The Bills evaluated two options for training camp locations in 2021. After evaluating St. John Fisher College in Pittsford, NY and the team's practice facility at One Bills Drive, the Bills have finally decided the site for this year's training camp.
The team issued the following statement this afternoon.
The Buffalo Bills today announced they will hold their 2021 training camp at the ADPRO Training Center in Orchard Park, NY.
The Bills informed St. John Fisher of their intentions over the weekend and appreciate their efforts to try to accommodate the Bills this summer. However, due to the complexities of the NFL's current COVID-19 health protocols in place, the team decided to stay in Orchard Park for a second consecutive summer.
Bills training camp is slated to begin in late July. Exact days and times of practice will be announced at a later date.
Prior to the 2020 season, the Bills held their last 20 training camps at St. John Fisher College in Pittsford, NY (2000-2019).
Scroll through to see the best photos from Week 2 of Bills OTAs.
Siran Neal (33), Tyler Matakevich (44), Andre Smith (59), and Boogie Basham (96) Buffalo Bills Organized Team Activity, June 1, 2021. Photo by Sara Schmidle
Stefon Diggs (14). Buffalo Bills Organized Team Activity. June 2, 2021. Photo by Bill Wippert
Dane Jackson (30), A.J. Epenesa (57), and Mike Bell (43) Buffalo Bills Organized Team Activity, June 1, 2021. Photo by Sara Schmidle
Dawson Knox (88) Buffalo Bills Organized Team Activity, June 1, 2021. Photo by Sara Schmidle
Greg Rousseau (50) Buffalo Bills Organized Team Activity, June 1, 2021. Photo by Sara Schmidle
Cam Lewis (47) Buffalo Bills Organized Team Activity, June 1, 2021. Photo by Sara Schmidle
Mitchell Trubisky (10) Buffalo Bills Organized Team Activity, June 1, 2021. Photo by Sara Schmidle
Buffalo Bills Organized Team Activity, June 1, 2021. Photo by Sara Schmidle
Justin Zimmer (61) Buffalo Bills Organized Team Activity, June 1, 2021. Photo by Sara Schmidle
Buffalo Bills Organized Team Activity, June 1, 2021. Photo by Sara Schmidle
Greg Rousseau (50) Buffalo Bills Organized Team Activity, June 1, 2021. Photo by Sara Schmidle
Devin Singletary (26) Buffalo Bills Organized Team Activity, June 1, 2021. Photo by Sara Schmidle
Buffalo Bills Organized Team Activity, June 1, 2021. Photo by Sara Schmidle
Buffalo Bills Organized Team Activity, June 1, 2021. Photo by Sara Schmidle
Matt Milano (58) and Tremaine Edmunds (49) Buffalo Bills Organized Team Activity, June 1, 2021. Photo by Sara Schmidle
Taron Johnson (24) Buffalo Bills Organized Team Activity, June 1, 2021. Photo by Sara Schmidle
Marquez Stevenson (5) Buffalo Bills Organized Team Activity, June 1, 2021. Photo by Sara Schmidle
Tanner Gentry (87) Buffalo Bills Organized Team Activity, June 1, 2021. Photo by Sara Schmidle
Cole Beasley (11) Buffalo Bills Organized Team Activity, June 1, 2021. Photo by Sara Schmidle
Emmanuel Sanders (1) Buffalo Bills Organized Team Activity, June 1, 2021. Photo by Sara Schmidle
Jordan Poyer (21) and Micah Hyde (23) Buffalo Bills Organized Team Activity, June 1, 2021. Photo by Sara Schmidle
Harrison Phillips (99) Buffalo Bills Organized Team Activity, June 1, 2021. Photo by Sara Schmidle
Siran Neal (33) and Brandon Powell (18) Buffalo Bills Organized Team Activity, June 1, 2021. Photo by Sara Schmidle
Taron Johnson (24) Buffalo Bills Organized Team Activity, June 1, 2021. Photo by Sara Schmidle
Emmanuel Sanders (1) and Cole Beasley (11) Buffalo Bills Organized Team Activity, June 1, 2021. Photo by Sara Schmidle
