ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. — There is perhaps another big benefit to this milder month of December that we haven't talked about yet, an extended construction season.
Crews are hard at work on the new Highmark Stadium in Orchard Park, with plans in line for it to open in time for the 2026 Bills season.
But thanks in part to the weather, County Executive Mark Poloncarz says it may well be done even earlier than scheduled.
He told 2 On Your Side, "There's no delays. Actually, we're ahead of schedule. They wanted to pour the concrete starting in January, and they're already pouring it, and they're almost done. They were hoping they could get done by March or April, so they could start putting in structural steel in in the spring. And, the weather's been so good, they've been able to get ahead of schedule with the pouring of the concrete. There are some delays with regard to materials that will be coming in the future, but right now we're actually ahead of schedule. And because of that, I feel confident that the stadium will get done not only on time, but probably ahead of schedule."
Poloncarz also reiterated that if the cost of the stadium goes up from initial estimates, the county will not owe any more money. Those costs would instead be paid by the Pegulas.