Buffalo Bills Release Two Renderings Of Their New Stadium
After the framework of a deal for a new Buffalo Bills stadium was agreed to in March, the team officially released the first renderings of the future stadium almost exactly seven months later.
Ron Raccuia, executive vice president of Pegula Sports and Entertainment, said Thursday on WGR 550 in Buffalo that the renderings are "effectively" what the stadium will look like outside of minor tweaks.
Created in conjunction with Legends and the architectural firm Populous, the open-air stadium will be built across from Highmark Stadium in Orchard Park. The Bills' current stadium was built in 1973 and is the fourth oldest in the NFL.
The stadium has been a magnet for controversy, as well. In March, New York Gov. Kathy Hochul announced a $1.4 billion agreement for a 30-year lease. Of that, $850 million of the funding will come from state and county taxpayers � a record amount for a stadium. The deal drew widespread criticism.
The new stadium is scheduled to open in 2026 and will be across the road from the Bills' current stadium in Orchard Park, New York. Funding for the stadium includes a record $850 million in public financing, with $600 million coming from New York state and $250 million from Erie County.
The Buffalo Bills, notorious for being winless in four consecutive Super Bowls in the early 1990s, are off to a 5-1 start this year. The team, led by star quarterback Josh Allen, is among the top contenders to head to the Super Bowl this year.
The new stadium won't have a roof, but it will feature an inside bowl and stacked seating design to provide some protection from the winds and snowy winters that western New York is accustomed to.
