Tina MacIntyre-Yee / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
**Buffalo Bills** fans had a mixed reaction to the new **Highmark Stadium**. It was met with just as much criticism as praise.
Most of the complaints stemmed from the high cost of construction.
If an [NFL](https://brobible.com/tag/nfl/) team is going to spend such a large amount of money on a new stadium, it should not have _any_ flaws. Even if the overwhelming response is positive.
Construction of the new Highmark Stadium officially began on June 5, 2023. It took more than three years to complete at a cost of approximately $2.1 billion. The public contributed $850 million, with $600 million from New York State and $250 million from Erie County. The remainder was privately funded through the organization and the league.
It is deliberately _not_ a dome. The Bills wanted to preserve the outdoor Buffalo football experience but an overhang canopy protects ~64% of fans from the elements, the concourses are heated, and the field is equipped with a snow-melt system.
Highmark Stadium holds an official seating capacity of 60,108 plus standing-room areas. It is approximately 1.35 million square feet in size. Features include two state-of-the-art video scoreboards, a high-fidelity audio system designed specifically for the building, multiple premium lounges, clubs and luxury suites, modern wireless connectivity infrastructure, new locker rooms and administrative facilities, and modern food-service kitchens. The stadium was built to concentrate crowd noise toward the field. Multiple installations pay homage to Buffalo fan culture, like the broken table.
Overall, the stadium looks beautiful. Fans who attended the open scrimmage on Saturday said it is very spacious venue with better sight lines from bigger seats as well as from the concourse.
They also appreciated the size of the bathrooms and concessions because lines won’t be as long and prices are not horrible compared to other stadiums, as well as the attention to detail. The sound was crisp and the crowd will be loud.
Although the reception to the new Highmark Stadium was mostly positive, not every fan was thrilled with the design. Given how much time and money was spent on the design and construction, they were surprised by some of the shortcomings.
The video boards, while high-tech, are small. _(I personally think that is a great thing because you are there to watch the game on the field and I’m sure that was the thought process.)_