Not only is the new Bills stadium slated to be finished on time – it should be done early
If you ask them what the goal is, Erie County officials will tell you they are working to get the stadium done a month ahead of schedule and, as it stands, all signs suggest that this ambitious timetable remains realistic.
Erie County and Buffalo Bills officials are in agreement that construction of the new Bills stadium will be completed on time. That would mean the stadium would be ready to open by July 1.
But if you ask them what the goal is, county officials will tell you they are working to get the stadium done a month ahead of schedule and, as it stands, all signs suggest that this ambitious timetable remains realistic.
"Our original deadline is July 1 to turn everything over to New York State, but I'm hopeful we can hit June 1," Public Works Commissioner William Geary said. "The crews, we have about 1,300 tradespeople out there on any given day. It's ramped up quite a bit from the summer."
Bills officials also this month described that the stadium completion timeline as "comfortably on time."
A view inside the new Highmark Stadium in Orchard Park. The new stadium is now around 75% complete,
according to Penny Semaia, Bills vice president for new stadium relations. Harry Scull Jr., Buffalo News
The new stadium is now around 75% complete, according to Penny Semaia, Bills vice president for new stadium relations, who spoke to the Community Benefits Agreement Oversight Committee on Nov. 17. The Bills also have continued to say they have no other options than to have the stadium done on time and will do whatever it takes to make that happen.
Even though winter is approaching, Geary said a lot of work is already completed and that as areas become enclosed, more work can continue throughout the winter months. The number of working shifts is also moving up from two shifts a day to three.
"I think we're right on target," he said. "We do have some weather built in the schedules also because we know it gets nasty here in winter, and it's not so much that we can't do the work in the stadium, but workers can't get to the stadium if the roads are closed."
If the winter is particularly harsh, the June 1 deadline may fall to the wayside, but the July 1 deadline should still be on track.
Construction workers eat lunch in an overflow room in early October as construction continues at the new Highmark Stadium.
"We have about 1,300 tradespeople out there on any given day," said County Public Works Commissioner William Geary. Harry Scull Jr., News file photo
The last analysis of the stadium schedule from August showed certain areas behind schedule, but since school construction projects were completed over the summer, a wave of specialty tradespeople have flocked to the stadium to complete work, Geary said. While more than 100 "critical items" still needed addressing in August, that list is down to three, he said.
For instance, he said, earlier this year, those involved with the stadium were worried about the shortage of available electricians. But after school construction projects were finished, he said, staffing improved.
The schedule is being adjusted to focus on getting outdoor areas, and other spaces that don't have heat or electricity, finished, he said. He estimated seat installation at 65% to 70% complete. Indoor elevators are also working so the outside elevators can come down.
"If you look at the stadium itself, if you need to play a football game, they have a grass field. All the goal posts are in," he said. "All the seats will be in before the start of '26. Food service equipment is going in."
Fans take photographs of the new stadium under construction from the walkway to the upper deck before the Buffalo Bills game
against the Kansas City Chiefs at Highmark Stadium in Orchard Park, Sunday, Nov. 2, 2025. (Derek Gee/Buffalo News) Derek Gee/Buffalo News
Meanwhile, the Bills are preparing to get stadium assets in the current Highmark Stadium removed and up for sale.
The team announced on Wednesday the launch of the exclusive program to sell stadium seats and memorabilia from the current stadium. It will be managed by Erie County, CollectibleXchange and Legends Global, which, along with the Bills, will oversee marketing and customer outreach for the program, as well as operations involving asset removal and the creation of collectibles. Erie County will receive all the net proceeds from assets and products sold through this program.
A week ago, the Erie County Legislature approved an amendment to the new Bills stadium agreement that will permit a third party, CollectibleXchange, which was first founded by the former owner of Steiner Sports, to salvage assets from the current Highmark Stadium, recondition them and make them available for sale.
Legends Global manages in-venue retail and eCommerce for the Bills and had already begun creating an inventory of stock inside the current stadium. The company is heavily involved in construction management, sales and concessions in the new Highmark Stadium and a major presence at the current building.
While fans can purchase stadium assets now, they won't be able to retrieve or ship the items until next year, likely by spring.
Single stadium seats are being sold for $550, and a pair of seats are going for $650, while double bleacher seats will be sold for $550. Single seat backs are $100.
Season ticket members will get the first shot at buying seats and will be able to request and place an order to purchase their specific season ticket seats. The deadline to make that request will be Jan. 31.
The cost of items to be sold will depend on how much is involved in getting the assets in saleable condition and public demand for what is available. But everything from turf and goal posts to seats and signs will be available for fans to purchase.