Brandin Bryant (90), Bryan Cox Jr (51). Buffalo Bills Organized Team Activity. June 1, 2021. Photo by Bill Wippert
Efe Obada (93). Buffalo Bills Organized Team Activity. June 2, 2021. Photo by Bill Wippert
Dane Jackson (30). Buffalo Bills Organized Team Activity. June 1, 2021. Photo by Bill Wippert
Jamil Douglas (77). Buffalo Bills Organized Team Activity. June 1, 2021. Photo by Bill Wippert
Marquel Lee (52). Buffalo Bills Organized Team Activity. June 1, 2021. Photo by Bill Wippert
Olaijah Griffin (37). Buffalo Bills Organized Team Activity. June 1, 2021. Photo by Bill Wippert
Tyrel Dodson (53). Buffalo Bills Organized Team Activity. June 1, 2021. Photo by Bill Wippert
Cody Ford (74). Buffalo Bills Organized Team Activity. June 1, 2021. Photo by Bill Wippert
Devin Singletary (26). Buffalo Bills Organized Team Activity. June 1, 2021. Photo by Bill Wippert
Cam Lewis (47), Dane Jackson (30). Buffalo Bills Organized Team Activity. June 2, 2021. Photo by Bill Wippert
Tommy Sweeney (89). Buffalo Bills Organized Team Activity. June 1, 2021. Photo by Bill Wippert
Tre'Davious White (27), Davis Webb (7). Buffalo Bills Organized Team Activity. June 1, 2021. Photo by Bill Wippert
Dawson Knox (88). Buffalo Bills Organized Team Activity. June 1, 2021. Photo by Bill Wippert
Emmanuel Sanders (1). Buffalo Bills Organized Team Activity. June 1, 2021. Photo by Bill Wippert
Tyrel Dodson (53). Buffalo Bills Organized Team Activity. June 1, 2021. Photo by Bill Wippert
Buffalo Bills Organized Team Activity. June 1, 2021. Photo by Bill Wippert
Brandon Beane. Buffalo Bills Organized Team Activity. June 2, 2021. Photo by Bill Wippert
Brandin Bryant (90). Buffalo Bills Organized Team Activity. June 1, 2021. Photo by Bill Wippert
Brandon Beane, Emmanuel Sanders (1), Gabriel Davis (13), Josh Allen (17), Cole Beasley (11). Buffalo Bills Organized Team Activity. June 1, 2021. Photo by Bill Wippert
Dion Dawkins (73). Buffalo Bills Organized Team Activity. June 1, 2021. Photo by Bill Wippert
Reid Ferguson (69), Josh Allen (17). Buffalo Bills Organized Team Activity. June 1, 2021. Photo by Bill Wippert
Josh Allen (17), Forrest Lamp (70). Buffalo Bills Organized Team Activity. June 2, 2021. Photo by Bill Wippert
Buffalo Bills Organized Team Activity. June 1, 2021. Photo by Bill Wippert
Brandon Beane and Emmanuel Sanders (1). Buffalo Bills Organized Team Activity. June 1, 2021. Photo by Bill Wippert
Damar Hamlin (31), Tariq Thompson (41). Buffalo Bills Organized Team Activity. June 2, 2021. Photo by Bill Wippert
Damar Hamlin (31). Buffalo Bills Organized Team Activity. June 2, 2021. Photo by Bill Wippert
Buffalo Bills Organized Team Activity. June 1, 2021. Photo by Bill Wippert
Tremaine Edmunds (49), Taron Johnson (24), Levi Wallace (39), Micah Hyde (23), Quintin Morris (85), Dawson Knox (88). Buffalo Bills Organized Team Activity. June 2, 2021. Photo by Bill Wippert
Buffalo Bills Organized Team Activity. June 1, 2021. Photo by Bill Wippert
Buffalo Bills Organized Team Activity. June 1, 2021. Photo by Bill Wippert
Mitchell Trubisky (10). Buffalo Bills Organized Team Activity. June 1, 2021. Photo by Bill Wippert
Emmanuel Sanders (1). Buffalo Bills Organized Team Activity. June 1, 2021. Photo by Bill Wippert
Spencer Brown (79) and the offensive line. Buffalo Bills Organized Team Activity. June 2, 2021. Photo by Bill Wippert
Defense huddle. Buffalo Bills Organized Team Activity. June 1, 2021. Photo by Bill Wippert
Davis Webb (7). Buffalo Bills Organized Team Activity. June 2, 2021. Photo by Bill Wippert
Cody Ford (74). Buffalo Bills Organized Team Activity. June 2, 2021. Photo by Bill Wippert
