The Concepting Behind The New Bills Stadium | Built For Buffalo Episode 1: The Vision

[@gtr1952]

I'm 71, and I was born in 1952. My parents were not football fans, but my uncle was. Every Sunday we would visit, his house or ours, and he and I would watch football. In the early years on an 8 inch B&W TV!! When I was 7, my uncle told me about a new team in Buffalo. Then at 9, in 1961, he took me to my first game in Buffalo! I was really hooked then!! In 1973 I had been working at Kodak for 3 years. There was a small bar at the end of my street. They decided to get a bus trip going to the opening game at the new Bills stadium! I signed up for my girlfriend and I and we had a blast! I never saw a place that big! In 1988 I got season tickets, and had them through the Kelly years. I went to SB-26 with my best friend! We flew to Minnesota and back on a brand new Trump Shuttle B737! After all that I gave up my tickets. And now, another new stadium!! Two new stadiums, in one lifetime, for the best team in the league is just special!! Go BILLS!! Thanks for reading 8) --gary

[@EAPhilipps]

This was an amazing story Gary, I am about to turn 23 and I hope that I can some day tell a story even remotely close to as cool as yours is. I have been a Bills fan for as long as I can remember and this is the coolest time to be a Bills fan in my lifetime. I really hope to experience an opening day game at the new stadium to have something really cool to tell my children and grandchildren in the future. I was at the last home game before COVID shut down the NFL for a full year and that was neat, but nothing will compare to a 83+ year long endeavor at a new stadium. Thank you for sharing your story.

[@stacks022]

You better be at the first game in the new stadium.

[@salamander337]

You're welcome. Your story just drew me in. It was amazing to read, especially hearing about your uncle who influenced you to Football. I have my cousins. My whole family wasn't into Football but back in the late 80's, California. When I was 9 yrs old, my older cousins who was a freshmen in High School would come over my house with his family for a family gathering on the weekends. The 49ers game was on and that was his favorite team. We would watch the Niners game together with his and my youngers brothers as well. The adults were outside chatting and just us youngsters were watching the game in the living room all to ourselves. We had a blast just cheering & jeering, eating chips & drinking sodas. From then on I was hook to the game of football & it's culture. The 80's was a great time to be a 49ers fan as well. They had Montana, Rice, Lott & future QB Young. All future Hall of famers. Team of the 80's, etc etc. That's how I got into it. It's always somebody introducing you to the game and I love that.

[@jasperverwijs8834]

Thanks Gary:)

[@thezackast2752]

Gary you're a legend dude this is a great story

[@shawnhoelzle8121]

Hell yes. As a die hard Bills fan who no longer lives in Buffalo, I need these videos. I want to see weekly updates on the build. I'd watch every second.

[@fantomfanatic18]

Diehard Bengals fan here, I’m happy for the Bills the fans deserved this

[@ABSF49]

Tax payers pay for a building. And then they gotta pay to go into the building ha

[@Idk-xz5uo]

Who cares if your a fan

[@thesean3194]

Bears fan here. Good for the Bills. Will def make a trek out there once the stadium is completed.

[@Dan_Boston]

Goosebumps. Nobody circles the wagons like the Buffalo Bills

[@Hippida]

'We're Buffalo, and we're gonna play football outside' I Love this !

[@MUTV2]

Wow at 11:16 that is so cool. Played as Bill for 12 years then went on to have a successful career in architechture. Amazing, and to be able to come back and build a new stadium for your old team. As a Bills fan you know it's going to be done right.

[@snomofilms]

Whoever managed this episode/project in the Bills’ PR/Marketing team- great job. Awesome!

[@TheAdkFlyer10]

I only wish my other favorite sports team, the LA Dodgers had a PR/Marketing team as good!! 🙄

[@H0DLTHED0R]

Need to be fired. No retractable dome roof is unacceptable 😮 I sold my season tickets 🎟 to Hunter Biden in exchange for Barisma stock

[@ericriederer5992]

We are so lucky to have Terry and Kim. Go Bills!!

[@crystaldixie775]

I've been to a couple of Bills games, and they have the nicest fans. Awesome experience from the tailgating in front of the stadium to the great hospitality of the bills fans and the good food. Can't wait to see the new stadium

[@craigbaker9252]

I wish The Bills Fans all the best for this project. We have Lions season tickets and attend every home game. If the NFL gives you a Monday Night game I hope it’s with the Lions visiting. We would love to attend the first national spotlight game for The Bills. Hope you end up loving your future home as much as we love Ford Field. One Pride.

