New Highmark Stadium
Updated: 12/11/2025, 3:36:26 PM Wikipedia source
Highmark Stadium (also referred to as New Highmark Stadium and colloquially as The Pit) is an American football stadium under construction in Orchard Park, New York. 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 67,000 capacity, 62,000-seat stadium is being built adjacent to Erie Community College’s south campus across the street from the existing Highmark Stadium, which will be demolished following the completion of the new stadium. The stadium is being designed by Populous, who previously designed Sahlen Field in downtown Buffalo and twelve other active NFL stadiums, with which the new Orchard Park stadium will share numerous design elements and features. The stadium is estimated to cost $1.7 billion. Under an agreement with the state of New York, taxpayers will pay $850 million of the construction cost (with $600 million coming from New York State and $250 million coming from Erie County). With the State of New York also paying for all maintenance and repair costs once the stadium opens, it is the largest taxpayer contribution ever for an NFL facility. Economics professor Victor Matheson, who studies stadium subsidies, described the deal as "one of the worst stadium deals in recent memory." Groundbreaking for the stadium occurred in June 2023, with major construction starting that same month along with a groundbreaking ceremony on June 5, 2023. The same day the Bills announced an extension to its existing stadium naming rights deal with Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield, with the Highmark Stadium name to be used for the new venue; it will be referred to as "New Highmark Stadium" during construction to distinguish it from the Bills' current home.
Infobox
Operator
Legends Hospitality
Construction cost
$2.2 billion
Structural engineer
Walter P Moore
Opened
July 1, 2026 (planned)
Owner
State of New York
Address
10 Bills Plaza
Coordinates
mw- 42°46′23″N 78°47′32″W / 42.77306°N 78.79222°W / 42.77306; -78.79222
Surface
Kentucky bluegrass
Former names
New Highmark Stadium (construction)
Architect
Populous
Capacity
mw- 67,000 (total)62,000 (seated)5,000 (standing-only deck)
Full name
Highmark BlueCross BlueShield Stadium
Broke ground
June 5, 2023; 2 years ago (2023-06-05)
Location
Orchard Park, New York, U.S.
Tables
· External links
| Preceded byHighmark Stadium | Home of theBuffalo Bills 2026–future | Succeeded bynone |
References
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