New Highmark Stadium taking shape

Natural turf field installed; inside construction continues; ESD officials anticipate work will be complete by 2026 Bills preseason

Article and Photos by Terry Duffy

Editor-in-Chief

Bills fans got an inside look into the much-anticipated new Highmark Stadium last week during a special media tour conducted by Empire State Development.

In his remarks, Erie County Stadium Corp. President Steven Ranalli focused on the all-new natural turf developed by Sports Construction Group Fields of Ohio, among many features inside this $2.5 billion complex. Ranalli said the new turf, in use in many Major League Baseball parks and gaining appeal among the NFL, utilizes a “complex draining system” in its operation. The field, which measures close to 2 acres in size, is a near replica to that utilized by the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field, according to ESD officials, and it would be an all-new feature for the Bills, who have played on artificial turf inside their current home for more than 50 years.

“It’s a complex drainage system that also doubles to allow air to infiltrate below,” Ranalli said.

He pointed to the sandy organic material that comprises the field’s root zone below and is topped with newly grown Kentucky Bluegrass.

Ranalli said the new stadium’s drainage is “a completely different system, bottom to top,” as compared to the crown drainage found below the artificial turf at the current stadium.

He went on to explain the new field features an irrigation system, which utilizes coils that can be heated up and maintain a constant temperature in the 60-degree range as playing conditions dictate.

“All those components allow the Bills to control the growth of that grass, really on a daily basis,” Ranalli said. “The field will be heated up to a constant temperature. Almost year-around, until the last home playoff game in January. The Bills will (then) have a chance to lower that temperature and give the grass sort of a winter season in January.”

Ranalli said the new field surface is the same type in use by the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park and in other MLB ballparks. Further describing the field layout, he continued, “The heating system is everything you see on the ground out there. We started (with) the grass in the middle; (then) briefly move out to the synthetic around it, that’s where the players would be standing (around the yellow markers). Then there’s a concrete track around the perimeter and the rubberized tack.”

Ranalli said every field area will have heating controls, allowing the Bills to maintain constant 60-degree surface temperatures.

“We can melt off any snow that (gets down there), because the canopy is going to control most of the snow from falling (down there),” he said.

Of the playing surface, Ranalli said, “I think it’s the best for the players to have natural turf, a natural grass system (as opposed to turf). And the players feel that way.”

New features at the Buffalo Bills’ new Highmark Stadium include a natural turf field, attractive seating, and expanded inside infrastructure – all evident, as construction continues inside the Orchard Park site.

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Media visitors also had the opportunity to visually check out parts of the impressive infrastructure inside this new stadium. Found inside are “ultrawide” concourses between sections, a major change from the narrow corridors of the existing stadium; and new seating that was installed in recent weeks.

“It’s nearly complete; after this they’re going to jump up and begin to do the seats in the upper bowl,” Ranalli said.

He noted the seating in the upper levels would be similar to that in the lower bowl – unlike the current stadium, which has bench seating in the upper levels and end zones.

Ranalli said a host of minor details, such as installing cup holders on all seats and other final additions, would be added as work continues.

As far as next steps, “obviously, we still need to complete the exterior (and) the seats themselves,” he said. “We’re going to be buckling up this building over the next couple of months. And then a lot of work is going to turn inside,” such as fan restrooms, concessions, etc.

Ranalli emphasized the new Highmark Stadium would, indeed, be game ready as the Bills 2026 season approaches. While local concerns surfaced that work on the stadium had fallen behind schedule over the past winter, Ranalli said that is far from the case. He said up to 1,500 workers have been on site over past months and there are 1,200 now working daily.

“It absolutely will be ready on time for the ’26 season. They are approximately 70% on the construction schedule, give or take. Things are going, really quickly,” he said. “Everybody’s that’s been able to work has been out here. The folks are working seven days a week out here, most days double shifts on top of that.

“There are different pieces in this schedule that are days ahead, a few days behind. The team is focused on the critical path; those are the elements that do have an impact on schedule.”

Ranalli added, “Substantial completion is actually set before that in July. So, the expectation is that they will be able to play some preseason games.”