After more than a decade of planning and three years of construction, the Buffalo Bills have cut the ribbon on their new home.
It was a who’s who of Buffalo Bills history at the ceremony for the new Highmark Stadium. Legendary players like Jim Kelly and Thurman Thomas, dignitaries from government and pro sports, and thousands of tradespeople who put near non-stop efforts into getting the facility built.
"Behind me is a wall with right now 5,369 names of you hardworking Americans who got this stadium built," team owner Terry Pegula said, pointing to an exterior glass wall featuring etched names of workers. "It's one thing to talk about it, it's one thing to get the money, it's another thing to get it done. So thank you."
Governor Kathy Hochul, a Buffalo native, said it was imperative that state and county government partner in financing the project to keep the team in Buffalo. That plan wasn't without controversy among some residents and lawmakers. About $850 million in public money paid for the stadium, while $550 million came from the Bills and the NFL.
"We had to make this happen, and I had to reassure them that I would make sure this stadium got built," Hochul said. "Because it is part of our identity, our psyche, it's what gets us up in the morning on a Monday morning with that sense of euphoria. Or at least hope for the next Sunday to be better."
Architecture firm Populous designed the stadium. Managing director and lead designer Jonathan Mallie worked with the Pegulas, having been inspired by the fanbase-first experience during a visit to England’s Tottenham Stadium.
"There was an intimacy about that building, and that was really the quality that we wanted to capture and take forward," Mallie said. "But this stadium was designed purely for Buffalo."
Best-in-league features include its sound system, and an aerodynamic design which will reduce wind, but also create the loudest environment in the NFL according to designers.
The legacy of Bills founder, the late-Ralph Wilson, was undeniable during the ceremony. His widow Mary Wilson was emotional as a featured guest.
"Today, I'm wearing his Hall of Fame scarf when he went into the Hall of Fame, and this is definitely a hall of fame football stadium, Highmark Stadium," Wilson said. "Congratulations, and what do we say? Go Bills!
The Bills will play pre-season games at the stadium, with the first regular season game scheduled for September 17 against the Detroit Lions, which Wilson noted was her late-husband's hometown.
