Consider the significance of a year. On June 5, 2023, a monumental event took place. Gold-crusted shovels, gripped by individuals ranging from National Football League commissioner Roger Goodell to Bills owner Terry Pegula to New York State governor Kathy Hochul to Erie County Executive Mark Poloncarz, pierced the dirt.
"We're going to build a stadium here, right? And we're going to tear down a stadium over there that's full of memories," Pegula said. "So, we need to fill this stadium with more memories and continue our legacy. We should remember the past but embrace the building of our future."
People seek new memories when they look at the new construction site, but old memories—with even more to come over the next two years—still stare at them from across the street.
The memories: Jim Kelly to Andre Reed dimes, Steve Tasker hall of fame punt coverage, Ruben Brown pancakes, Thurman Thomas scampers, and Bruce Smith record-breaking sacks. It's, "Where would you rather be than right here, right now?"
Scroll to see photos from the June 5, 2023 New Stadium groundbreaking and a look at the progress that has been made.
Buffalo Bills New Stadium Site, May 2023
Buffalo Bills New Stadium Site, May 2023
Groundbreaking ceremony for the Buffalo Bills New Stadium on June 5, 2023
Groundbreaking ceremony for the Buffalo Bills New Stadium on June 5, 2023
Groundbreaking ceremony for the Buffalo Bills New Stadium on June 5, 2023
Buffalo Bills New Stadium Groundbreaking June 5, 2023
Groundbreaking ceremony for the Buffalo Bills New Stadium on June 5, 2023
Groundbreaking ceremony for the Buffalo Bills New Stadium on June 5, 2023
Groundbreaking ceremony for the Buffalo Bills New Stadium on June 5, 2023
Groundbreaking ceremony for the Buffalo Bills New Stadium on June 5, 2023
Groundbreaking ceremony for the Buffalo Bills New Stadium on June 5, 2023
Groundbreaking ceremony for the Buffalo Bills New Stadium on June 5, 2023
Groundbreaking ceremony for the Buffalo Bills New Stadium on June 5, 2023
Groundbreaking ceremony for the Buffalo Bills New Stadium on June 5, 2023
Groundbreaking ceremony for the Buffalo Bills New Stadium on June 5, 2023
Groundbreaking ceremony for the Buffalo Bills New Stadium on June 5, 2023
Groundbreaking ceremonies for the New Highmark Stadium, June 5, 2023.
Groundbreaking ceremony for the Buffalo Bills New Stadium on June 5, 2023
Groundbreaking ceremony for the Buffalo Bills New Stadium on June 5, 2023
Groundbreaking ceremony for the Buffalo Bills New Stadium on June 5, 2023
Groundbreaking ceremonies for the New Highmark Stadium, June 5, 2023.
Groundbreaking ceremony for the Buffalo Bills New Stadium on June 5, 2023
Groundbreaking ceremony for the Buffalo Bills New Stadium on June 5, 2023
Groundbreaking ceremony for the Buffalo Bills New Stadium on June 5, 2023
Groundbreaking ceremony for the Buffalo Bills New Stadium on June 5, 2023
Groundbreaking ceremony for the Buffalo Bills New Stadium on June 5, 2023
Groundbreaking ceremony for the Buffalo Bills New Stadium on June 5, 2023
Buffalo Bills New Stadium Groundbreaking June 5, 2023
Groundbreaking ceremony for the Buffalo Bills New Stadium on June 5, 2023
Buffalo Bills New Stadium Groundbreaking June 5, 2023
Groundbreaking ceremony for the Buffalo Bills New Stadium on June 5, 2023
Groundbreaking ceremony for the Buffalo Bills New Stadium on June 5, 2023
Groundbreaking ceremony for the Buffalo Bills New Stadium on June 5, 2023
Groundbreaking ceremony for the Buffalo Bills New Stadium on June 5, 2023
Groundbreaking ceremony for the Buffalo Bills New Stadium on June 5, 2023
Groundbreaking ceremony for the Buffalo Bills New Stadium on June 5, 2023
Groundbreaking ceremonies for the New Highmark Stadium, June 5, 2023.
Groundbreaking ceremony for the Buffalo Bills New Stadium on June 5, 2023
Groundbreaking ceremony for the Buffalo Bills New Stadium on June 5, 2023
Groundbreaking ceremonies for the New Highmark Stadium, June 5, 2023.
Buffalo. Bills New Stadium construction, September 14, 2023.
Buffalo. Bills New Stadium construction, September 14, 2023.
Buffalo. Bills New Stadium construction, September 14, 2023.
Buffalo. Bills New Stadium construction, September 14, 2023.
Buffalo. Bills New Stadium construction, September 14, 2023.
Buffalo. Bills New Stadium construction, September 14, 2023.
Buffalo. Bills New Stadium construction, September 14, 2023.
