An uncertainty for the 2026 season in Highmark -- Will the new turf work out?

[Augie]

23 hours ago, Gregg said:

 

Hopefully it isn't a factor, but we will see. It's one thing to discuss the wind issue but we will see how it plays out this fall on a real windy day which as we all know happens a lot in WNY.

 

Is there any other kind of day in WNY? I remember telling my mom I wished it would rain or snow, anything as long as the wind stopped because it messed up our fun and games more than anything else.

 

The first time I took the wife, son and DIL to a game we did the Maid of the Mist on a crazy, windy day.  Our genuine souvenir ponchos had to be held down between your knees or it would fly up over your head. The water was hitting us like it was coming out of a fire hose, or…….Niagara Falls. They were in shock, and I said “welcome to my childhood.” We laughed probably as hard as we have ever laughed together. An instant classic! Priceless memories were made and photos were taken that day. 

[Mr. WEO]

On 7/3/2026 at 4:00 PM, Rubes said:

 

I thought he meant Hoecht? (Same conclusion)

 

Both were dirty that way

On 7/3/2026 at 3:58 PM, Einstein said:

2025: 4.8 turf vs 6.7 grass
2024: 4.1 turf vs 3.0 grass
2023: 2.7 turf vs 1.2 grass

PS, this is ALL injuries. Not just debilitating injuries.

Per game

so Jon conclusive

[Charles Romes]

The World Cup grass fields are making the league look bad. They are installing premium natural turf everywhere, even indoors, and keeping it thriving for two months with grow lighting etc.  The technology is there such that everyone can have a premium grass field.  Maybe some of the indoor stadiums would have to do a re-sod once or twice a football season but that’s a million dollar drop in the bucket by nfl standards.  I’ll never forgive that horrible Detroit field ruining the 2022 season. 

[Buffalo716]

4 hours ago, Charles Romes said:

The World Cup grass fields are making the league look bad. They are installing premium natural turf everywhere, even indoors, and keeping it thriving for two months with grow lighting etc.  The technology is there such that everyone can have a premium grass field.  Maybe some of the indoor stadiums would have to do a re-sod once or twice a football season but that’s a million dollar drop in the bucket by nfl standards.  I’ll never forgive that horrible Detroit field ruining the 2022 season. 

July it's easy to maintain 

 

It's not easy for NFL teams to maintain a grass field in December 

 

These kids are playing on turf fields since high school.. they are all used to it 

 

I prefer grass but these professionals are used to it and it is very very very hard to maintain grass late in the season 

 

Pittsburgh's field gets destroyed late in the season.. totally torn up 

 

You make a playoff run you don't want to play on a totally torn up field.. the bills with modern technology hopefully will be able to keep the field in better condition but even Pittsburgh can't

 

 

 

 

[Chandler#81]

Will the Jills return??🤗😍

[WotAGuy]

They need to cut a baseball infield into it before I can get on board with natural grass. 

[SoMAn]

On 7/3/2026 at 3:58 PM, Einstein said:

2025: 4.8 turf vs 6.7 grass
2024: 4.1 turf vs 3.0 grass
2023: 2.7 turf vs 1.2 grass

PS, this is ALL injuries. Not just debilitating injuries.

Per game

In order to evaluate those stats you'd have to examine the turf to grass ratio or the number of games played on each surface. With only a count it's impossible to draw any reasonable conclusion or comparison.

[Einstein]

1 hour ago, SoMAn said:

In order to evaluate those stats you'd have to examine the turf to grass ratio or the number of games played on each surface. With only a count it's impossible to draw any reasonable conclusion or comparison.

 

No.

 

The stats I provided are injuries per game on each surface, not total injuries. The number of turf and grass games has already been accounted for.

[SectionC3]

On 7/2/2026 at 9:23 AM, Ga boy said:

In addition to heat, does the field have a sub air system to suck the water out?

This is what I'm concerned about.  Is this thing going to freeze over during a really cold game with snow?  

18 hours ago, Charles Romes said:

The World Cup grass fields are making the league look bad. They are installing premium natural turf everywhere, even indoors, and keeping it thriving for two months with grow lighting etc.  The technology is there such that everyone can have a premium grass field.  Maybe some of the indoor stadiums would have to do a re-sod once or twice a football season but that’s a million dollar drop in the bucket by nfl standards.  I’ll never forgive that horrible Detroit field ruining the 2022 season. 

This is a fair point.  Technology must have evolved to the point that we can grow this stuff properly indoors and account for things like humidity, etc.  

[BillsShredder83]

On 7/3/2026 at 1:07 PM, SoMAn said:

I believe I read somewhere that following data analysis, there’s not any significant injury differences between grass and artificial surfaces. It’s a violent contact sport in which injuries will occur regardless. 

Absolutely incorrect.  Especially the bad artificial surfaces.  There was a huge Athletic piece 2-3 years ago about them, and specifically Lions & Jets/Giants, surface.  Instances of ACL's, especially non-contact, was infinitely higher.  It was like 6xs higher.  I cant find the article, but it supported everything we've ever seen and heard.

 

I remember several players really got behind that (and we're already behind it prior to article).  Kittle was the biggest name I can remember off the top of my head but Odell Beckham too.  I remember very clearly, the following season, we lost Von Miller & Tre White, in a 2-3 week span to that F%#$%#& turf in Detroit (robbed us a Super Bowl, I stand behind it).  Was a year we played at Detroit on Thanksgiving, and then shortly after had to play a "home" game there again, due to some blizzard.

 

The following season, Detroit ripped theirs out and replaced it.  Im unsure on Metlife.  

