ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. -- After Bills owner Terry Pegula thanked the usual dignitaries and stakeholders present Tuesday morning at the ribbon-cutting ceremony for the team’s new stadium, he paid unique respect to another group essential in the completion of the facility.
Pegula gestured to the new Highmark Stadium behind him and revealed that the name of every worker who had a hand in construction -- 5,369 and counting -- will be inscribed on an external stadium wall.
“I made a promise to our workers, our laborers, that somehow, someway we would have their name visible on this stadium, where their offspring and friends can come and look and see their name on the side of the stadium,” Pegula said. “So behind me is a wall with, right now, 5,369 names of you hard-working Americans who got this stadium built. It’s one thing to talk about it, it’s one thing to get the money; it’s another thing to get it done. So, thank you.”
Sure enough, a glass wall looking out at the Family Circle -- which will feature the stadium’s 27-foot-tall bison statues -- featured the words “We Built This House” alongside rows and rows of names in alphabetical order.
“The Buffalo Bills organization extends our deepest gratitude to the men and women whose skill, dedication, and hard work brought Highmark Stadium to life,” the wall reads. “Your commitment has built not just a stadium but a lasting legacy for our team and community.”
The Bills added a really unique touch at Highmark Stadium: The name of every worker who helped build the stadium — 5,369 and counting! — is listed on the wall.
— Nick Veronica (@NickVeronica) June 23, 2026
Owner Terry Pegula said he wanted to honor them, so “their offspring and friends can come and look and see their name.” pic.twitter.com/TNSvTWOJpv
Pegula also made special mention of the fans whose financial contributions helped facilitate construction.
“Our fans, the Bills Mafia, contributed $263M though PSL purchases and helped us finance what you’re looking at here today,” Pegula said. “The Bills’ front office does not take this commitment by our fans lightly. We really appreciate what the Bills Mafia did, over our projections, and stepping up to the line to get this stadium built.”
The Bills announced in December that they sold out of PSL inventory, inking more than 53,000 seat licenses. That included converting 75% of existing season-ticket holders, a high mark for new stadium project led by Legends Global.
Funds raised through PSLs help offset ownership’s financial commitment to stadium construction. The facility -- which received $850M in public funding from New York state and Erie County -- was initially projected in 2022 to cost $1.4B, with overruns paid by the team. The price tag has since risen to the $2.1B-$2.2B range.
The regular-season opener at Highmark Stadium is set for Thursday, Sept. 17, with preseason games played on Aug. 15 and 27.
