With the new Highmark Stadium finished and the old one already coming down, the Buffalo Bills are still figuring out what should happen to the land left behind. For now, the future of that site is wide open.
One idea that had been floated was simple enough: turn the old stadium grounds into overflow parking. That would fit the reality around the new building, where parking is limited, and it would restore a function the site already served before construction began. Fans were able to park RVs there, too.
But that may not be the direction the Bills are leaning. A recent report by Michael Petro with The Buffalo News says key Bills decision makers are “coming around to the idea of putting something more significant” over top of the razed stadium, including the “possibility of mixed-use development.”
The area being discussed sits on the east side of Abbott Road. Petro’s report says the current field house, administrative building, and the Bills Store will stay where they are, but beyond that, there is still a large open stretch that has not been fully planned out.
According to Petro, the team is looking at “stores and dining, open space for events, and maybe even an entertainment-focused venue.” He also wrote that the grounds could “open the door to the Bills bringing an attraction, on a smaller scale, like Titletown in Green Bay.”
Another factor in the mix is the possibility of the site helping the Bills host an NFL Draft someday. Right now, the area does not have the infrastructure needed to handle draft crowds in a serious way, whether those people come from nearby or from farther away. More hotels, along with retail and dining options, would help make the case.
The Bills may also revisit earlier talk about “creating a Bills village or another type of destination - and possibly a pedestrian bridge for fans to use to cross to the new stadium.” That bridge would make sense given the traffic congestion that builds up on Abbott Road on game days.
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