The NFL’s Buffalo Bills are striving to make the new Highmark Stadium welcome to everyone with the inclusion of sensory spaces.
The Buffalo Bills said the new stadium will contain seven sensory rooms, the most of any venue in the world.
The sensory rooms will be accessible to all ticket holders and will be located on all levels and spaces of the stadium.
The Bills-branded rooms are designed to provide a calming, supportive environment for guests who may need a personal and quiet environment, while still enjoying Buffalo’s game-day experience.
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 team plays its home games at the Highmark Stadium in Orchard Park, New York.
The 67,000-capacity Highmark Stadium (also referred to as the New Highmark Stadium and colloquially as ‘The Pit’) is an American football stadium under construction in Orchard Park, New York (US). It will replace the Ralph Wilson Stadium as the home field of the Buffalo Bills of the National Football League (NFL) starting from the 2026 NFL season.
Bills senior director of guest experience Zach Rutkowski said, “We’re excited to continue to provide a sensory inclusive stadium experience for our fans at Highmark Stadium and are humbled to now have seven sensory rooms for fans to utilize.
“Our Guest Experience team is committed to creating positive, lasting memories for our fans and our collaboration with KultureCity, Kaleida Health and the Doug Flutie Jr. Foundation for Autism helps make that possible.”
Buffalo is working with KultureCity, the world’s leading nonprofit on sensory accessibility and acceptance, to ensure the new stadium is accessible and inclusive for guests, fans and staff with sensory needs.
One of the many things KultureCity does is provide support on sensory-inclusive training for Bills full-time and part-time staff, as well as guidance on sensory widgets that will be included in each room.
Kaleida Health, Golisano Children’s Hospital of Buffalo, Doug Flutie Jr. Foundation for Autism and KultureCity are working to create a sensory inclusive environment, helping to outfit the seven sensory rooms.
Stephen Turkovich, MD, president, Golisano Children’s Hospital of Buffalo said, “As the regional leader in health for kids and families, we are honored to have the opportunity to partner with the Buffalo Bills on sensory rooms to ensure an inclusive stadium experience for all.”
Information on the sensory rooms will be available at all guest experience booths during events and game days.
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