Buffalo Bills’ Highmark Stadium Celebrates “Topping Out”

The Buffalo Bills’ $2.1 billion stadium celebrated a “Topping Out” ceremony last week as the franchise welcomed NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell and other dignitaries to the site.

Workers placed the last piece of structural steel atop the 156-foot-high stadium structure as part of the ceremony. Before the ceremony, hundreds of partners, employees and stakeholders signed the final beam. Bills owner Terry Pegula was joined at the ceremony by New York Governor Kathy Hochul, Erie County Executive Mark Poloncarz and others.

“Today is about you hard workers; men and women. Electricians, carpenters, operating engineers, painters, teamsters, ironworkers. The list goes on and on,” Pegula said.

Construction at the site of Highmark Stadium began with a ceremonial groundbreaking on June 5, 2023. Construction is over 50 percent complete, including the seating bowl area. Workers will begin seat installation later this spring. The milestone comes 20 months after the groundbreaking of the 60,000-plus-seat facility.

“I know how much the Bills mean to this community. It’s part of the spirit; it’s part of the identity. I really believe this is going to secure the franchise here for decades,” said Goodell.

The first piece of exterior precast panels was set at the beginning of March and will continue through spring and summer. Roof canopy installation continues and grading for the playing field with installation of the turf field targeted for fall of this year.

“Today marks a major milestone for the future home of the Buffalo Bills and one of the largest construction projects ever built in Western New York,” said Hochul. “This world-class stadium would not be possible without our skilled union workers and partners, and I look forward to cheering along with them at the first Bills game being played here in the 2026 season.”