Governor and Hundreds of Local Union Laborers Sign Steel Beam to be Installed in the New State-of-the-Art Stadium
Construction on 60,000-Seat Facility on Track to be Complete in 2026
Governor Kathy Hochul joined Buffalo Bills owner Terry Pegula, Erie County Executive Mark Poloncarz and other local officials today to announce that structural steel will begin going up on the Buffalo Bills’ new state-of-the-art stadium and celebrate the more than 800 laborers who contributed to this significant milestone. The new 60,000-seat facility, designed by the Bills in conjunction with Legends and the architectural firm Populous, is ready for the more visible large-scale structural steel work. The first steel beam hoisted into place will signify the impressive progress taking place at the site of the new Highmark Stadium in Orchard Park.
“This major construction milestone is a testament to the union labor and local workers who have made this project possible,” Governor Hochul said. “By creating thousands of jobs, this stadium has already proven to be an engine for regional economic development. I am proud of all that has been accomplished and am excited to witness future progress as we move closer to opening day in 2026.”
Bills Interim COO/SVP of Finance & Business Administration Josh Dziurlikowski said, “As workers hoist into place the first structural steel at the new Highmark Stadium in Orchard Park, we want to recognize the many dedicated workers who have safely played an instrumental role in the initial phases of the project and those who will work on the project moving forward as we look ahead to our first game in the new stadium in 2026. The Buffalo Bills franchise is grateful for the steadfast leadership and commitment made by Governor Hochul and her team throughout this construction project. Our public-private partnership between New York State, Erie County, led by County Executive Mark Poloncarz, and the National Football League will continue to be an economic driver throughout the region and the State of New York. Today's recognition of our indispensable workforce is another reminder of the hard work of many building a stadium that will be a great source of pride for Bills fans everywhere.”
Today’s milestone marks the completion of excavation seven months after breaking ground in June 2023. It was a monumental job, with trucks removing more than 500,000 cubic yards of stone and dirt; and laborers built a sheet piling wall and poured over 18,000 cubic yards of concrete to create the foundation.
Those driving by the Orchard Park construction site will now begin to see the building take shape above ground, with the installation of approximately 25,000 tons of steel, enough to build approximately three Eiffel Towers. Several massive cranes will be used to build the steel superstructure. Steel will be erected in tiers over the next 12-14 months.
Today’s worker appreciation event marks the start of steel construction and included the signing of a 20-foot steel beam by Governor Hochul and hundreds of workers who safely completed the first phase of construction. The beam will be utilized within the stadium structure.
Once the steel framework is in place for the new 1.35-million-square-foot stadium, the building will be clad, mechanical, plumbing and electrical will be installed, and each of the sections of the stadium will be built out. The number of workers on the job will grow to more than 1,500 daily from the 300 people today as the work progresses. Throughout the project a priority is placed on the employment of local workers and businesses. At this stage of the project more than 95 percent of the laborers on the project are local.
The stadium marks one of the largest economic development project in Western New York history with an estimated annual economic impact of $385 million and the creation of 10,000 union construction jobs, in accordance with a Project Labor Agreement (PLA) agreed to by the Buffalo Building Trades Council. The Buffalo Bills franchise is a proven economic driver for the Buffalo region and the state as fans and spectators from across New York, the United States, and Canada patronize local businesses. The Bills currently generate $27 million annually in direct income, sales and use taxes for New York State, Erie County and Buffalo.
The new, open-air stadium is being built across from the existing Highmark Stadium, which was built in 1973, and includes several major improvements over the existing stadium facility. It will add weather mitigation features, including extensive radiant heating and a canopy that covers 65 percent of seats, to provide protection from inclement weather. The exterior of the stadium will also include enhanced gathering sites to be utilized by fans, spectators, and members of the surrounding community.
In 2022, Governor Hochul announced the historic public-private stadium agreement, which includes a $600 million investment by New York State that will be recouped through taxes and economic activity that the team generates. Under the agreement, Erie County will contribute $250 million, and the Bills and NFL will invest no less than $690 million for the stadium’s construction.