Ed Oliver (91). Buffalo Bills Organized Team Activity. June 2, 2021. Photo by Bill Wippert
Marquez Stevenson (5). Buffalo Bills Organized Team Activity. June 2, 2021. Photo by Bill Wippert
Matt Breida (22). Buffalo Bills Organized Team Activity. June 1, 2021. Photo by Bill Wippert
Mitchell Trubisky (10), Josh Allen (17), Brian Daboll. Buffalo Bills Organized Team Activity. June 1, 2021. Photo by Bill Wippert
Isaiah McKenzie (19). Buffalo Bills Organized Team Activity. June 1, 2021. Photo by Bill Wippert
Josh Allen (17). Buffalo Bills Organized Team Activity. June 1, 2021. Photo by Bill Wippert
Spencer Brown (79). Buffalo Bills Organized Team Activity. June 1, 2021. Photo by Bill Wippert
Jacob Hollister (80). Buffalo Bills Organized Team Activity. June 2, 2021. Photo by Bill Wippert
Emmanuel Sanders (1). Buffalo Bills Organized Team Activity. June 1, 2021. Photo by Bill Wippert
Josh Allen (17). Buffalo Bills Organized Team Activity. June 1, 2021. Photo by Bill Wippert
Josh Allen (17). Buffalo Bills Organized Team Activity. June 2, 2021. Photo by Bill Wippert
Jacob Hollister (80). Buffalo Bills Organized Team Activity. June 2, 2021. Photo by Bill Wippert
Christian Wade (45). Buffalo Bills Organized Team Activity. June 2, 2021. Photo by Bill Wippert
Stefon Diggs (14). Buffalo Bills Organized Team Activity. June 2, 2021. Photo by Bill Wippert
Lance Lenoir (9). Buffalo Bills Organized Team Activity. June 1, 2021. Photo by Bill Wippert
Emmanuel Sanders (1). Buffalo Bills Organized Team Activity. June 2, 2021. Photo by Bill Wippert
Jake Kumerow (15). Buffalo Bills Organized Team Activity. June 1, 2021. Photo by Bill Wippert
Jake Kumerow (15). Buffalo Bills Organized Team Activity. June 1, 2021. Photo by Bill Wippert
Bryan Cox Jr (51). Buffalo Bills Organized Team Activity. June 2, 2021. Photo by Bill Wippert
Christian Wade (45). Buffalo Bills Organized Team Activity. June 1, 2021. Photo by Bill Wippert
Efe Obada (93). Buffalo Bills Organized Team Activity. June 1, 2021. Photo by Bill Wippert
Matt Haack (3). Buffalo Bills Organized Team Activity. June 1, 2021. Photo by Bill Wippert
Buffalo Bills Organized Team Activity. June 2, 2021. Photo by Bill Wippert
Matt Haack (3), Reid Ferguson (69), Tyler Bass (2). Buffalo Bills Organized Team Activity. June 1, 2021. Photo by Bill Wippert
Reid Ferguson (69). Buffalo Bills Organized Team Activity. June 1, 2021. Photo by Bill Wippert
Tre'Davious White (27), Harrison Phillips (99). Buffalo Bills Organized Team Activity. June 2, 2021. Photo by Bill Wippert
Stefon Diggs (14), Emmanuel Sanders (1). Buffalo Bills Organized Team Activity. June 2, 2021. Photo by Bill Wippert
Stefon Diggs (14). Buffalo Bills Organized Team Activity. June 2, 2021. Photo by Bill Wippert
Jordan Poyer (21). Buffalo Bills Organized Team Activity. June 1, 2021. Photo by Bill Wippert
Spencer Brown (79), Isaiah McKenzie (19). Buffalo Bills Organized Team Activity. June 2, 2021. Photo by Bill Wippert
Greg Rousseau (50), Boogie Basham (96). Buffalo Bills Organized Team Activity. June 2, 2021. Photo by Bill Wippert
Sean McDermott. Buffalo Bills Organized Team Activity. June 1, 2021. Photo by Bill Wippert
Josh Allen (17), Mitchell Trubisky (10). Buffalo Bills Organized Team Activity. June 2, 2021. Photo by Bill Wippert
Greg Rousseau (50), Boogie Basham (96), Darryl Johnson (92). Buffalo Bills Organized Team Activity. June 2, 2021. Photo by Bill Wippert
Bills general manager Brandon Beane said making the tough decision to stay in Orchard Park was one that required time, constant communication with the league and a trip to St. John Fisher to see if they could make it happen.
