Buffalo Bills set out to make statement with new stadium opening plans

The Buffalo Bills are setting their sights on hosting the 2028 NFL Draft as they unveil plans for their new stadium.

Construction is in full swing at the New Highmark Stadium located in Orchard Park, just a stone’s throw from their current abode. The groundbreaking $1.7 billion project kicked off in June 2023 and should be up and running in time for the 2026 season kick-off.

With ample time on their hands, the Bills are gearing up to host the 2028 NFL Draft, provided the league gives them the nod. Pete Guelli, the Bills’ executive vice president and chief operating officer, remarked: “We’ve seen the success and growth of the draft in other markets.”

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Guelli further stated: “The draft is the kind of opportunities we’re going to pursue as an organization, and we think the city of Buffalo would be absolutely perfect for this type of event,” He also mentioned that the team plans to throw their hat in the ring: “Our plan would be to express interest, and it’s competitive there are no guarantees it will work out, but we want to go down that road.”

The Bills are poised to submit an “expression of interest” memo to the NFL, initiating the bid to bring the draft to Buffalo. Historically, the draft’s location has been decided approximately two years prior to the event, judging by the last three venues chosen, reports the Mirror US.

For nearly half a century, the NFL Draft was a New York exclusive, with the Marriot Marquis hosting nine consecutive drafts from 1986 to 1994. The Theatre at Madison Square Garden then took over the reins in the late 90s and early 2000s before Radio City Music Hall became the venue from 2006 to 2014.

After that, the event started touring various cities across the country. Last year saw Detroit’s Campus Martius Park play host to the Draft, welcoming over 775,000 fans over three days. Green Bay is set to host next year’s event, with Pittsburgh taking up the mantle in 2026.

As of now, no team has been given the honour of hosting the 2027 event. However, the Bills are hopeful that their soon-to-be 67,000-capacity stadium can make its debut in the most spectacular way possible.

The current Highmark Stadium in New York, which has a capacity of 71,608, is expected to be knocked down and replaced with parking spaces next to the new stadium.