New Buffalo Bills Stadium Construction Costs Rise Significantly 

Over the last 18 months, Orchard Park has seen construction of the new Highmark Stadium move at quite a clip. The multi-million dollar stadium project is set to be completed in time for the Buffalo Bills to start the 2026 NFL season, and by all accounts, that deadline will be met, with construction set to be done on time. However, the same cannot be said about the budget for the project.

When the stadium project's groundbreaking took place, the estimated cost hovered around $1.6 billion, with nearly $850 million coming from local taxpayers. With $250 million from Erie County and $600 million coming from the state, Western New Yorkers are interested in ensuring the stadium is built well. However, according to the Associated Press, the stadium costs have ballooned over the last few months.

New Bills Stadium Costs Are Increasing

According to the stadium compact that the Buffalo Bills signed with Erie County and New York State, the Bills organization is responsible for any cost that exceeds the $1.54 billion agreed to by the parties. With that in mind, costs have been on the rise, and it looks like the Bills will be on the hook for paying at least an additional $560 million.

Stadium costs are now above $2.1 billion, turning this multi-million dollar project into a multi-billion dollar project.

READ MORE: Peek Inside The New Highmark Stadium As Construction Continues

While speaking with the Associated Press, Bills Vice President of Stadium Development John Polka went into the methodology about why costs have been increasing t

We could have stopped at some point and said, let’s cut back. And that was not the case at all. In some cases, we’ve actually gone back in recent months and said, ‘Hey, we’ve got an idea or something that we think will enhance the fan experience or give us a better competitive advantage... and that’s really a testament to the Pegulas saying: ‘This is what we want to build. We designed it. This was our intent. There were reasons behind it, and we’re going to move forward with that.’
-John Polka, Vice President of Stadium Development for the Buffalo Bills, speaking with the Associated Press

Buffalo will have a world-class, yet costly, facility in less than 2 years.