[@daylanm66]

I’m excited asf for the new stadium but man I’m going to miss the current stadium so many memories at the current stadium when it’s all said and done I’ll have spent the first 27 years of my life watching games at this stadium

[@RYMAN1321]

I don’t get what’s wrong with the current one. Yeah it is over 50 years old but it still looks quite decent though the new one does look pretty cool too

[@zeroeffortmemes]

Man i remember when the Raiders first put out their equivalent video series for what would become Allegiant Stadium. Was so cool to see it come together through each new video, can't wait to see the same with Buffalo!

[@BILLSOWNAFC]

Absolutely Incredible!!! Buffalo Bills best team ever I just turned 39 I've been a fan since I was 4 years old cuz of my dad and big brother. Now my wife and kids are bills mafia!!!! LETS GO BUFFALO !!! #BUFFALOSTRONG

[@Jon4U]

From New Brunswick Canada, CANT WAIT to come watch a game here, GO BILLS

[@markgolden6265]

I hope they have overpasses or underpasses so you won’t have to cross the street to get to the stadium.

[@manny4mayor]

Underrated comment

[@joshuaforrest8515]

Id imagine they will just close the road like they do now. Fans cross Abbott Rd to get to current stadium. What's gonna be different?

[@markgolden6265]

@@joshuaforrest8515 Why? Not many NFL stadiums do that anymore. That’s totally 50 years ago. Most have plazas that your not even close to road traffic. It’s not in a city!

[@SalamiCheeks]

@@joshuaforrest8515 Josh… for the area surrounding the stadium, pedestrian over/underpasses for fans might be the most important thing to have for a modern stadium lot. I am an architecture for a small company and some of these comments Ive watched my bills play in 11 different nfl stadiums and 7 of them were built within the last 15 years. But I truly believe Bills fans have no idea the amount of comfort and luxury these new stadiums have nowadays. Pedestrian bridges not only streamline the entrance process but make it safer as well. Bills want to take this stadium seriously they need to put their big boy pants and do things the right way for a modern nfl stadium. I love the atmosphere in the parking lot at the Ralph. From the tailgate to walking up to the stadium. There’s no other atmosphere like it in the nfl but unfortunately I think most of that will go away once this new one is built. Possible Seat licenses are going to stop the young fans who want to have an amazing time as well as the old grandfather taking his son and his sons son to the game.

[@kuttispielt7801]

​@@markgolden6265exactly it's not in a city that's why there is no reason for an expensive bridge. Just close the road.

[@WesleyFilms43]

As a die hard Eagles fan, I cant wait to visit the new stadium whenever we play the Bills there. Its looks amazing!

[@DennisKapatos]

"we're moving across the street Ralph!" 😂 Love it. Great job Terry.

[@DennisKapatos]

@@1MJ981 I'm honestly sorry to hear that, but from my perspective (and I think a lot of people) I grew up in a household where we couldn't afford to go to a single game let alone spend $1000's every year on season tickets. We were a huge Bills/Sabres family for sure but to us (and probably the average family) season tickets are already out of reach. The only time I ever got to set foot in the Ralph was my senior year of HS football when we got to play for our division championship. Now that I'm an adult and blessed to be able to afford it, I'm happy to see one game a year in person and I watch the rest on TV. Honestly I'm always amazed how people are able to afford these season tickets - seems like they know something I don't? Anyway, I don't know what alternative there is either. The old stadium has aged out (most people don't realize that the instant you put a piece of rebar into concrete you start a timer on the life of that structure) and this is how you build a new stadium in today's economy. The stadium is also pretty modest so to me it seems like Terry is doing the best he can to keep ticket prices down for people who can somehow afford them currently.

[@ChiefsFanInSC]

This is long overdue for a historic and great NFL franchise.

[@RYMAN1321]

Now if only they can win a Super Bowl in this lifetime they’ll be golden

[@144wychwood]

Having lived in Toronto for 30 years in close proximity to Western New York I developed an affinity for city and the Buffalo Bills in particular. Glad Buffalo didn't lose their team like Oakland and San Diego. This new stadium will no doubt secure the team in Buffalo for many decades to come. Hope to get see game there someday when it opens.

[@frenziedfive]

When Terry said "Ralph, we're moving across the street" I remembered that we used to be so worried about them moving across the country.

[@jennac1444]

that line really made me cry. so many feels. so glad the Bills are staying

[@axe2grind244]

And I can imagine Ralph saying “Dear God dont make the same mistake I did”. And of course they did. Multi billion dollar stadiums don’t belong in the middle of a random suburb with nothing surrounding it, they belong in cities. Before the game it’s the best environment in sports, after the game it’s the literal worst.

