The Buffalo Bills officially have a new home. Located in Orchard Park, just south of downtown Buffalo, the state-of-the-art Highmark Stadium brings a whole new game day experience to Bills Mafia while keeping the traditions that make Buffalo football unlike anything else in the NFL. If you’re heading to the new Highmark Stadium for a Buffalo Bills game this season, plan on taking a little extra time to look around. The new stadium is full of references to Buffalo culture – both large and small. Here’s what not to miss on your next visit there.
Highmark Trail
The new stadium’s attractions start before you even walk through the gates. The Highmark Trail is a free, 1.7-mile fitness and walking loop that encircles the exterior of the stadium. It includes equipment for physical challenges and photo ops, with a Buffalo Bills twist.
The Family Circle
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Located by the stadium’s north entrance, the Family Circle includes a circle of placards honoring Bills greats, as well as a museum-quality display that shows the history of Western New York. At the center of the Family Circle are three massive bison sculptures, created by sculptor Blessing Hancock. The bison family is made of faceted stainless steel and are lit up at night.
Skyline Deck
At the Skyline Deck on Level 3, you’ll find incredible views of Lake Erie and beyond – on a clear day, you’ll even see Canada.
Standing concourse
Multiple standing concourses throughout every level of the stadium offer a great spot to stand and watch a play – especially if your hands are full of concessions.
Peace Bridge replica
Guests can walk under a large-scale model of the international bridge between Buffalo and Canada on the 100 level of the stadium. It makes for a great photo op.
Folding table
Also on the 100 level is the “world’s largest folding table,” a sculpture of a broken folding table large enough to walk under. The folding table is a nod to Bills Mafia’s habit of causing havoc with folding tables during tailgates – although this one is just for photo ops.
Pre-game barbecue
You don’t have to wait until you get into the stadium to find food. Within the secure perimeter outside the stadium gates you’ll find WNY favorites Southern Junction and Chiavetta’s chicken before the game starts.
Southern Junction is located inside of the Pepsi Marketplace outside of the stadium. The Connecticut Street-based restaurant brought one of their smokers to the stadium to barbecue onsite. The stadium satellite location offers several menu favorites, including the Texas Trinity (prime brisket, spare rib, and kielbasa with coconut curry and mild BBQ sauce), barbarcurry and cauliflower foldies, and Texas twinkies. Even the bread is made from scratch – it’s a long way from typical stadium fare.
Chiavetta’s, a Western New York institution since 1954, is located inside of the Bud Light Marketplace outside of the stadium gates on the Abbott Road side of the stadium (inside Security Gates D & E, right between Entrances 8 & 9). They’re offering up their BBQ Chicken Platter with Chiavetta’s BBQ chicken leg quarter, potato salad, cornbread, made fresh onsite by real Chiavetta’s team members.
Gametime eats
Throughout the concourse, you’ll find concession stations named after Buffalo neighborhoods, like “Allentown,” “Elmwood” and “Black Rock.” Along with typical stadium food, you’ll find some authentically Buffalo options at concession stands across the stadium – like John Young’s Mumbo wings, beef on weck, Babcia’s pierogi, Anderson’s frozen custard, Half Luna Empanadas, assorted chocolates and candies from Nikki’s Chocolates, sponge candy from Park Edge Sweet Shoppe and banh mi sandwiches from Pham’s Kitchen.
Throughout the concourse is artwork by more than 45 creators and teams, collected through the Buffalo Bills Public Art Program. The artwork reflects the Buffalo Bills and Western New York and includes murals, sculptures, mosaics, LEGO designs, and more. Read more about the artists behind the artwork here.
