ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. — More than 800 workers involved in building the new stadium for the Buffalo Bills have started putting up structural steel for the new venue. Gov. Kathy Hochul on Friday joined Buffalo Bills owner Terry Pegula, Erie County Executive Mark Poloncarz, and other local officials to announce this phase of the construction […]
ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. — More than 800 workers involved in building the new stadium for the Buffalo Bills have started putting up structural steel for the new venue.
Gov. Kathy Hochul on Friday joined Buffalo Bills owner Terry Pegula, Erie County Executive Mark Poloncarz, and other local officials to announce this phase of the construction work, which Hochul’s office described as a “significant milestone.”
The new 60,000-seat facility is ready for the more visible large-scale structural steel work, Hochul’s office said. The first steel beam hoisted into place will signify theprogress taking place at the site of the new Highmark Stadium in Orchard Park.
The Buffalo Bills designed the new stadium in conjunction with Legends Project Development and the architectural firm Populous.
“This major construction milestone is a testament to the union labor and local workers who have made this project possible,” Hochul contended in a news release. “By creating thousands of jobs, this stadium has already proven to be an engine for regional economic development. I am proud of all that has been accomplished and am excited to witness future progress as we move closer to opening day in 2026.”
Friday’s announcement marks the completion of excavation works seven months after breaking ground in June 2023. Trucks removed more than 500,000 cubic yards of stone and dirt in the effort. Laborers built a sheet-piling wall and poured over 18,000 cubic yards of concrete to create the foundation. Hochul’s office said.
The stadium marks one of the largest economic-development project in Western New York history with an estimated annual economic impact of $385 million and the creation of 10,000 union construction jobs, in accordance with a project labor agreement (PLA) agreed to by the Buffalo Building Trades Council.
“As workers hoist into place the first structural steel at the new Highmark Stadium in Orchard Park, we want to recognize the many dedicated workers who have safely played an instrumental role in the initial phases of the project and those who will work on the project moving forward as we look ahead to our first game in the new stadium in 2026,”Josh Dziurlikowski, interim COO/SVP of finance & business administration for the Buffalo Bills, said in the release. “Today’s recognition of our indispensable workforce is another reminder of the hard work of many building a stadium that will be a great source of pride for Bills fans everywhere.”