Buffalo Bills Content Coordinator
During Monday’s Groundbreaking ceremony at the construction site of the New Bills Stadium, Buffalo Bills Owner/CEO Terry Pegula announced that the franchise has finalized a new naming rights deal with Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield of Western New York to continue their partnership at the new stadium.
For now, the new stadium will be referred to as ‘New Highmark Stadium’ until the completion of the construction in 2026 before switching over to ‘Highmark Stadium’ — the same name of the current Bills home across the road.
The deal was announced in front of a few hundred invited guests at the Groundbreaking ceremony, including Owner/CEO Terry Pegula, EVP/Chief Operating Officer Ron Raccuia, General Manager Brandon Beane and Head Coach Sean McDermott representing the Bills, National Football League Commissioner Roger Goodell as well as New York Governor Kathy Hochul, Erie County Executive Mark Poloncarz and other leaders from New York State and Erie County.
For the Bills organization, it was important to keep the continuity of the stadium name as the franchise moves venues for the first time since the 1973 season. New Highmark Stadium will continue to represent the history and meaning behind the Buffalo Bills.
“We felt like that was important to the authenticity of the franchise in the community,” said Bills EVP/COO Ron Raccuia. “Organizations & teams lose some of that value of the importance of a naming right partner when it changes a lot. So it was really important for us to have that continuity.”
Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield of Western New York is the region’s largest and longest-standing health plan. The organizations share 150 years of combined history in Western New York and a strong commitment to the community.
“Like the Bills, we have deep roots in Western New York, and share a vision that the “New Highmark Stadium” will serve as a center of engagement and improvement for our entire region. Highmark is excited to enter a new phase of our long-standing partnership with the Buffalo Bills and Pegula Sports and Entertainment, while reinforcing our commitment to the community,” said Dr. Michael Edbauer, President, Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield of Western New York.
Since the naming rights agreement began in March of 2021, the current Highmark Stadium has hosted over 850+ events outside of game days. Together, Highmark and the Buffalo Bills have welcomed thousands of Western New Yorkers to the stadium for free fitness, mental health and CPR training events.
On game days, the organizations have partnered to recognize and support over 30 community partners. Since 2021, the Bills and Highmark have distributed more than 380 tickets and $37,500 to non-profit and health care organizations, through the Highmark Community Hero program.
The joint efforts to support Western New York have also come at times when it’s been needed most. The organizations donated over $700k in direct financial relief, thousands of dollars in essential items, and hundreds of volunteer hours in the aftermath of the May 14th shooting and December Blizzard.
Buffalo’s new state-of-the-art canopy covered stadium will be the largest project ever built in Western New York, holding approximately 63,000 people.
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