Highmark Stadium (New York)
Highmark Stadium is a stadium in Orchard Park, New York, in the Southtowns of the Buffalo metropolitan area. The stadium opened in 1973 as Rich Stadium and is the home venue of the Buffalo Bills of the National Football League (NFL). It was known as Ralph Wilson Stadium from 1998 to 2015, New Era Field from 2016 to 2019, and Bills Stadium in 2020.[4]
This article is about the Buffalo Bills' current stadium in Buffalo, New York. For their future venue of the same name set to open in 2026, see New Highmark Stadium. For the stadium in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, see Highmark Stadium (Pennsylvania).History[edit]
Stadium development[edit]
An original franchise of the American Football League (AFL) in 1960, the Buffalo Bills played their first 13 seasons at War Memorial Stadium, a multi-use WPA project stadium that opened in 1938,[5][6] located on Buffalo's East Side. While suitable for AFL play in the 1960s, the "Rockpile" (as the stadium came to be nicknamed), was in disrepair and with a capacity of under 47,000, undersized for a National Football League (NFL) team. The league mandate instituted after the AFL–NFL merger of 1970 dictated a minimum of 50,000 seats.
In early 1971, owner Ralph Wilson was exploring options to relocate the team, possibly to Seattle,[7][8][9] with other cities such as Memphis and Tampa soon expressing interest as well.[10] The potential loss of the team hastened the stadium project[11] and Rich Stadium opened in 1973.[12] The location and construction of the stadium in Erie County were the source of years of litigation,[13] which ended with a financial settlement for a developer who had planned to erect a domed stadium in Lancaster.[11][14] However, plans changed because it was not wanted to be close to Lancaster High School.[15] The stadium was ultimately built by Frank Schoenle and his construction company. Bonds were approved by the county legislature in September 1971.[16][17][18]
Bills vs Patriots in 2006
Interior concourse
Buffalo's downtown skyline as seen from upper deck during dusk.
Night view of the stadium exterior after recent renovations.
Highmark Stadium wide-angle in December 2023
