Buffalo Bills' New Stadium Hits 75% Completion as Project Pushes Toward 2026 Opening
ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. - With steel rising and walls closing in, the Buffalo Bills’ new stadium is officially three-quarters of the way done - and despite some early hiccups, the massive $2.1-$2.2 billion project is still on course for a mid-2026 debut.
Steve Ranalli, president of the Erie County Stadium Corporation, gave an update this week that painted a picture of a construction site buzzing with activity. We’re talking 1,500 to 1,600 workers on-site daily, seven days a week, grinding through Western New York’s unpredictable weather to keep things on track.
Wrapping Up the Land Puzzle
One of the final pieces of the land puzzle fell into place this week as well. The Bills’ purchase of an 8.16-acre gravel lot - known locally as the “Barco lot” - has now been folded into the broader land transfer to New York State. That lot, sitting just off Big Tree Road and next to the team’s practice fields, had been hanging in limbo after being acquired in 2023, post-stadium agreement.
Ranalli called it a cleanup move - not a surprise, but a necessary step to get all the land under the same umbrella. Once construction hits “substantial completion” next summer, the entire stadium footprint - including the current Highmark Stadium site - will be transferred to the Erie County Stadium Corporation, with the state ultimately taking ownership.
The Barco lot will remain a parking area, primarily used for team and operations traffic.
Making Up Ground After Delays
While earlier reports pointed to an 11-12% delay in the construction timeline, Ranalli said crews have been catching up - and fast. The turnaround has come thanks to extended shifts, more labor, and a reordering of key construction phases to keep momentum going.
“There are delays on every project in a project of this scale,” Ranalli said. “But I expect they'll get there.”
Right now, the focus is on getting as much exterior work done as possible before the real winter hits. That means installing gates and wrapping up the stadium’s façade - though some sections remain open to allow easier movement of materials. Inside, crews are deep into mechanical, electrical, and plumbing work, with drywall, flooring, and bathroom installations already underway.
And this winter? It’s not slowing things down like last year. Ranalli said the crew is “much more protected,” allowing interior work to push forward without major disruption.
Highmark Stadium Demolition Coming Soon
As the new stadium rises, the old one is preparing for its final chapter. Demolition of the current Highmark Stadium is expected to begin shortly after the Bills’ season ends in late January, pending the final selection of a contractor.
ARC Building Partners has been tapped to lead the demolition effort, which is being handled under a separate contract due to its unique logistics. The price tag? Somewhere between $30 million and $35 million - consistent with earlier estimates, and all of it coming out of the Bills’ pocket.
Once the new stadium is “substantially complete,” both the new and old sites will officially transfer to the state, with the Erie County Stadium Corporation overseeing the transition.
By the end of this year, the Bills are expected to have poured $1.6 billion into the project - a figure that includes $600 million from New York State and $250 million from Erie County. From here on out, Ranalli made it clear: any remaining costs are fully on the Bills.
Fan Experience: New Market Spaces and Campus Adjustments
In addition to the core stadium work, the latest meeting of the Erie County Stadium Corporation greenlit a new fan-friendly feature: 1,600 square feet of exterior market buildings. These new spaces - located inside the stadium gates but outside the bowl - will offer food, drinks, and family-friendly amenities, adding another layer to the game-day experience.
There were also some minor adjustments approved to the site’s roadways and pedestrian access points, fine-tuning how fans and vehicles will move around the expanded campus and the nearby SUNY Erie corridor.
And for fans wondering about the much-hyped bison sculptures? Ranalli played it cool: “Even if I knew - which I don’t - I’m not sure I could reveal that.”
The Big Picture
For a project of this magnitude, hitting 75% completion is a major milestone - especially when you consider the size, scope, and weather challenges that come with building a state-of-the-art NFL stadium in the heart of Buffalo. With the finish line in sight and the Bills footing more of the bill from here on out, all signs point to a 2026 opening that could redefine the fan experience in Western New York.
And if the construction crew keeps this pace, the new Highmark Stadium might just be ready to roar right on schedule.