Buffalo Bills Structural steel construction begins on new stadium with Mind Blowing New Capacity As Legends Makes Huge collaboration
The collaborative effort between Legends and Populous is in the process of designing a 60,000-seat facility, the new Highmark Stadium for the Buffalo Bills, located in Orchard Park, New York, USA. Construction work using structural steel has now started.
The Buffalo Bills, an American football team, are associated with this project. Governor Kathy Hochul of New York, along with workers completing the initial construction phase, participated in signing a 20ft steel beam, which will become part of the stadium’s structure.
Josh Dziurlikowski, Bills Finance & Business Administration interim COO and SVP, acknowledged the dedicated workers involved in the early phases of the project. He expressed anticipation for the upcoming work leading to the stadium’s first game in 2026.
Governor Hochul announced a public-private stadium agreement in 2022, involving a $600m state investment, a $250m contribution from Erie County, and a minimum of $690m from the Bills and the National Football League for construction. The stadium is projected to have a $385m annual economic impact and generate 10,000 union construction jobs.
Under a project labor agreement with the Buffalo Building Trades Council, the development will proceed. The new Highmark Stadium, designed by the Bills in collaboration with Legends and Populous, will be an open-air facility with 60,000 seats, adjacent to the existing Highmark Stadium from 1973.
Approximately 25,000 tons of steel will be installed, with the steelwork estimated to take 12 to 14 months. The construction process will include cladding, as well as the installation of mechanical, plumbing, and electrical systems. The on-site workforce is expected to increase from 300 to over 1,500 per day as the project advances, with a focus on employing local residents, as more than 95% of the current workforce is reported to be from the area.
The new stadium will incorporate weather mitigation features like radiant heating and a canopy covering 65% of the seats.