Orchard Park, N.Y. — Like any new homeowners on the verge of getting keys to their new digs, Bills Mafia is anxiously waiting for their chance to see the new Highmark Stadium.
The massive structure has been rising in the background of the NFL’s most famous tailgating scene for years. Trucks and cranes have become part of the neighborhood on Abbott Rd. across from the old stadium.
Now that construction is nearly complete, the Buffalo Bills are in the process of taking over operations of their new home.
Bills vice president of stadium development John Polka led a tour through the stadium on Tuesday for local reporters. He said the stadium is 93% completed and everything is on track for it to open on time.
Here are five things that stood out from the tour.
1. There isn’t a bad seat in the house
The dimensions of the stadium pop compared to the experience across the street at the old building. The high-level seats tower over the playing surface and feel so much closer to the action. Polka said about 90% of the seats are installed, and the photos show the stadium’s true look and feel when fans are in the seats.
“Big picture, you really get the sense of what we’ve been calling the stack design of this building,” said Bills senior CP of design Frank Cravotta. “You see how it kind of grows and (down on the field) is a great vantage point to feel that. We describe it as feeling like a big hockey arena and less like a football stadium. That is intended to keep our fans as close to the field as possible.”
2. Fan access like never before
Fans who are members of the “Field Club” will get special access to the players on game days. The seats are one level up, but a winding staircase leads them to the field level, where a huge red bar serves as the centerpiece of the fun pregame area. Here, fans can watch the players make their walk to the field and enjoy a live DJ. There’s even a section of the club that lets fans peek into the postgame press conference room.
3. The field and the wind tests that are already happening
Down on the playing surface, the natural grass extends across the entire playing area. The sidelines are made of artificial turf, except for two patches of natural grass on both sidelines, built for each team’s kicker to practice. There are wind readers set up on the field to test the effects of the wind inside the stadium. The building was designed to limit the impact, unlike the major wind conditions that have been a part of Bills games across the street.
4. Get ready for the improved sound experience
It’s going to be loud in the stadium, no matter where you’re sitting. Cravotta called the sound system inside the stadium “state of the art.” There will be 32 larger main speakers at the top of the stadium, supplemented by smaller units scattered throughout the building.
5. Ways to get out of the elements
The stadium features heat lamps installed at the top of some sections, helping limit the effects of the cold as the calendar turns to November and December.
