BUFFALO, N.Y. — The Buffalo Bills on Thursday gave fans a glimpse of some new features coming to the new Highmark Stadium.
When the new stadium opens in the fall of 2026, those in attendance may notice that the seating concourse is a little steeper than the current stadium. This is due to the new seating setup at the new Highmark being angled at 34 degrees, compared to the current 28-degree design the Bills use.
With the new design, it brings fans closer to the game. Literally.
The Bills say that fans who sit in the last row of the general concourse will be 54 feet closer to the field than they are at the current stadium.
On top of this, the new stadium features a built-in canopy on the roof that will cover roughly 64 percent of fans and will limit the impact of wind and other weather conditions inside the stadium.
Finally, a reimagined suite experience with inclusive common spaces and different premium options with varied locations, sight lines, and amenities.
Frank Cravotta, the senior vice president of new stadium design for the Bills, spoke with 2 On Your Side back in October when the Bills were playing at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium for their London Game against the Jacksonville Jaguars.
He said that the Bills new stadium will have similar features to the one in London, specifically referencing the shape of the bowl.
"The nature of the bowl itself is called a stack design. Existing Highmark and some of these stadiums kind of grow (out). The seats and everything are just closer as you stack the design up. There's really just great sightlines and great seating. Terry (Pegula) has been quoted as saying I went to the worst seat, and that worst seat is pretty good ... and he was right."
John Polka, vice president of stadium development, said that although the new Bills stadium is similar, it is not a replica of Tottenham.
"Just the idea of having some cover over portions of the fans to give some cover from not only elements ... not only wind, rain but also the sun," Polka said.
The Bills will also open a preview center in March, that will allow fans to take a sneak peek of the new stadium along with the opportunity for season ticket season holders to select their new seats.