[@kevinak823]

Terry and Kim Pegula deserve every ounce of credit for what has happened with this team and franchise 🙏🏼 they’re awesome

[@axe2grind244]

You won’t be saying that when you can’t even go to a game because Terry purposely built the smallest stadium in the league so he can price gouge as hard as he wants.

[@jward424]

this is a refreshing approach to make the fan's game day experience unbelievable. @commanders take notes

[@Akhiii_]

Lions fan here and this is so cool, such a holistic approach to stadium design fitting for the culture there, you guys are enjoy it!

[@mattgarrison8185]

9:31 they showed my section, that makes me so happy - 300s sections rarely get any camera attention!

[@jamesdellaneve9005]

Change is good. I remember my dad taking me to the Bills games in the mid 1960’s. They had horse troughs for urinals. They didn’t call it the rockpile for nothing. I remember him Parking at a bar and paying $1 for the bus to the stadium. The bus would drive through the fruit belt and the driver would get on the mic and tell everyone to get down. The kids in the neighborhood would throw ice balls with rocks in them and sometimes the windows would get broken.

[@DaBeastGamesYT]

We are blessed to have great people like this in charge of our future!

[@michealsteckelberg9914]

Minus the 20 ads, great video! Keep em coming! Let's goo Buffalo!!!

[@BraeAllin]

gotta get premium. No ads

[@artemiomarifosque7927]

Prayers & Best Wishes from Philippines!

[@ElembeeOfficial]

Dallas fan here. This stadium is going to be awesome!

[@minuano08]

That was VERY well done.👍🏈

[@randyhagofsky5860]

Great seeing Thurman Thomas hosting at the beginning!

[@TjayfrmdaA]

How you gonna grow a franchise but the new stadium has less seating than the current? Season ticket holders are running out of space

[@andreas6029]

Hello from Ireland! I will be there one day to watch a game! Go bills.

[@david8639]

I hope there's something in the old stadium they can keep to remind us of the past. A Lombardi trophy would work

[@paulmccarthy2032]

Now there you go my man! Go Bills!!!!

[@jimschlesinger7029]

Perfect. Several

[@walterwhite1]

That won’t happen 0-4 in Super Bowl dude 😂

[@david8639]

@@walterwhite1 Past Performance is Not Indicative of Future Results

[@Chris-lh7wj]

Been a Bills fan most of my life, including the 90s heartbreaks, and I live in Louisiana.

[@TMoney-p3t]

The new stadium is going to be 🔥 hell ya get it let’s go bills love ya

[@Graphics_Card]

Jags fan here about to get a new stadium, and that stadium looks badass!

[@alanFconrad]

good job....truly exciting for Bills fans

[@RichardCodyMusic]

I like how the subtitles say "[Producer]" when we all know clear as day that it's Maddy Glab, haha

[@wesleycanava6941]

Awesome, awesome, awesome video!!! God I love this team!!!

[@Donnybrook10]

Love you Thurm! Thank you Pagulas...best owners in pro sports.

[@ArkOmen1]

How bout a retractable roof option?

[@scotttild]

Good for the Bills for staying open air. At least the seats will be covered in the new stadium. Just love the snow games in Baffalo. NFL is not the same without them.

[@anasshahid224]

The Bills new stadium will be amazing 👏👏👏👏

[@josephmontoya104]

I don't understand how they are not building an enclosed stadium and have a retractable roof like lots of stadiums and can use the stadium year round. But it looks very nice and can't wait to see the finished stadium in 2026. I live in Phoenix, Az and our stadium is used year round even when it is 100 plus degrees outside.Our stadium has a retractable roof and its great when they night are cool to have it open on game nights. Also our grass rolls in and out so different events can happen. I remember the Cardinals playing at the college stadium outdoors with no roof and very very Hot terrible experience. I know Bills fans are excited and Congrats to them.

[@frankcooper7176]

Yeah I was hoping it would have been just so we can have other events year round,or else it sits for months every year

[@crystaldixie775]

Why is it that all the stadiums that have nice weather year around have a retractable roof, but all the stadiums that have cold weather during football doesn't. Crazy

[@neil9658]

You really think it looks nice? Lol

[@timfleming6395]

Weather and wind are a advantage in Buffalo, teams don't like to play here in winter advantage bills!! GO BILLS!!

[@benzman7658]

Remember well the Games at Sun Devil Stadium.We had Cardinal season tickets for eight years back then.

[@Luke_-1986]

Ready for episode 2

[@jensenrodriguez2260]

BUFFALO🏈#1❤BillsNFL

[@JayBuff19]

Nice piece.

[@LIFEWITHTHEJONESES1]

They should have built yalls stadium downtown Buffalo. - coming from a Titans fan

[@mopar426power]

This was so good. I hope we get regular updates on this. Good job y'all!

