Inside the New Highmark Stadium: A New Bills Experience
Inside the New Highmark Stadium: A New Bills Experience
The new home of the Buffalo Bills brings bigger attractions, more comfortable seating and a thunderous atmosphere while Bills fans continue to celebrate together across Western New York.
One of the first words that come to mind when looking at the new Highmark Stadium is “imposing.” The silver, saddle shaped structure can be seen from miles away. Whether you’re driving up the 219 from the south, I-90 from the north, or even from across Lake Erie in Canada, the new home of the Buffalo Bills is impossible to miss.
While the structure itself might be imposing, it is not inaccessible. On non-gamedays, there is more activity around the new stadium than the old stadium was ever able to offer. Drive by on any day, and you’ll see plenty of cars in the parking lot and fans walking around the outside of the venue - whether they are visiting the bison statues and Bills Wall of Fame plaques in Family Circle or walking the Highmark Trail, a 1.7-mile-long trail around the perimeter of the stadium containing a variety of activities for fans to try out. It’s nice to see the stadium being more of an attraction that people can spend time around aside from just game days.
Speaking of the old stadium, whether you still call it “Rich Stadium,” “The Ralph,” or just “The Stadium,” the lack of its presence is very noticeable. The site where the old stadium had stood since 1973 is now a crater. All that remains is the old Administration Building and scoreboard on top of it. All other remnants of the place the Bills called home for 52 years have been demolished. Personally, it’s an especially strange sight because as a season ticket holder, my seats at The Ralph were in Section 123, right outside the only piece of it still standing.
Across the street, however, the new Highmark Stadium takes on an entirely different life on gameday, both inside and out. The grounds feature activities, food, and merchandise vendors, creating a much more active atmosphere that invites fans to spend more time around the venue before kickoff. With all the extra space, there are also larger and more numerous entry points, allowing much quicker access inside than at The Ralph. Whereas the choke points at the old stadium, beginning an hour to 45 minutes before kickoff, could be a nightmare, the entry points have not been nearly as congested at the new Highmark. As someone who has sweated out whether they were going to miss kickoff while waiting in line to get in more than a couple of times, this is an extremely welcome upgrade.
THE GAMEDAY EXPERIENCE
For fans who aren't making the trip to Orchard Park every Sunday, though, the excitement of Bills season is just as much about where they watch the game and who they watch it with. Mill St. Sports Pub, Ellicottville’s official Bills Backer Bar, has been enjoying a strong season, with owner Brenda Smith describing an atmosphere fueled by enthusiastic fans, longtime friends, and new faces.
Smith said the energy brought by Bills Mafia and the bar's patrons has been beyond anything they could have imagined. The season has also brought new people through the doors, adding to the sense of community that makes game days special.
“We are proud to be Ellicottville’s Bills Backer Bar and are so excited about this year. The energy is above anything, and it is so much fun in there. We just have a good time,” Smith said. “You come in to eat, but you leave as family.” That connection extends beyond the bar itself. Smith recently received tickets to a game but was unable to attend, so the tickets were passed along to her daughter and grandson.
Of course, there is nothing quite like experiencing a game from inside, where there is plenty to see beyond the action on the field. Action on the field, which you will be able to see from almost anywhere in the stadium. The concourses are almost fully open, allowing fans to still see the field while walking around the concourse to concessions, bathrooms, or just checking out different areas of the stadium.
Another drastic change from The Ralph to the new Highmark is just how much there is going on in the concourses. Different areas are named after different Buffalo neighborhoods. There are numerous art installations, including a steel beam signed by all the construction workers who worked on the stadium, a statue of a broken folding table with beer pong cups flying off as a nod to Bills Mafia’s proclivity for jumping through tables, and a replica of the Peace Bridge. Perhaps the most striking addition is an observation deck on the 300 level with an incredible view of the Buffalo skyline and surrounding areas. I spent a lot of time during the preseason games just wandering around the stadium and trying to take everything in, and I’m positive that I didn’t see even half of the displays.
When you finally get to your seats, two things really jump out at you. First is how much more room there actually is. Gone are the tight aisles and bleachers that made up much of the seating at The Ralph. Every seat in the new stadium is an actual seat, and there is plenty of legroom. It’s been a tough habit to break not having to jump up on your seat to let other people pass through.
The second thing that is very obvious, is the crowd noise. Bills fans already have a reputation for being loud. That noise is ratcheted up to 11 now. Because of the steeper design, along with the canopy, the noise is more deafening than ever. This, despite the new stadium having a smaller capacity of about 10,000 fewer seats.
For those who also attend games regularly, the new stadium has already made a lasting impression. Dylan Rhinehart, a season-ticket holder and bartender at Mill St., said the atmosphere is unlike anything he has experienced at another stadium. “The new stadium is great, the atmosphere there is unmatched to any stadium I've ever gone to,” he shared. “It's so much louder, even to the point where I find myself leaving with a headache from the constant sound.”
That volume is part of what makes the stadium experience stand out, even for fans who have attended games over multiple seasons. Rhinehart is also optimistic about the Bills' prospects this year, sharing the familiar hope that comes with the start of another season. “As Bills fans, I know we always say this, but I truly believe this is our year,” he said. “I'm very excited to see the new defense find their rhythm and be the best pass rush in the NFL.”
A MATTER OF PERSPECTIVE
Of course, not every fan's experience has been entirely positive. While some of the stadium's new features have won over attendees, others feel there is still room for improvement.
One fan shared their thoughts and praised the seating area and view of the field, saying they were very happy with their seats in the new stadium. However, they were less impressed with the concourses, bathroom availability, and concessions, describing the concourses as too narrow, the bathrooms as insufficient, and the food and drinks as expensive and disappointing. Despite the strong views from the seats, the fan felt the stadium could have done better in other areas.
For some fans, the cost of attending games is reason enough to enjoy the action somewhere else. One Bills fan, now living in Florida, said they would rather support a local business and watch with fellow fans than pay the price of attending a game in person.
This particular fan has joined a Bills Backers group that has grown large enough to operate three locations for watching games. The group also holds raffles and supports local food banks, showing how the Bills Mafia can create a sense of community far beyond Western New York. “Love my Buffalo Bills, but I won’t pay that much to go see them when I can support a local business for much less,” the fan wrote. “GO BILLS!!!!!”
The experiences shared by fans reflect the different ways people connect with the team. For some, nothing compares with being inside the stadium, surrounded by thousands of other fans. For others, the price of admission makes a neighborhood bar or gathering with friends a more appealing way to spend a Sunday. And even among those who attend games, opinions on the stadium's amenities can vary.
As with anything else in life, nothing is perfect. Bathroom and concession lines can be long, and during peak times (pregame, halftime, postgame), the concourses will be packed. The down and distance scoreboards behind each sideline are small and can be tough to read depending on where you are in the stadium. However, these are minor blips on what have otherwise, personally, been excellent experiences.
The team on the field has been looking good (New England game notwithstanding), and for my money, the stadium is looking even better.