Snow and wind are part are Buffalo Bills football. But their new stadium won’t have frozen turf.
Across Abbott Road from the current Highmark Stadium, construction on the new $2.1 billion Highmark Stadium is about 75% complete. The natural grass playing surface is already in and crews are working to get the building ready for the 2026 season.
Here’s what fans should know about the field and how it will stay cozy in Buffalo winters.
Is the new Bills stadium field grass or turf?
The new Highmark Stadium will have natural grass, not artificial turf.
The Bills installed the field in early October, using two acres of Kentucky bluegrass grown at Tuckahoe Turf Farms in New Jersey, one of the top natural-grass suppliers in American sports.
The grass is laid over a modern drainage and heating system designed for cold-weather football.
The current stadium uses A-Turf Titan, a synthetic surface made by Williamsville-based A-Turf and replaced in 2019.
Is the field in the new Bills stadium heated?
Yes. The new Bills stadium will have a heated natural grass field.
Under the playing surface is a full heating and irrigation system designed to:
- Keep the soil and turf at a constant temperature in the low 60s
- Melt snow on the field before it can accumulate
- Prevent the surface from freezing during late-season games
- Maintain grass growth during harsh Buffalo winters
The heating system also warms the artificial turf on the sidelines and works alongside grow lights and modern drainage to create a field that stays healthy year-round.
The current stadium relies on traditional snow removal rather than a heated field.
When will the new Bills stadium open?
The new Highmark Stadium is still on pace to open in summer 2026.
Erie County Stadium Corporation president Steve Ranalli said this week the project is about 75% complete, with more than 1,500 workers on site daily.
Where is the new Bills stadium?
The new venue is being built directly across Abbott Road from the current Highmark Stadium in Orchard Park. The site sits on about 242 acres and the building footprint is 1.35 million square feet.
Is the new Bills stadium a dome?
No. The stadium will remain open-air, but with a large canopy.
About 64–65% of seats will be covered by a steel canopy The design is intended to shield fans from wind, snow and rain The roof structure will also help trap crowd noise and push it back toward the field
How many seats will the new Bills stadium have?
The new Highmark Stadium have about 62,000 seats, with room to expand for special events. The capacity is smaller than the 71,608 capacity at the current stadium.
How much will the new Bills stadium cost?
The project is currently budgeted at $2.1 billion.
About $600 in funding is coming from New York state with another $250 million from Erie County.
What happens to the current Highmark Stadium?
The current stadium is slated to be decommissioned and demolished in 2027.