Buffalo. Bills New Stadium construction, September 14, 2023.
Buffalo. Bills New Stadium construction, October 25, 2023.
Buffalo. Bills New Stadium construction, October 25, 2023.
View of construction taking place at the New Highmark Stadium, November 20, 2023.
View of construction taking place at the New Highmark Stadium, November 20, 2023.
View of construction taking place at the New Highmark Stadium, November 20, 2023.
View of construction taking place at the New Highmark Stadium, November 20, 2023.
View of construction taking place at the New Highmark Stadium, November 20, 2023.
View of construction taking place at the New Highmark Stadium, November 20, 2023.
View of construction taking place at the New Highmark Stadium, November 20, 2023.
View of construction taking place at the New Highmark Stadium, November 20, 2023.
View of construction taking place at the New Highmark Stadium, November 20, 2023.
View of construction taking place at the New Highmark Stadium, November 20, 2023.
View of construction taking place at the New Highmark Stadium, November 20, 2023.
View of construction taking place at the New Highmark Stadium, November 20, 2023.
View of construction taking place at the New Highmark Stadium, November 20, 2023.
View of construction taking place at the New Highmark Stadium, November 20, 2023.
Buffalo Bills new stadium construction, January 05, 2024 at 1 Bills Drive.
Buffalo Bills new stadium construction, January 05, 2024 at 1 Bills Drive.
Buffalo Bills new stadium construction, January 05, 2024 at 1 Bills Drive.
Buffalo Bills new stadium construction, January 05, 2024 at 1 Bills Drive.
Buffalo Bills new stadium construction, January 05, 2024 at 1 Bills Drive.
Buffalo Bills new stadium construction, January 05, 2024 at 1 Bills Drive.
Buffalo Bills new stadium construction, January 05, 2024 at 1 Bills Drive.
Buffalo Bills new stadium construction, January 05, 2024 at 1 Bills Drive.
Buffalo Bills New Stadium construction, January 5, 2024.
Buffalo Bills New Stadium construction, January 5, 2024.
Construction workers place the first structural steel beam at New Highmark Stadium, marking a significant milestone in the stadium's construction and another major step toward the future home of the Buffalo Bills, February 2, 2024.
Construction workers place the first structural steel beam at New Highmark Stadium, marking a significant milestone in the stadium's construction and another major step toward the future home of the Buffalo Bills, February 2, 2024.
Construction workers place the first structural steel beam at New Highmark Stadium, marking a significant milestone in the stadium's construction and another major step toward the future home of the Buffalo Bills, February 2, 2024.
Construction workers place the first structural steel beam at New Highmark Stadium, marking a significant milestone in the stadium's construction and another major step toward the future home of the Buffalo Bills, February 2, 2024.
Construction workers place the first structural steel beam at New Highmark Stadium, marking a significant milestone in the stadium's construction and another major step toward the future home of the Buffalo Bills, February 2, 2024.
Construction workers place the first structural steel beam at New Highmark Stadium, marking a significant milestone in the stadium's construction and another major step toward the future home of the Buffalo Bills, February 2, 2024.
Construction workers place the first structural steel beam at New Highmark Stadium, marking a significant milestone in the stadium's construction and another major step toward the future home of the Buffalo Bills, February 2, 2024.
Construction workers place the first structural steel beam at New Highmark Stadium, marking a significant milestone in the stadium's construction and another major step toward the future home of the Buffalo Bills, February 2, 2024.
Buffalo Bills New Stadium Construction, February 23, 2024 at Highmark Stadium.
Buffalo Bills New Stadium Construction, February 23, 2024 at Highmark Stadium.
Buffalo Bills New Stadium Construction, February 23, 2024 at Highmark Stadium.
Buffalo Bills New Stadium Construction, February 23, 2024 at Highmark Stadium.
Buffalo Bills New Stadium Construction, February 23, 2024 at Highmark Stadium.
Buffalo Bills New Stadium Construction, February 23, 2024 at Highmark Stadium.
Buffalo Bills New Stadium Construction, February 23, 2024 at Highmark Stadium.
Buffalo Bills New Stadium Construction, February 23, 2024 at Highmark Stadium.
Buffalo Bills New Stadium Construction, February 23, 2024 at Highmark Stadium.
Buffalo Bills New Stadium Construction, February 23, 2024 at Highmark Stadium.
Buffalo Bills New Stadium Construction, February 23, 2024 at Highmark Stadium.
Buffalo Bills New Stadium Construction, February 23, 2024 at Highmark Stadium.
Buffalo Bills New Stadium Construction, March 15, 2024 at Highmark Stadium.
Buffalo Bills New Stadium Construction, March 15, 2024 at Highmark Stadium.
Buffalo Bills New Stadium Construction, March 15, 2024 at Highmark Stadium.
