Buffalo Bills Planning New Stadium In Orchard Park: Temporary Home Might Be Needed

The Buffalo Bills have been playing at Highmark Stadium since 1973 and the topic on many Bills fans minds over the past 10-15 years (at least), has been “when will a new stadium be built in Western New York? It appears that will be soon, according to various reports today.

WIVB is now reporting (via News 8 in Rochester) that the Buffalo Bills are planning to build a brand new stadium in Orchard Park.

The stadium will be open air (not a dome), but will likely have a partial covering of the stands, much like Hard Rock Stadium has, which is where the Miami Dolphins play.

The whole stadium project is expected to be completed in 3-5 years. The Bills current lease at Highmark Stadium runs through July of 2023.

The new stadium will obviously need proper funding, which will go through local governments. The new stadium could be ready by 2025 but a 2026 or 2027 finish is more likely.

That means if a new lease can’t be negotiated for the current stadium in Erie County, to be a stop-gap until the new stadium is ready, the Bills might play home games at an alternate location such as Toronto or Penn State.

This news comes on the heels of reports the Bills were exploring new stadium options after consulting with an agency called Legends Global Planning, which is co-owned by Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones.