Highmark Stadium (New York) facts for kids
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"The Ralph"
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Highmark Stadium in 2014
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| Full name | Highmark BlueCross BlueShield Stadium |
|---|---|
| Former names | Rich Stadium (1973–1997) Ralph Wilson Stadium (1998–2015) New Era Field (2016–2019) Bills Stadium (2020) |
| Address | 1 Bills Drive |
| Location | Orchard Park, New York |
| Coordinates | 42°46′26″N 78°47′13″W / 42.774°N 78.787°W |
| Owner | Erie County |
| Operator | Pegula Sports and Entertainment |
| Capacity | 71,608 (current) |
| Surface | A-Turf Titan 50 (2011–present) AstroPlay (2003–2010) AstroTurf (1973–2002) |
| Construction | |
| Broke ground | April 4, 1972 |
| Opened | August 17, 1973 |
| Renovated | 1998, 2013 |
| Construction cost | US$22 million (1973) ($145 million in 2022 dollars) |
| Architect | HNTB Populous (2013 renovation) |
| Structural engineer | David M. Berg & Associates Inc. |
| General contractor | Frank Schoenle Construction |
| Tenants | |
| Buffalo Bills (NFL) 1973-2026 (planned) Syracuse University (NCAA) 1979 |
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Highmark Stadium is a large sports stadium in Orchard Park, New York. It is located near the city of Buffalo. This stadium opened in 1973 and is the home field for the Buffalo Bills, an NFL team. Over the years, the stadium has had several names. It started as Rich Stadium (1973–1997). Then it became Ralph Wilson Stadium (1998–2015). After that, it was called New Era Field (2016–2019) and Bills Stadium (2020).
Contents
History of Highmark Stadium
Finding a New Home for the Bills
The Buffalo Bills football team started playing in 1960. For their first 13 seasons, they played at War Memorial Stadium. This stadium was nicknamed "the Rockpile." It was built in 1938 and was getting old. It also wasn't big enough for an NFL team. The league required stadiums to have at least 50,000 seats.
In 1971, the Bills' owner, Ralph Wilson, thought about moving the team to another city. This made people in Buffalo want a new stadium even more. So, Rich Stadium opened in 1973. There were some legal arguments about where to build it. But in the end, it was built in Erie County by Frank Schoenle's company.
How the Stadium Got Its Name
In 1972, a food company called Rich Products paid $1.5 million for the stadium to be named "Rich Stadium." This was one of the first times a company paid to name a sports venue. The Bills team sometimes didn't use the "Rich" name. Because of this, Rich Products sued the team in 1976.
After 25 years, in 1998, the naming deal ended. The stadium was then renamed Ralph Wilson Stadium to honor the team's founder. Rich Products didn't want to pay a much higher price to keep the name.
On August 13, 2016, a company called New Era Cap Company made a deal to name the stadium. It became New Era Field. But on July 15, 2020, New Era Cap asked to end their deal. The stadium was temporarily called Bills Stadium. The county and state had to approve any new name. They even turned down a funny offer from a company called Tushy Bidets!
Finally, on March 29, 2021, the stadium got its current name. It became Highmark Stadium after a 10-year agreement with Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield.
Stadium Records and Fun Facts
The first NFL playoff game at the stadium was on January 1, 1989. The Bills won against the Houston Oilers. The Bills won many playoff games at home. They didn't lose another playoff game there until 1996. They then had a long winning streak in home playoff games until January 22, 2023.
Since the stadium opened, the Bills have beaten almost every other NFL team there. They have never lost a home game against the Arizona Cardinals, Green Bay Packers, or Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Stadium Design and Upgrades
Highmark Stadium is an open-air stadium. It can hold 71,870 people. It has never had real grass. It has always used artificial turf. The first turf was AstroTurf in 1973.
The stadium has been updated many times. In 1984, more seats and luxury boxes were added. In 1994, big changes included new club areas and a huge video scoreboard. This scoreboard was the largest in the U.S. at the time. In 1998, $57 million was spent to make seats bigger and add more luxury boxes.
In 2003, the turf was updated. In 2007, a new, large HD video board was installed. In 2011, the Bills switched to a new turf called A-Turf Titan.