[eball]

On 7/3/2026 at 1:07 PM, SoMAn said:

I believe I read somewhere that following data analysis, there’s not any significant injury differences between grass and artificial surfaces. It’s a violent contact sport in which injuries will occur regardless. 

It’s common sense. Feet don’t stick in natural grass; they can in turf. 
 

[BigDingus]

On 7/2/2026 at 12:27 PM, Buffalo03 said:

I saw a video not too long ago where Josh was at the new stadium and a guy was explaining to him that with the way the stadium was designed the wind shouldn't really be much of a factor

 

I keep seeing them say that, but I'll believe it when I see it. Similarly, they claim 60%+ of the seats are protected from the snow & rain, but it just doesn't look like that at all. 

 

If that ends up being the case, I'll be impressed.

[HaldimandBills]

3 hours ago, BillsShredder83 said:

Absolutely incorrect.  Especially the bad artificial surfaces.  There was a huge Athletic piece 2-3 years ago about them, and specifically Lions & Jets/Giants, surface.  Instances of ACL's, especially non-contact, was infinitely higher.  It was like 6xs higher.  I cant find the article, but it supported everything we've ever seen and heard.

 

I remember several players really got behind that (and we're already behind it prior to article).  Kittle was the biggest name I can remember off the top of my head but Odell Beckham too.  I remember very clearly, the following season, we lost Von Miller & Tre White, in a 2-3 week span to that F%#$%#& turf in Detroit (robbed us a Super Bowl, I stand behind it).  Was a year we played at Detroit on Thanksgiving, and then shortly after had to play a "home" game there again, due to some blizzard.

 

The following season, Detroit ripped theirs out and replaced it.  Im unsure on Metlife.  

I was at that game for my bachelor party. That ruined the day until Allen's ridiculous throw to Diggs at the end of the 4th quarter. 

[zow2]

Pittsburgh’s field often gets chopped up because Pitt plays their Saturday home games there and some rainy fall weekends really destroy the grass. 

I don’t think the new Highmark is hosting any extra games in 2026 that will kill the grass.  I think the high school playoff games are being held at UB Stadium this fall. 

[RkFast]

On 7/2/2026 at 11:09 AM, eball said:

Yeah, this thread is a whole lot of nonsense. The Bills just installed the most modern, state-of-the-art grass field system around and people are acting like it’s a “question mark.”

 

Good grief. 
 

It very much is “a question” and a valid one.  
 

Anyone who spends any amount of time in the lawn, even in their own front yards, knows this. Theres about 1 million variables when it comes to grass turf. And now you’re talking about a giant grass turf field on a place there never was grass before with variables for sunlight rain ground drainage, and all kinds of other factors. 

 

Yes, the engineering has been done and a lot of issues addressed. But you’re still talking about millions and millions of tiny little plants and they’re gonna get the life beat out of them several times a week, planted in a brand new ecosystem environment they never were before.  So until games start being played and weather events happen how this all goes down is very much up in the air.  
 

I’ll bet my life that even before the season is over you’ll be hearing a lot about how the grounds crew and team are making tweaks to how they care for and maintain the field. 

Edited July 7 by RkFast

[UConn James]

2 hours ago, RkFast said:

It very much is “a question” and a valid one.  
 

Anyone who spends any amount of time in the lawn, even in their own front yards, knows this. Theres about 1 million variables when it comes to grass turf. And now you’re talking about a giant grass turf field on a place there never was grass before with variables for sunlight rain ground drainage, and all kinds of other factors. 

 

Yes, the engineering has been done and a lot of issues addressed.

You're talking to @eball, who in the stadium construction thread has shown he enjoys licking boots.
 

To wit: Nobody should question anything, opinions on the buffalo statues are irrelevant because a renowned artist came up with it, et cetera, et cetera. Trust the engineers because in the history of construction every design has always worked out 100%.

 

Hell, even in the grey alt uni thread he was like, 'I'm going to try to like them.' Like fack, is this kid on the Bills payroll?

Edited July 7 by UConn James

[stlbills13]

Don't even care about the injury side. Football should be played on grass

[Jalan81]

5 hours ago, RkFast said:

It very much is “a question” and a valid one.  
 

Anyone who spends any amount of time in the lawn, even in their own front yards, knows this. Theres about 1 million variables when it comes to grass turf. And now you’re talking about a giant grass turf field on a place there never was grass before with variables for sunlight rain ground drainage, and all kinds of other factors. 

 

Yes, the engineering has been done and a lot of issues addressed. But you’re still talking about millions and millions of tiny little plants and they’re gonna get the life beat out of them several times a week, planted in a brand new ecosystem environment they never were before.  So until games start being played and weather events happen how this all goes down is very much up in the air.  
 

I’ll bet my life that even before the season is over you’ll be hearing a lot about how the grounds crew and team are making tweaks to how they care for and maintain the field. 

Once a week not several and not every week. And only 12 times a year if we are lucky. It’s pretty light use actually.

On 7/2/2026 at 11:41 PM, Just Jack said:

 

 

Have you seen the new theory on how to win? Most people will do several ducks in a row until picking goose. Instead, when it's your turn, immediately pick goose. The person you pick won't be expecting it, since it's too early in the turn. 

That’s a great recommendation 👍🤣

[Jauronimo]

Do you think technology will evolve to a point where we can grow and maintain the most prolific terrestrial plant species on the planet in doors....in December!!  Idk this is some science fiction ***** to me.  I guess there was that guy who grew potatoes on Mars with his own poop but Mars is hardly Buffalo in winter time as far as I know.

[juno999]

On 7/5/2026 at 6:05 PM, Chandler#81 said:

Will the Jills return??🤗😍

Only if they get rid of the Buffalo Stampede.