The Buffalo Bills will open a new chapter for the franchise in Week 2 when they host the Detroit Lions in the first regular-season game at the new Highmark Stadium, the NFL announced Monday.
Buffalo’s $2.1 billion venue will debut on a national stage as the featured opener for Prime Video’s “Thursday Night Football” package, giving the Bills the prime-time showcase the organization wanted for the stadium’s first official NFL game.
The new Highmark Stadium keeps the outdoor atmosphere long associated with football in Orchard Park while adding modern upgrades throughout the facility. A canopy roof is designed to cover about 64% of fans from the elements, and one sideline’s front row has been moved 54 feet closer to the field to create a more intimate game-day experience. Fans entering the stadium also will pass a new plaza area highlighted by three illuminated bison statues planned for the opener.
Construction crews are completing final touches ahead of the stadium’s first summer events, including the Bills’ Blue & Red training camp practice. At the same time, demolition of the franchise’s former stadium already has begun. The previous venue had served as Buffalo’s home since 1973 and carried the Highmark Stadium name beginning in 2021.
Another major change comes on the field surface, where the Bills are transitioning from turf to a heated natural grass field.
The NFL’s full 2026 schedule will be unveiled Thursday at 8 p.m. during a two-hour special on ESPN and NFL Network.
Kyle leads sports coverage and hosts the Concrete Jungle podcast. Have a lead or question? Send it to kyle@fingerlakes1.com.