Finding parking for Buffalo Bills games at Highmark Stadium hasn’t been too much of an issue over the past two seasons, even with new stadium construction taking away a portion of the team’s parking lots.
In the team’s final season at the soon-to-be-former home of the Bills, that could change.
Lot loungers (copy)
Fans will lose more than 1,000 parking spaces at Highmark Stadium this season with the closure of Lot 4 due to construction of the new stadium. Derek Gee, News file photo
More than 1,000 spaces for home games will not be available this season. Lot 4 at the north end of the team’s parking lots will be closed as part of the plan for the last year of construction on the more than $2 billion stadium set to open in 2026.
Because some of the more popular residential lots close to Highmark Stadium have been booked already due to the previous loss of spots in stadium lots, parking will get that much tighter for this season.
The Bills will have to rely on more neighborhood lots, possibly farther from the stadium, and an agreement with Erie County to open additional SUNY Erie Community College South Campus parking to help with some of the overflow.
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The team will kick off its season at 8:20 p.m. Sunday against the Baltimore Ravens, with its parking lots opening four hours earlier. Residential lots can – and do – open earlier.
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Andy Major, vice president of operations and guest experience for the Bills, said the loss of parking spots is an unfortunate consequence of the stadium construction.
“But I think fans know they have to have a plan, and they’ve gotten together and know where they’re going to go, whether that was ECC or a neighborhood parking lot off campus a little bit that they’re familiar with or comfortable with,” he added.
Lot 4 will be closed for the 2025 season for construction and equipment and materials storage. Prior to that, only Lot 3 had closed due to stadium construction and most of Lot 4 opened for single-game parking.
Construction of the new stadium has taken up the lots where RVs, Bills staff, buses, limousines and overflow vehicles once parked – across from the current stadium.
The Bills will not only open additional parking at SUNY Erie, but the team also has expanded some of the stadium’s south lots and demolished the house at the former Mud Lot, which the Bills purchased a few years ago for staff parking, to create more spots.
The team now requires an advanced purchase parking pass to park in its lots.
The Bills are asking fans to carpool and have an advanced plan, as many of them have had the past two seasons.
“Last season, we were pleasantly surprised how great the fans handled their game day parking,” Major said. “We really didn’t see the traffic or game day parking problems that we thought we might see. That’s the hope for this year.”
Major said he’s confident most of the fans who regularly come to games know the area well and will be able to adjust. He credited the Erie County Sherriff’s Department for the job it has done with traffic detail around the stadium, especially with the challenges that are created by losing parking spaces and having to direct fans to other options.
New Bills Stadium
The loss of parking spots is an unfortunate consequence as construction continues on the new Bills stadium. Team officials said Lot 4 will be closed this season, and urged fans to have an advanced plan. Joshua Bessex, Buffalo News
The Bills have also worked with the state Department of Transportation and Erie County Public Works to help with parking and traffic, Major previously said.
“This is a little bit of an inconvenience for one more season as we get through the final phase in the construction, but we’re hopeful fans will take notice and do what they did last year,” Major said.
While parking issues could put a damper on the pregame experience, the team has plenty planned for fans once the games get underway.
For the season opener, fans will see a halftime drone show called Sunday Night Lights at Highmark Stadium. The team was supposed to debut the drone show last season during a December Sunday primetime game, but it was canceled due to inclement weather and snow.
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The eight-minute drone show will feature several Bills-themed formations that light up the night sky.
Major said other surprises for fans will happen throughout the season, including season ticket holders receiving a commemorative final season at Highmark Stadium gift.
The Bills came up with their plan using the ideas provided by both fans and staff to celebrate the last season in the stadium.
“There’s a lot that’s going to happen for the fans and the game day staff as well,” Major said. “Everybody is a part of this together so we’re really going to celebrate that.”
The team is also working with the county on a plan to allow season ticket holders and possibly additional fans to purchase their seats and potential pieces of the stadium and turf, Major said.
“We want the fans to take advantage of that program and not do anything silly, like trying to steal their seats or things off the wall,” Major said. “We have a long season ahead and a lot of excitement ahead, hopefully that will include some playoff games in January. I know that’s the goal.”
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