The Buffalo Bills have celebrated a key milestone in the construction of New Highmark Stadium after a topping out ceremony was held to mark the last piece of structural steel being placed on the top of the venue.
Construction of the stadium is now over 50% complete, with the venue on track to open in 2026. The final beam was lifted with an American flag, the New York State flag, and an evergreen tree, which the Bills said signifies good luck and prosperity for future building occupants.
Friday’s topping out ceremony was attended by Bills owner Terry Pegula, New York State governor Kathy Hochul, NFL commissioner Roger Goodell, Erie County executive Mark Poloncarz and other dignitaries.
As part of the ceremony, workers placed the last piece of structural steel on the 156-foot-high stadium structure. The beam was signed by hundreds of Bills partners, employees and stakeholders before Friday’s ceremony.
The stadium project is a joint venture between Gilbane Building Company and Turner Construction Company, with more than 1,200 tradespeople currently on site daily. This will continue to rise in the summer.
Construction of the seating bowl is now complete, with workers to begin installing the seats later in the spring. Installation of the roof canopy is also continuing, while the fitting of exterior precast panels will continue throughout the spring and summer.
Exterior perforated metal panel installation will begin in the coming weeks, while grading and utility infrastructure for the playing field has begun. It is hoped that the stadium’s natural grass turf will be fitted in the autumn.
The Bills commenced construction on New Highmark Stadium back in June 2023. The stadium will have a capacity of 60,000 and has been designed by the Bills in conjunction with Legends and Populous.
Goodell said: “I know how much the Bills mean to this community. It’s part of the spirit, it’s part of the identity. I really believe this is going to secure the franchise here for decades.”
Hochul added: “Today marks a major milestone for the future home of the Buffalo Bills and one of the largest construction projects ever in Western New York. This world-class stadium would not be possible without our skilled union workers and partners, and I look forward to cheering along with them at the first Bills game being played here in the 2026 season.”
In January, the Bulls provided further insight into New Highmark Stadium after releasing a fresh set of renderings showcasing details of the lower bowl and concourse areas with 360-degree visibility of the field.
The stadium is set to cost more than $2.1bn (£1,6bn/€1.9bn), and last week the Bills gained league approval for a $650m debt waiver to assist the financing of the project.
The new stadium will replace the current Highmark Stadium, which opened in 1973 and seats 71,000 fans.
