Bills will do whatever it takes to finish stadium on time
Construction crews continue to work day and night seven days a week at the Bills stadium - regardless of the weather - to make sure it is done on time for the 2026 season, and that will continue for as long as needed
The snowstorms and bitter cold of last winter was a contributing factor to the Buffalo Bills new stadium project experiencing some setbacks and falling a bit behind schedule.
Western New York experienced that type of frigid weather and snow again during some of January and the start of February, but it hasn’t stopped a “ton of progress” from being made on stadium construction, specifically finishes inside the building, said Pete Guelli, president of business operations for the Buffalo Bills and Sabres.
It helps that most of the stadium is now closed off with exterior work and the installing of panels, prefabricated brick and glass around the building near completion.
Construction crews continue to work day and night seven days a week at the Bills stadium - regardless of the weather -
to make sure it is done on time for the 2026 season, and that will continue for as long as needed, said Pete Guelli, president of business operations for the Buffalo Bills and Sabres.
Harry Scull/Buffalo News
“It really looks like a stadium now. We’re in a great place,” said Guelli, about five months before the over $2 billion stadium is slated to be substantially completed.
“I have to be honest; I haven’t been there in a few weeks. It’s been a little chilly,” he added.
Construction crews continue to work day and night seven days a week at the Bills stadium - regardless of the weather - to make sure it is done on time for the 2026 season, and that will continue for as long as needed, Guelli said.
An analysis of the stadium schedule from August showed certain areas behind schedule – enough to put the project behind by almost 12%. Despite falling behind in some areas last year, Guelli said the stadium will get done on time, no matter what it takes.
“If there’s anything we need to pick up, we will throw the resources at it to make it happen,” Guelli said. “I have no concerns about that building opening on time. If there’s anything that happens that needs to be addressed, we’ll address it.”
Progress has come in some key places, including the player areas, such as the locker and training rooms and player amenity areas, Guelli said.
Equipment managers have already started going back and forth from the current to new stadium to move items.
“That’s how far along it is right now,” Guelli said.
Penny Semaia, vice president of stadium relations for the Bills, said with many of the larger pieces of the exterior done, the team is fine tuning some of the smaller pieces of the project inside the stadium, including with lighting, drywall, electronics, painting and scoreboard installation.
The thousands of workers on the job are the key cog continuing to move the project forward, and general contractor Gilbane Turner continues to make sure spaces and break areas are available so that workers are as warm and comfortable as possible.
“The workers truly understand the magnitude of what they’re part of and we so appreciate that,” Semaia said.