[@ChubbyJontheBartender]

To quote the should be Hall of Famer Steve Tasker, "i dont care who you are, the new stadium...youre gonna love it!" Go Bills!

[@thomashalstead9121]

Would absolutely love a retractable roof! Please refine this in.

[@thomassenemounnarath3278]

I can truly say the bills deserve at least 1 Lombardi trophy after the 90s bills teams success. 4 trips in a row to the big dance, but come up short in the first contest, and then blow outs in the next three consecutive contest.

[@salvatoreturieo5803]

Yes, football is meant to be played outside. So they got this right, the opening game is gonna be the biggest ticket in Bills history.

[@InDaZone]

I love Terry Pegula. I’m so glad the Pegula family owns the Bills.

[@qcrew2938]

This was incredible... so pumped to see the new stadium

[@a.g.jordaniii5025]

I think it will be a fantastic stadium for Bills Mafia!

[@gophishn]

This is gonna be a amazing stadium.They did all the leg work to produce a perfect product.Good on Them!

[@michaelquinn-xi8ku]

Atlanta, Detroit, AZ, New Orleans, Dallas, LA, MN, Houston, Indy are all dismal and dull places without a great team to watch. Tailgate outdoors on a beautiful fall day to go inside and watch a bad team is the worst. No environment, no vibe.

[@creolerican]

Before you get too hyped about the new stadium Bills fans... Buffalo doesn't have enough Hotels room to support a SuperBowl.. the NFL requires this first and foremost. But Congrats on getting the new stadium.

[@darryljorden9177]

1990's - Architects: “You sure you don't want this ballpark to be climate controlled?” Texas Rangers: “Nah, our fans are tough, and it would cost too much.” Twenty years later - Texas Rangers: “We need a climate controlled ballpark!”

[@corey2232]

Well it is hot af these days... I can barely walk my dog anymore. Not because of me, but because he's panting his head off & looking to lay in some grass a quarter of the way through our normal route. I've had to carry him back on several occasions in the summer. There are hotter places out there, but man is it becoming brutal in the city.

[@kjss4345]

As a Toronto resident im glad Buffalo keeps the Bills in Buffalo

[@JKSSubstandard]

As an architect and Bills fan I'm filled with rage and sadness that it's not my project and I can't make weekly site visits. But I'm excited to see it when it's done and see what some other brilliant mind came up with

[@Th3Sabertooth19]

If Terry builds the Sabres a new rink in a few years he will go down as one of the greatest men in Buffalo history

[@scottmenin9501]

I'm an Eagles fan, but am excited for you Bills fans on this new stadium.

[@rhh3582]

I have two football wishes and both of my wishes will be determined by the Almighty but even if only one of my wishes comes true I will be satisfied but if both come true I will be amazed and forever thankful to Ralph Wilson for bringing the Buffalo Bills Football team to life in this city/area. My two wishes in the remaining years of my life - 1 - to see the Buffalo Bills in their new Highmark Stadium and - 2- to see the Buffalo Bills win the Super Bowl. To the Pegula family who have carried on the Buffalo Bills tradition established by Ralph Wilson my deepest thanks for believing in this area and for thinking of the people of this area - and as always, my thoughts are with your family and especially Kim in her recovery. You are the best of the best.

[@MarkMclaughlin-qm8kq]

thx for video

[@kevinpaige5746]

This makes me so thankful that I've been a life long Bills fan!

[@RolandBullock-ej8wl]

Thurman....fave player ever =)

[@ryanseward2760]

With the new design it might be possible to break the loudness record.

[@jasonpeebles]

The way they keep saying this stadium is for the fans is infuriating. This is not for the fans. If it was, they wouldn't have given the best fan base in the league the second smallest stadium in the league. Cutting out 10,000 seats is a slap in the face to the fans of this team. They'll have to make up that list revenue somewhere so those that are fortunate enough to get tickets will definitely be spending a lot more. I think Mr pegula got some bad advice about the kind of disposable income the majority of western NY has.

[@neil9658]

And on top of that why did they have to make it so ugly? Just a failure on so many levels.

[@Hauler24]

Just dome it! Places in cold environments should all be domed for a better fan experience. I'm a Giants fan and they need to dome our place as well.

[@rmatthews3473]

I agree...they will never get a super bowl. The venue will be able to make money the entire year. What idiots 😮

[@BP23BP23]

25:17 “So let me get this straight, we’re gonna build a stadium here, and we’re gonna tear down a stadium over there that’s full of memories” Did no one tell Pegula the plans? 😂😂😂

[@dylanmacdonald7221]

Can't Wait!

