The Buffalo Bills' new Highmark Stadium will debut with its first event, the Return of the Blue and Red practice, on Aug. 8. From the Bills' pitch to New York State and Erie County for a 100% publicly funded $1.1 billion stadium in 2021 to the final touches and ribbon cutting on the new $2.2 billon stadium, The Buffalo News has covered every step on the road to a new home for the Bills.
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Before a deal was struck to build a new stadium for the Buffalo Bills in 1971, owner Ralph Wilson Jr. threatened to move the team, possibly to Seattle.
As seen on The Buffalo Evening News' sports page on Jan. 13, 1971, owner Ralph Wilson Jr. said it appeared unlikely that the Buffalo Bills would stay in Buffalo, and NFL owners were expected to back the proposed move.
The front page of The Buffalo Evening News on Sept. 24, 1971 announces a possible new stadium timeline and the agreement of a lease to construct the stadium passed by the Erie County Legislature.
A short item in the Oct. 13, 1971 edition of The Buffalo Evening News announces the formal signing of the new stadium lease between the Buffalo Bills and Erie County. Also on the page: an update into the grand jury probe of suspected bribes in Erie County for a previously-scuttled dome stadium project in Lancaster.
An article in The Buffalo Evening News on Oct. 31, 1972, reports on former Buffalo Bills owner Ralph Wilson Jr.'s offer of $1.5 million to Erie County to name the new stadium "Buffalo Bills Stadium."
The Buffalo Evening News' editorial board expresses their opinion that Erie County should accept Ralph Wilson Jr.'s $1.5 million offer to name the stadium "Buffalo Bills Stadium," on the Opinion page on Nov. 1, 1972.
The Buffalo Evening News reports on the Erie County Legislature's acceptance of Rich Products' $1.5 million offer for stadium naming rights on Nov. 8, 1972.
The Buffalo Evening News' reports on the construction of the soon-to be-named Rich Stadium on Nov. 30, 1972.
The Buffalo Evening News reports on negotiations between Erie County and Rich Products Corp. to finalize a stadium naming deal on April 25, 1973.
The battle over naming what would then become Rich Stadium continues on May 8, 1973.
The Buffalo Evening News reports on the official contract to name the new home of the Buffalo Bills "Rich Stadium" on May 17, 1973.
The Buffalo Evening News reports that the Buffalo Bills and Erie County are close to an agreement that Rich Stadium's construction is finally complete on Aug. 6, 1973.
Buffalo Evening News sports columnist Larry Felser previews the first ever game at Rich Stadium, a preseason contest between the Buffalo Bills and Washington Redskins on Aug. 17, 1973.
The front page of The Buffalo Evening News on Aug. 18, 1973, recaps opening night at Rich Stadium.
The picture page of The Buffalo Evening News on Aug. 18, 1973, documents opening night at Rich Stadium, and its related traffic jam.
