Bills LB Joe Andreessen Excited for New Stadium: 'It's Going to Be Super Cool'

The Buffalo Bills will play in a new $1.5 billion stadium starting this fall, and linebacker Joe Andreessen is eager to be part of the historic first season.

Apr. 6, 2026 at 1:56am

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The Buffalo Bills will play in a brand-new $1.5 billion stadium, New Highmark Stadium, starting this fall after spending over 50 years at the old Highmark Stadium. Linebacker Joe Andreessen, who has been with the team since 2022, is excited about the move and the new features of the state-of-the-art facility, including heated grass and closer proximity to the field for fans.

Why it matters

The Bills' new stadium is a major investment in the team and the city of Buffalo, signaling the franchise's long-term commitment to the region. The upgraded amenities and fan experience are expected to boost the team's home-field advantage as they pursue their first Super Bowl championship.

The details

New Highmark Stadium will have a seating capacity of 60,000 and a roof canopy that covers 64% of the fans. One key feature is that the last row on the west sideline is 54 feet closer to the field than the previous stadium, giving fans a better view of the action. The stadium also features heated grass, which will be a welcome upgrade from the icy turf at the old Highmark Stadium.

  • The Bills broke ground on New Highmark Stadium in 2023.
  • The new stadium is expected to open in June 2026.
  • The Bills played at the old Highmark Stadium from 1973 to 2025.

The players

Joe Andreessen

A linebacker who has been with the Buffalo Bills since 2022 and is excited to play in the team's new stadium.

Joe Brady

The new head coach of the Buffalo Bills, taking over for Sean McDermott in 2026.

Sean McDermott

The former head coach of the Buffalo Bills, who was let go in 2026 after leading the team since 2017.

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What they’re saying

“It's going to be super cool. So this past year was very special, just kind of being the last season at Highmark Stadium, and all the games were super special. The last one there against the Jets, sold out crowd, people were going crazy for a game that didn't mean too much in the whole scheme of things. And I think that just shows the community and environment of Buffalo and how much the Bills mean to the people here.”

— Joe Andreessen, Linebacker

“Going into this new stadium, I think it's going to be kind of on par with that, just a little different vibe, just being in the new stadium. I'm excited to see it too. I think one of the things I'm most excited about is they got the heated grass on there. In the old Highmark Stadium, that turf gets icy and cold, and you hit that ground, and it hurts a lot, so excited for that. And just excited to break it in, and hopefully we can put some pretty good games together in there.”

— Joe Andreessen, Linebacker

What’s next

The Bills will play their first game at New Highmark Stadium on September 12, 2026, when they host the Miami Dolphins in their season opener.

The takeaway

The Bills' new $1.5 billion stadium represents a major investment in the team and the city of Buffalo, with upgraded amenities and a closer fan experience that should boost the team's home-field advantage as they pursue their first Super Bowl championship under new head coach Joe Brady.