, Buffalo Bills Executive Vice-President (EVP) and Chief Operating Officer (COO), “The M&T Bank and the Buffalo Bills built this successful partnership through our shared values – integrity, respect, working together, and following through. We have a humble-and-hungry mindset inside the Bills organization. It’s a commitment to do the right thing and put in all the work necessary to succeed. It’s an attitude that I see reflected by the M&T Bank.”

The partnership extension was a surprise announcement revealed at the event that the M&T and the Bills hosted to celebrate their 40-year partnership. Feldstein and Guelli shared the news during an on-stage fireside chat moderated by the Buffalo Bills alumnus and radio analyst Eric Wood.

In the Bills’ New Highmark Stadium the M&T will serve as a Founding Partner gaining access to unique opportunities to contribute to the in-stadium gameday experience alongside a prestigious group of brands. The Bills collaborated with the global premium experiences

company Legends to secure the M&T Bank as a Founding Partner for the Highmark Stadium. Legends are the Bills consultant on project development, global partnerships, premium sales, ticket sales, retail, and hospitality for the New Highmark Stadium.

Community impact will remain a priority for the now-extended partnership. The M&T and the Bills have agreed to build on the foundation of one of their flagship programs, Touchdown for Teachers, and continue to grow their shared impact on the regional education system.

An innovative partnership arrangement the multiyear, long-term deal is structured to accommodate future changes in consumer behaviors and fan preferences ensuring the M&T can adapt and refine its programming to maximize value.

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