Bills Central

Bills' lame-duck stadium gets surprising ranking among NFL venues

In its last season, the Buffalo Bills' Highmark Stadium is ranked only 21st-best in the NFL.
Richie Whitt|
The new stadium for the Buffalo Bills is being built across the road from the current Highmark Stadium
The new stadium for the Buffalo Bills is being built across the road from the current Highmark Stadium | Tina MacIntyre-Yee/Democrat and Chronicle / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

In this story:

Buffalo Bills | News, Scores, Schedules & Standings

Obviously, we're a tad biased, but sure seemed like Highmark Stadium as a rockin' old joint last Sunday night.

The table-smashing tailgating in the parking lots, "Mr. Brightside" in the stands, and the early leader for NFL Game of the Year on the field.

But in its ranking of NFL stadiums entering the 2025 season, Sports Illustrated seems to agree that its past time for the Buffalo Bills to replace old Highmark Stadium with new Highmark Stadium.

MORE: Construction crane accident reportedly threatens Bills' new Highmark Stadium timeline

SI named the Washington Commanders' Northwest Stadium as the worst of the league's 30 (New York's Jets and Giants share MetLife and Los Angeles' Rams and Chargers are roommates in SoFi). The best? Lambeau Field, home to the Green Bay Packers since 1957.

An emblem is painted on the field marking this year as being the “Farewell Season”
An emblem is painted on the field marking this year as being the “Farewell Season” at Highmark Stadium in Orchard Park on Sept. 7, 2025. They move across the street next year into their new stadium. | Tina MacIntyre-Yee/Democrat and Chronicle / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Tradition over trinkets, we get it.

The Bills' current address - which played host to the pulsating 41-40 victory over the Baltimore Ravens in Week 1 - came in as below-average, ranked No. 1. Says SI of the stadium set for demolition next May:

MORE: Six new additions to Bills' injury report include starters Taron Johnson, James Cook

"A trip to Highmark Stadium is by no means a weekend of luxury, but that's part of its charm. Bring your own folding table to the parking lot. And bonus points if there's snow. The Bills' new stadium is set to open in 2026, so you can expect Buffalo will be soaring up these rankings next year."

The AFC East isn't exactly a luxurious division. Along with the Bills' No. 21 stadium is the New England Patriots' Gillette (17th), the Miami Dolphins' Hard Rock (26th) and the Jets' MetLife (28th).

Curiously, the site of Super Bowl LX on February 8 - Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, California - came in only No. 23.

Fans react to a recovered fumble during the Bills game against the Baltimore Ravens at Highmark Stadium
Fans react to a recovered fumble during the Bills game against the Baltimore Ravens at Highmark Stadium | Tina MacIntyre-Yee/Democrat and Chronicle / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

—  Enjoy free coverage of the Bills from Buffalo Bills on SI  —

More Buffalo Bills News:

Published
Richie Whitt
RICHIE WHITT

Richie Whitt has been a sports media fixture in Dallas-Fort Worth since graduating from UT-Arlington in 1986. His career is highlighted by successful stints in print (Fort Worth Star-Telegram, Dallas Observer), TV (NBC5) and radio (105.3 The Fan). During his almost 40-year tenure, he's blabbed and blogged on events ranging from Super Bowls to NBA Finals to World Series to Stanley Cups to Olympics to Wimbledons to World Cups. Whitt has been covering the NFL since 1989, and in 1993 authored The 'Boys Are Back, a book chronicling the Dallas Cowboys' run to Super Bowl XXVII.

Share on XFollow richiewhitt