The Bills made a clear choice when they kept their new stadium outdoors: embrace Buffalo weather instead of building around it. That decision fits the identity of the team and the city, but it also comes with a catch. At Highmark Stadium, the playing surface has to survive cold, snow, and everything else that comes with an outdoor NFL winter.
That challenge has already shown up. Buffalo installed a grass field at the new Highmark Stadium in late 2025, and plenty of players around the league were happy to see real grass instead of artificial turf.
But once the preseason got rolling, the mood changed fast. Players complained about the condition of the field after the Bills’ preseason opener, and one told The Athletic, "The field is a- right now"
The problems weren’t subtle. Preseason games and open practices tore up parts of the surface, with pieces of grass coming loose. The Bills decided to rip it up and try again, with the Sept. 17 home opener against the Lions serving as the deadline to get it right.
The criticism got so sharp that an agronomist with experience in NFL and college football fields told The Athletic the Bills’ surface was "the worst sod" he had ever seen in the NFL.
NFL field director Nick Pappas later approved the re-sod, and The Athletic reported that he felt the original field "left much to be desired when it came to showcasing the best of what the league has to offer," Though Pappas did not make the final call, his approval lined up the Bills with the league on the decision to start over.
Josh Allen, meanwhile, liked what he felt after the redo. Ahead of "Thursday Night Football," he said the field felt "more stable" and "more solid."
“The footing seemed better. Seemed more stable, more solid… It seemed really good.” #BillsMafia
- Ajay Cybulski (@AjayCybulski) September 15, 2026
For now, the Bills are sticking with grass, and that matters beyond comfort. The NFL Players Association has pushed for real grass because of injury concerns tied to artificial turf, and Buffalo is clearly willing to deal with the maintenance headaches that come with it. That’s especially true as the weather turns colder and the stakes rise, because the Bills won’t be putting Josh Allen on artificial turf.
Entering 2026, exactly half of the NFL’s 32 teams play on real grass. Seven play fully outdoors on artificial turf, while only one team plays fully indoors on real grass: the Las Vegas Raiders, with the caveat that the Cardinals are often indoors under the retractable roof of State Farm Stadium.
In Other News...
Bills Fans Get A Wild New Game Day Twist For Lions Opener
Bills fans heading into the season opener against the Detroit Lions will find a new concession item waiting for them at Highmark Stadium: an exclusive reusable beer horn that comes packed with a 16 oz. Labatt Blue or Labatt Blue Light can. The item will be sold for $30 and available only until kickoff, adding another bit of novelty to a day already carrying extra weight as the first regular-season game at the Bills new stadium.
The offer is limited to fans 21 and older, and it fits the kind of game-day atmosphere Buffalo has long leaned into, especially when the building is set for such a milestone moment. Beyond the souvenir appeal, the opener still has the more important football backdrop, with the Bills looking to start their home era at Highmark Stadium the right way and move to 2-0 in the new season. [Read more 🡒]
Josh Allen Was Furious Over How Bills Teammates Family Tragedy Went Public
The Bills spent part of the summer dealing with a tragedy that went far beyond football, as Ed Olivers two-year-old son died in June after being found unresponsive in a swimming pool near Houston. The Harris County Sheriffs Office investigated the incident, found no criminal findings and closed the case in August, while the team publicly expressed its condolences and tried to keep the focus where it belonged, on the familys privacy and grief.
Josh Allen later addressed how the news became public, and his frustration was clear. The Buffalo quarterback thanked the people who respected the familys privacy, but he also made it known that he was angry about the information being leaked before the family was ready to share it, a reminder that even around an NFL locker room, some moments are far bigger than the game. [Read more 🡒]
Bills Make A Game Day Choice That Says Plenty Vs Lions
The Bills made a pair of game-day moves ahead of their Week 2 matchup with the Lions, elevating wide receiver Greg Dortch and running back Frank Gore Jr. from the practice squad to the active roster. It is the kind of roster decision that usually says as much about depth and preparation as it does about the opponent, especially this early in the season when teams are still sorting out the best way to cover themselves for every phase of the game.
Dortch brings a little NFL mileage after stints with multiple teams and 12 games already on his 2025 resume, while Gore has been a steady presence on Buffalos practice squad since arriving as an undrafted free agent. The futures contract signaled the Bills wanted to keep him in the building, and this elevation gives him a chance to be part of the conversation in a meaningful spot, even if the bigger picture beyond Sunday is still unfolding. [Read more 🡒]