[@thomasm9139]

I was enjoying this video until I saw Kathy Hocul's mug.

[@Cinderella121]

I hope it’s all 100% privately funded…

[@ultraduck7472]

I hope they are keeping the buffalo statues

[@frenchquarterspark]

Add a live construction cam like earth cam

[@alowroar]

63% of New Yorkers didn't want Kathy Hochul to spend nearly a billion tax payer dollars for this new stadium. She did it anyway despite the Terry Pegula's net worth at 7 billion dollars.

[@ruffbuffwest7169]

More then 63% did not want her. She is horrible but the stadium looks bad ass

[@corey2232]

Considering most of NY's residents live in NYC area, it's pretty obvious why that is. It's long been known that most of NY's money funnels down to NYC, but that often leaves other areas with less development & less room for growth. For once it seems the money went the other way. NYC is footing the bill for a stadium they won't use. Public funding for billionaires & their stadiums is stupid, so I agree with you there. And to not put a dome on this one is even dumber, as it ensures people's money is REALLY being wasted for just a handful of games a year & almost nothing else. But 63% of New Yorkers not voting on something that doesn't benefit NYC isn't surprising, nor is it the issue I'm concerned with.

[@jsy3359]

Bingo! You’re spot on! Complete waste of taxpayer money.

[@MARCUSWILSON-oj8mq]

I feel yu.. THATS HIW US NASHVILLE PPL FEEL.. The tax payer are paying like bear 1billion for the titans stadium

[@pappabear7617]

cry more, we were owed that money by the reservations

[@rafaelazevedo546]

🔵🔴⚪🔵 *Go Bills!* 🔵🔴⚪🔵

[@mrtruthhurts2307]

As a die-hard Commanders fan the Buffalo Bills should build a dome stadium because it snows too much.

[@ReppinCTandATL]

Spending that much money on a stadium with no roof is crazy!

[@Xx_aXtion_xX]

The fact that the stadium holds 60k people but Bills season ti key sells are 63k is absurd. Why not add more seating maximize profit and give more fans an opportunity to watch a home game?

[@SeattleMichael]

I agree about not having a dome but I disagree about having natural grass.

[@larryaldama1673]

🇺🇸👍🏉

[@donaldleider7382]

Went to college near Buffalo. If this stadium doesn’t have a retractable roof don’t even bother building it!

[@dannygonzalez271]

As a long time Dolfan . It would be nice to put a retractable roof on it. I know home field advantage.

[@PopsMafia]

I just wish I could afford to go.

[@PopsMafia]

@@1MJ981 the bathrooms in my house are ok and the food is awesome. That is where ill be watching the games. I have been lucky enough to have season tickets for a few years and its going to be hard to stay home.

[@yeti1682]

I can't wait LFG Go Bills JA17 MVP

[@Quad373]

I wish they’d just keep the lower bowl/everything below ground level of the old stadium and just build the parking lot around it and maybe a little park path around it so you could look down at the old field.

[@johndcornell6341]

What if they put a jumbotron at one end of the bowl...if you don't have a ticket to the game you could still tailgate and watch the game in the old Bowl...pretty cool idea you had!

[@kelseyhorne2066]

how often will these come out?

[@muchorelaxo5580]

Put a dam roof on it!!! . I don’t want to go to Detroit for home games anymore. It would be nice to host a superbowl one day.

[@derrekmitchell1012]

you would think they would build a stadium with 75k plus capacity

[@aznboycols]

If it’s not domed, forget it. Case in point, the game between the Bills and the Steelers being delayed a day due to weather.

[@jamesdellaneve9005]

It’s because of the drive, not the players.

[@MichaelD343]

I get why they didn't want a dome, but maybe not locate it in the bigger snow belt region near the lake....it might have been better up in Niagara Falls out of the normal lake effect bullseye areas

[@andrewzy]

Should of been a Dome....and also 80k person stadium not 60k. You got 63k season ticket holders you cant even accomadate everyone. You guys forget how to math??? Smh.

[@marvinwhittaker]

The Bills lost four consecutive Super Bowls from 1990-93 and the fans are still loyal.

[@MatthewDovidio]

I’m very excited for this new stadium 🏟️ 2026 will be the year the bills have there moment as an avid fan of the bills this is something I’m sitting on the edge of my seat for can’t wait for Buffalo to make noise. GO BILLS ❤️💙❤️💙❤️💙

[@dabeez7047]

Hope this place is designed better than the Harborcenter

[@isaiahanderson1951]

Do heated seats so you can pump heat through the seats so your not out there shoveling seats when it snows