Buffalo Bills New Stadium Construction, March 15, 2024 at Highmark Stadium.
Buffalo Bills New Stadium Construction, March 15, 2024 at Highmark Stadium.
Buffalo Bills New Stadium Construction, March 15, 2024 at Highmark Stadium.
Buffalo Bills New Stadium Construction, March 15, 2024 at Highmark Stadium.
Buffalo Bills New Stadium Construction, March 15, 2024 at Highmark Stadium.
Buffalo Bills New Stadium Construction, March 15, 2024 at Highmark Stadium.
Buffalo Bills New Stadium Construction, March 15, 2024 at Highmark Stadium.
Buffalo Bills New Stadium Construction, March 15, 2024 at Highmark Stadium.
Buffalo Bills New Stadium Construction, April 05, 2024 at Highmark Stadium.
Buffalo Bills New Stadium Construction, April 05, 2024 at Highmark Stadium.
Buffalo Bills New Stadium Construction, April 05, 2024 at Highmark Stadium.
Buffalo Bills New Stadium Construction, April 05, 2024 at Highmark Stadium.
Buffalo Bills New Stadium Construction, April 05, 2024 at Highmark Stadium.
Buffalo Bills New Stadium Construction, April 05, 2024 at Highmark Stadium.
Buffalo Bills New Stadium Construction, April 05, 2024 at Highmark Stadium.
Buffalo Bills New Stadium construction, April 15, 2024.
Buffalo Bills New Stadium construction, April 15, 2024.
Buffalo Bills New Stadium construction, April 15, 2024.
Buffalo Bills New Stadium construction, April 15, 2024.
Buffalo Bills New Stadium construction, April 15, 2024.
Buffalo Bills New Stadium construction, April 15, 2024.
Buffalo Bills New Stadium construction, April 15, 2024.
Buffalo Bills New Stadium construction, April 15, 2024.
Buffalo Bills New Stadium construction, April 15, 2024.
Buffalo Bills New Stadium construction, April 15, 2024.
Buffalo Bills New Stadium construction, April 15, 2024.
Buffalo Bills New Stadium construction, April 15, 2024.
Buffalo Bills New Stadium construction, April 15, 2024.
Buffalo Bills New Stadium construction, April 15, 2024.
Buffalo Bills New Stadium construction, April 15, 2024.
Buffalo Bills New Stadium construction, April 15, 2024.
Views of construction at the New Highmark Stadium, May 3, 2024.
Views of construction at the New Highmark Stadium, May 3, 2024.
Views of construction at the New Highmark Stadium, May 3, 2024.
Views of construction at the New Highmark Stadium, May 3, 2024.
Views of construction at the New Highmark Stadium, May 3, 2024.
Views of construction at the New Highmark Stadium, May 3, 2024.
Views of construction at the New Highmark Stadium, May 3, 2024.
Views of construction at the New Highmark Stadium, May 3, 2024.
Views of construction at the New Highmark Stadium, May 3, 2024.
Views of construction at the New Highmark Stadium, May 3, 2024.
Views of construction at the New Highmark Stadium, May 3, 2024.
Views of construction at the New Highmark Stadium, May 3, 2024.
Views of construction at the New Highmark Stadium, May 3, 2024.
Views of construction at the New Highmark Stadium, May 3, 2024.
Views of construction at the New Highmark Stadium, May 3, 2024.
The new is 6,000 tons and 4,900 pieces of steel already set, with 18,800 and 16,100 yet to come.
The facts and figures (as of May 29) are impressive:
- Tons of steel set to date: 6,000 Tons
- Total tons of steel for completion: 24,800 Tons
- Total number of pieces set to date: 4,900 Pieces
- Total pieces of steel for completion: 21,000 Pieces
- Heaviest piece of steel erected to date: 80,000 lbs.
- Number of trusses to be erected for the canopy: 50 Trusses
- Total number of bolts used for steel connections: 210,000 Bolts
- Total square feet of Canopy Roof: 260,000 SF
- Total square feet of metal decking placed to date: 375,000 SF
- Total anticipated metal decking on the project: 1,400,000 square feet
The New Highmark Stadium construction workforce reflects Buffalo: diverse, tough, undeterred, and wanting nothing more than the football palace they are building to crush dreams of invading foes.
It's Man and Women Power:
- Estimated hours worked to date (5/29/24): 460,000 hours
- Projected total of men and women hours for completion of the project: 6,222,128
- Current daily Manpower as of 5/29/24: 421 Trades People
- Anticipated for completion (08/2025): 1506 Trades People
It's two years before the first game is played at New Highmark Stadium, but let's not lose sight of the many memories still yet to be made at Highmark Stadium, a sacred place for many. But the new is coming, and it's unrelenting like a charging Bison on a Wyoming prairie.
