Stadium Construction Discussion (No PSL/Seat selection posts)

[WotAGuy]

15 hours ago, Mike in Horseheads said:

Did anybody notice that in the recent photos and videos there's not any seats in the place?  Remember when they had the photo opp with first seats installed and they were ramping up installing them?

You think for a $1k PSL you’re getting a seat?  
They are going retro - like the scoreboard end zone in the old Rockpile. Concrete bleachers. Bring a cushion, ya cheapskates!

 

 

 

Edited July 14 by WotAGuy

[eball]

5 hours ago, Mike in Horseheads said:

Did anybody notice that in the recent photos and videos there's not any seats in the place?  Remember when they had the photo opp with first seats installed and they were ramping up installing them?

 

They never said they were “ramping up” installing them…that was a photo/video op to put on their website.  I would think they want to get all of the overhead stuff (lights/speakers/etc.) done first…

 

[PromoTheRobot]

On 7/7/2025 at 2:27 PM, theRalph said:

 

 

 

I picked my seats and I made sure I was in one of the last rows closest to the concourses, which are supposed to be heated. So not only do I have the balcony above me keeping me dry, I'm hoping some of that heat wafts down a few rows. I wanted a f*****' dome but as long as a 5° night game feels more like 30-something with no wind, I'll be happy.

[SoCal Deek]

3 hours ago, eball said:

 

They never said they were “ramping up” installing them…that was a photo/video op to put on their website.  I would think they want to get all of the overhead stuff (lights/speakers/etc.) done first…

 

Exactly. I mentioned it at the time. It’s way too early in the construction sequence to install seats. Way too much work going on overhead. Although I was shocked to see that in the test fit video you could see that they’d actually gone ahead and installed the entire section’s seat brackets.

[stevewin]

Saw this video yesterday - WKBW tour - at the end, the project guy says regarding people being impressed with the current state "Knowing what we know - this is like a 1 out of 10.  Like it's cool, this stadium looks big, but you haven't seen anything yet.  That's the excitement I get - this is like bare bones in terms of awe... Everything else that we're doing it's just going to really blow people away" 

 

https://youtu.be/9YblnsHKDto 

 

 

 

[GottaRun]

6 hours ago, stevewin said:

Everything else that we're doing it's just going to really blow people away" 

 

https://youtu.be/9YblnsHKDto 

Watched that and I'm just realizing that the covered seat I bought.... is going to be covered!  The roof does go farther than it previously looked.

[UConn James]

7 hours ago, stevewin said:

Saw this video yesterday - WKBW tour - at the end, the project guy says regarding people being impressed with the current state "Knowing what we know - this is like a 1 out of 10.  Like it's cool, this stadium looks big, but you haven't seen anything yet.  That's the excitement I get - this is like bare bones in terms of awe... Everything else that we're doing it's just going to really blow people away" 

 

https://youtu.be/9YblnsHKDto 

 

 

 

My takeaway from that is Mr. Polka saying that the stadium’s life is “30 to 50 years.”

 

If the stadium life is 30 years I think most people would be 🤬. This stadium had better last 50 years at a MINIMUM.

[SoCal Deek]

1 hour ago, UConn James said:

My takeaway from that is Mr. Polka saying that the stadium’s life is “30 to 50 years.”

 

If the stadium life is 30 years I think most people would be 🤬. This stadium had better last 50 years at a MINIMUM.

Or at least until people pay off their PSL! 😉

[Mike in Horseheads]

2 hours ago, UConn James said:

My takeaway from that is Mr. Polka saying that the stadium’s life is “30 to 50 years.”

 

If the stadium life is 30 years I think most people would be 🤬. This stadium had better last 50 years at a MINIMUM.

You should send him a sternly worded letter expressing your concern.

[Wacka]

10 hours ago, UConn James said:

My takeaway from that is Mr. Polka saying that the stadium’s life is “30 to 50 years.”

 

If the stadium life is 30 years I think most people would be 🤬. This stadium had better last 50 years at a MINIMUM.

The Rockpile lasted (for football) 41 years. Highmark is 52.

[zow2]

I'm one of those a few years ago who thought it should be a dome or better yet a retractable roof downtown.  I get that the cost and infrastructure factors were severe. 

 

Now that the stadium is in the final year of construction I have to say it looks really cool.  If you think about all the other stadiums in the Northeast-Mid Atlantic (Jets/Giants, Baltimore, NE, Wash, Pitt, Cle, Philly)...none of them look like this.  They don't have the overhang and design of the new Highmark.  This structure will stand out as being very unique for a northern team, at least for now.  

[May Day 10]

A cool thing is from the Skyway, this thing looms LARGE.  

[SoMAn]

16 hours ago, UConn James said:

My takeaway from that is Mr. Polka saying that the stadium’s life is “30 to 50 years.”

 

If the stadium life is 30 years I think most people would be 🤬. This stadium had better last 50 years at a MINIMUM.

As 'quickly' as projects get studied, designed, funded, and built in WNY, they should probably start planning now for the new stadium to go on the site of the current Rich/Ralph/Highmark stadium. Should be just about ready in 30 years.

[WotAGuy]

10 minutes ago, SoMAn said:

As 'quickly' as projects get studied, designed, funded, and built in WNY, they should probably start planning now for the new stadium to go on the site of the current Rich/Ralph/Highmark stadium. Should be just about ready in 30 years.

I already hate it!

[Gregg]

16 hours ago, UConn James said:

My takeaway from that is Mr. Polka saying that the stadium’s life is “30 to 50 years.”

 

If the stadium life is 30 years I think most people would be 🤬. This stadium had better last 50 years at a MINIMUM.

 

Highmark probably should have been replaced 20 years ago but they decided to do the lipstick on a pig routine these past two decades to avoid building a new stadium. Factor in Buffalo weather and 30 years is probably a realistic goal before they have to do the lipstick on the pig routine again.

[Just Jack]

17 hours ago, UConn James said:

My takeaway from that is Mr. Polka saying that the stadium’s life is “30 to 50 years.”

 

If the stadium life is 30 years I think most people would be 🤬. This stadium had better last 50 years at a MINIMUM.

 

Lot of the NFL stadiums built in the last 25-30 years are now being replaced because they are considered not fancy enough. I will not be surprised if the new stadium is either extensively remodeled or a new one built in 30 years. 

Edited July 15 by Just Jack

[K-9]

25 minutes ago, Just Jack said:

 

Lot of the NFL stadiums built in the last 25-30 years are now being replaced because they are considered not fancy enough. 

Yep. It’s all about the “fan experience” and all the amenities that implies. Creates more unshared revenue streams for the owners, which has been mandated by the league for all intents and purposes. Many folks have been priced out as a result. 

[Doc Brown]

A friend who works construction there says they had to cheap out on the seats a little bit because of the tariffs.  Just our luck.

[K-9]

1 hour ago, Doc Brown said:

A friend who works construction there says they had to cheap out on the seats a little bit because of the tariffs.  Just our luck.

Hope they already paid for all their copper. My BIL owns a communications cabling business and several of his bids got blown up because of the latest spike in prices due to just the threat of tariffs on Brazil. 

[Mike in Horseheads]

2 hours ago, Doc Brown said:

A friend who works construction there says they had to cheap out on the seats a little bit because of the tariffs.  Just our luck.

I would hope the seats were purchased long b4 April of this year