The Buffalo Bills offered a behind-the-scenes look at the new Highmark Stadium, showing its field transform from engineered soil into natural Kentucky bluegrass turf before Week 2's NFL home opener
The Buffalo Bills logo is pictured before a game
The Buffalo Bills gave fans a new look into Highmark Stadium's game-ready transformation process
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The concrete and steel of Buffalo's $2.1 billion Highmark Stadium barely settled into place before Bills Mafia found concerns worth complaining about, but a new time-lapse of the field flipping from construction zone to football stage is pulling fans back in, just in time for their Week 2 home opener.
The Buffalo Bills released a 44-second Facebook time-lapse last Friday to show off its $2.1 billion venue before their Week 2 home opener against the Detroit Lions showing crews preparing the playing surface inside the new Highmark Stadium.
The clip offered one of the clearest behind-the-scenes looks yet at the final stages of the venue's transformation. Buffalo's video opened up with the field looking more like a construction site than an NFL field.
A specialized sand-based root zone covered the field's surface using engineered soil, designed to drain quickly and avoid becoming muddy or overly compacted under heavy use.
Crews then rolled out natural Kentucky bluegrass cultivated by Tuckahoe Turf Farms and gradually turned the plain base into a full green football field, ready for watering, logo painting, and the final game-day touches.
Some members of Bills Mafia commented on the transformation video with excitement about the upcoming season, while others expressed concern about whether field preparation will be completed by game time on Sept 17.
Buffalo's new stadium already faced a rocky start after fans complained about obstructed views caused by railings, glass barriers, stairways, and overhangs during the Return of the Blue & Red practice in August.
The Bills were forced to acknowledge feedback after their first major public event, with more than 50,000 fans attending that practice setting a new attendance mark for the event.
Buffalo said it would use the remaining weeks before the regular-season opener to refine facility operations. The Bills announced their regular-season home opener, with the American and Canadian national anthems to be performed before the game.
A general view of the Buffalo Bills new stadium
The new Highmark Stadium officially opened on Aug. 8(Image: Photo by Timothy T Ludwig/Getty Images)
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Auliʻi Cravalho is set to sing the Star-Spangled Banner, while Canadian rock band Barenaked Ladies will perform O Canada in a nod to Buffalo's large cross-border fan base. The Bills packed their home schedule with several promotional nights to celebrate their wide fanbase.
Buffalo will celebrate Hispanic Heritage against the Los Angeles Chargers in Week 3, Crucial Catch against cancer against the New England Patriots in Week 4, and Native American Heritage against the Baltimore Ravens in Week 8.
Highmark Stadium from a broadcast view
Fans reported issues with Highmarks viewing angles(Image: Getty Images)
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Later home dates include Salute to Service against the Miami Dolphins, Thanksgiving festivities against the Kansas City Chiefs, and an Inspire Change game against the Chicago Bears.
The regular-season home schedule closes with a game against the Jets, Play 60, and a high school football celebration. Buffalo also enters the season after going 3-0 in preseason, beating Carolina, Cleveland and Pittsburgh.