The Buffalo Bills NFL team has unveiled the latest renderings of its planned new stadium, which will have a capacity of around 60,000 and is scheduled for completion in time for the 2026 season.
The Bills released the first renderings of the stadium back in October. The team has worked with architecture firm Populous on the design of the stadium, which will feature a 360-degree enclosed canopy and temperature-controlled spaces.
The initial renderings provided wide-angle views of the interior and exterior of the stadium, and the latest images include a pitch-level view of the venue, a side view of its exterior, a zoomed-out aerial shot, and a close-up of one the facility entrances.
The stadium will be smaller than the Bills’ current home, the 71,000-capacity Highmark Stadium. When releasing the initial renderings, the Bills said the images are subject to change but represented the first “firm representation” of the direction the team would like to pursue during the design process.
In March last year, the Bills reached an agreement with New York State and Erie County to build the new $1.4bn (£1.2bn/€1.3bn) stadium in Orchard Park, with New York Governor Kathy Hochul securing a 30-year commitment for the team to remain in Buffalo.
New York State will commit $600m towards the new stadium project, with Erie County to provide $250m. The NFL and the Bills will provide the remaining $550m needed to build the new stadium.
In November, Pegula Sports and Entertainment, the Bills’ ownership group, selected a consortium that will be responsible for the construction of the stadium.
The joint venture of Gilbane Building Company and Turner Construction Company, in association with 34 Group, was chosen to provide construction management of the planned new stadium. The project team also includes the project management firm, Legends Project Development, which was brought on board in April, and Populous as the designer.
In December, the Bills secured important backing for the project from the NFL at the league’s winter meetings. NFL franchise owners signed off on two essential parts of the Bills’ stadium agreement – a year-to-year extension on the team’s lease at Highmark Stadium and a 30-year lease agreement for the new stadium.
Highmark Stadium opened in 1973. Following the opening of the new facility, the Bills’ current home is expected to be demolished and redeveloped as a large parking lot.