More improvements happened in 2012. These included new entrance gates, bigger HD sponsor boards, and new video boards. A statue of team founder Ralph Wilson was added in 2015.
Buffalo is a very windy city because it's near Lake Erie. This makes it hard for kickers in the stadium. The field is 50 feet below ground. The open end of the stadium faces the wind. This causes strong, swirling winds inside.
Seating Capacity Over the Years
| Years | Capacity |
|---|---|
| 1972–1983 | 80,020 |
| 1984–1994 | 80,290 |
| 1995–1998 | 80,024 |
| 1999–2000 | 75,339 |
| 2001–2007 | 73,967 |
| 2008–2013 | 73,079 |
| 2014 | 71,857 |
| 2015 | 71,870 |
| 2016–present | 71,608 |
Other Events at Highmark Stadium
Sporting Events
Highmark Stadium is mainly for football. Its design makes it hard to host other sports like soccer or baseball. However, it does host high school football playoff games every year.
In 1984, it held a supercross motorcycle race. The opening ceremony for the 1993 Summer Universiade (a big sports event for university athletes) was also held here.
College Football Games
Syracuse University played two home football games at the stadium in 1979. This was because their own stadium was being rebuilt. In 2013, the stadium hosted a college game between the UB Bulls and the Bowling Green Falcons.
| Date | Away Team | Result | Home Team | Attendance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| September 29, 1979 | Washington State | 25–52 | Syracuse | 10,004 |
| October 27, 1979 | Miami (FL) | 15–25 | Syracuse | 7,729 |
| November 29, 2013 | Bowling Green | 24–7 | Buffalo | 26,226 |
Ice Hockey Games
On January 1, 2008, the stadium hosted the first-ever NHL Winter Classic. This was an outdoor ice hockey game between the Buffalo Sabres and the Pittsburgh Penguins. The Penguins won in a shootout in front of over 71,000 fans. In 2017, it hosted a game between the U.S. and Canada for the World Junior Ice Hockey Championships.
| Date | Away Team | Result | Home Team | Spectators |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January 1, 2008 | Pittsburgh Penguins | 2–1 (SO) | Buffalo Sabres | 71,217 |
| December 29, 2017 |  Canada |
3-4 (SO) |  United States |
44,592 |
Concerts at the Stadium
Many famous bands and artists have played concerts at Highmark Stadium. The first concert was in 1974 with Eric Clapton and The Band.
Some bands, like The Rolling Stones and Grateful Dead, have played there multiple times. The Grateful Dead even released a live album from their 1989 show called Truckin' Up to Buffalo. Other big names like The Who, The Jacksons, and Dave Matthews Band have also performed there.
Concerts at the stadium became less common after 2001. This was partly because there were more smaller music venues in the area.
The Future of Highmark Stadium
The Buffalo Bills are planning to build a new stadium. This idea came up after Terry and Kim Pegula bought the team. They want to design a modern stadium for the Bills.
In 2021, the Bills hired a company to help plan the new stadium. The plan is to build it in Orchard Park, close to the current stadium. It is expected to open in 2026. The new stadium will have about 62,000 seats and cost around $1.4 billion.
During construction, the Bills might play at another location. This could be at Beaver Stadium in Pennsylvania or even bring back the Bills Toronto Series. On June 5, 2023, it was announced that the new stadium will also be called Highmark Stadium.
The Alleged "Curse"
Some people believe there's a "curse" on the Buffalo Bills. Since they moved into Highmark Stadium, the team hasn't won a championship. They even lost four Super Bowls in a row! This idea comes from the fact that the stadium was built very close to an old family cemetery. It's also on land that was once home to an ancient Wenrohronon village. A plaque near the stadium gates mentions this history.
Images for kids
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Buffalo Bills vs Patriots 10/22/06 Orchard Park, New York
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Bills vs Patriots in 2006
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The field house is home to off-season OTAs and weekly practice
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Interior concourse
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Buffalo's downtown skyline as seen from upper deck during dusk.
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Night view of the stadium exterior after recent renovations.
See also
- War Memorial Stadium (Buffalo)