"We were trying every which way we could to make it work," Beane explained. "But in the end, as we sit here today, the current protocols just make it really hard for us to do what we need to do and not be a distraction for our team, with all the distancing, and some things would just have to be virtual that we can do in person here with this setup. So we just decided the best way to get our team ready for our season was to do it here again this year."
Beane mentioned multiple times he and head coach Sean McDermott would have loved to have it at St. John Fisher College because of their setup and the relationship building that happens there. After having camp at One Bills Drive last year, Beane explained there are positives to look forward too.
"I think the one thing is guys have access to our facilities," Beane said about having camp at home. "The Pegulas put a lot of money into here and they're getting use of it now, which is very helpful and then in the season. You can't replicate what we have here. The reason for the getaway is just the team camaraderie building, which still happens here. It's just you don't get the stuff at night maybe because guys have obligations to go home or things that pull them away."
When taking all things into consideration when it came to where camp would be located, Beane said it had nothing to do with player vaccination numbers.
"It's actually zero to do with the vaccines," Beane shared. "It's literally the protocols that we're operating under right now. The league updates them, but they don't tell us when it will happen. And as of now, we have certain things that have to be distanced, how we do meals, how the locker room space is. All of that stuff as we sit here today, no matter who's vaccinated and who's not, those are the rules that we're under."
On July 21, 2000, the Bills opened training camp at St. John Fisher College in Pittsford, New York, after 19 years of holding camp in Fredonia. With 2019 Bills Training Camp, presented by Connors and Ferris, nearly underway, take a look back at camp through the years.
Buffalo Bills qb Josh Allen #17 - 2018 Buffalo Bills Training Camp at St. John Fisher College. Photo by Bill Wippert July 28, 2018
Buffalo Bills Training Camp 2018 PicSix Creative Rochester, NY July 26, 2018. Photo by Sara Schmidle
Buffalo Bills Training Camp 2018 PicSix Creative Rochester, NY July 26, 2018. Photo by Sara Schmidle
- 2018 Buffalo Bills Training Camp at St. John Fisher College. Photo by Bill Wippert July 28, 2018
Buffalo Bills Training Camp 2018 PicSix Creative Rochester, NY July 26, 2018. Photo by Sara Schmidle
One thing many Bills fans and players loved about having training camp in Rochester was the ability to host open practices so fans could watch their squad get ready for the season. Beane said they are hoping to make something like that happen at Highmark Stadium this year.
"We love being able to involve our fans in camp, so we're having internal discussions," Beane said of plans to host fans. "We always have that scrimmage a week before the preseason game. We're looking at that, plus another opportunity or two. Nothing's in stone, but we're trying to find some ways to have some open practices in the stadium so that we can allow our fans to come."
Buffalo's contract with St. John Fisher College is up, so future training camp plans are not set. Beane explained Bills owner and president Kim Pegula will take the lead of training camp conversations for next year.
"I know there'll be discussions down the road with the representatives of St. John Fisher about what that would look like," Beane said of future camp plans. "But at the end of the day, we're just focused on this year. I'll let Kim and them handle what it looks like going forward."
