The Buffalo Bills are turning their Week 2 home opener into more than just a football game.
When Buffalo hosts the Detroit Lions on September 17 for its first regular-season game at Highmark Stadium, the spotlight will already be bright. The matchup is set for primetime on Thursday Night Football, giving the rest of the country its first look at the new stadium. But the Bills are also making sure the scene is loaded with buzz before kickoff even arrives.
On Monday, Pat McAfee said his show, The Pat McAfee Show, will be on-site for the game day buildup. McAfee said the broadcast will come from The Family Circle near the bison statues, a spot he and his co-hosts have been talking up for months.
He made the announcement while interviewing Bills quarterback Josh Allen.
“We have been invited to do our show from the Bison before your home opener @JoshAllenQB..
WE WILL BE LIVE FROM THE NEW HIGHMARK STADIUM #PMSLive pic.twitter.com/N5Sy2nMDRL
- Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) August 10, 2026”
That location fits the way McAfee has been building this up. The bison statues near Buffalo’s new home have become a regular talking point on his show, so airing live from that area on game day feels like a natural payoff.
There are three bison statues in The Family Circle: a 22-foot-tall, 23-foot-long cow that weighs about 23,000 pounds, a 27-foot-tall, 29-foot-long bull, and a 12-foot-tall, 12-foot-long calf.
McAfee has also developed a relationship with Bills general manager and President of Football Operations Brandon Beane, along with Allen and several others in the organization over the last few years. Bringing his show to Highmark Stadium only adds another layer to an already attention-grabbing day.
The Pat McAfee Show drew its most-watched year on ESPN in 2025, and McAfee has become a regular presence across the network through appearances on multiple shows.
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