"Every seat in this place is great, the facilities are incredible," Guelli said. "The way it's set up for the team is perfect. As soon as you walk in here, you're immediately able to see the field. It's built perfectly for Buffalo, and I'm impressed by every aspect of it."
Guelli confirmed that the final total cost of the stadium was just over $2.1 billion and praised Pegula for his unwavering support in the process.
"\[Terry\] said from day one we need to build this vision, and whatever it takes, it's going to take," Guelli shared. "Terry's followed through on every promise that he's made, so it's exciting, and the numbers are close to what we thought it would be. But the most important thing is it's done."
The first official football event at the new venue will be the annual Blue and Red scrimmage in August, giving fans their first taste of game day atmosphere inside the building. Guelli said he is also planning more events for season ticket holders before the regular season kicks off.
**Highmark Stadium Fast Facts**
* **Groundbreaking:** June 5, 2023
* **Ribbon Cutting:** June 23, 2026
* **First Regular Season Game:** Thursday, Sept. 17, 2026, vs. Detroit Lions
* **Capacity:** 60,108
* **Playing Surface:** Natural Grass
* **Architect:** Populous
* **Owner's rep:** Legends Global
* **General contractor:** Gilbane | Turner
* **Total Workforce:** Approximately 6,000 persons
* **Labor Hours:** More than 5,000,000 hours