Old Highmark Stadium Teardown Reveals High Bills' Fan Interest in Memorabilia

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Across Abbott Road from the $2.2 billion new home for the Buffalo Bills, the old Highmark Stadium has begun its teardown. The process hasn't started with a bang, but rather a removal of old items that began in February.
An inside look at the demolition of the home of the Bills since 1973 aired Tuesday on WKBW, Buffalo's ABC affiliate, showing the work that's been done. Bleachers and restroom troughs, among other items, are joining seats, goalposts and stadium signs outside the venue.
The TV station also spoke with a leading memorabilia entrepreneur who shared his thoughts on the stadium being torn down.
Memories fading fast
WKBW's Jeff Russo spoke with Brandon Steiner, CEO of CollectibleXchange, a company that connects sports fans with collectors across the United States and specializes in items such as game-used artifacts and autographs. The company is responsible for selling the memorabilia from the stadium to fans.
"You want to cry," Steiner said. "It's a little sad because I know what's transpired in this stadium. The love, the connection, the family, it's almost a religious experience."
The turf will also be taken off soon, and it's something that caught Steiner by surprise. "We knew we'd sell a good amount, but we're probably going to sell the turf," he said.

The troughs have a small supply of 35 but high demand, as Russo reported strong fan interest in the large rectangular items.
Fans who have placed orders for memorabilia should receive delivery updates in the coming weeks, according to Russo, giving Bills fans something to cherish forever.
"I know what this stadium means to Bills fans. I know what this stadium means to the city, and it's gonna be missed," Steiner said.
When will the stadium be completely demolished?

The old Highmark Stadium is not expected to be completely demolished until 2027. According to a March 8 report by Rob Banks of Country 106.5 WYRK, the goal is to have it done in March of that year, allowing the new stadium to host other events before the Bills' home opener.
Once the stadium is destroyed, additional parking will open, making the surrounding areas more accessible. It'll also allow fans to more easily see sights like the new bison statues.
As the teardown continues, fans can either watch the stadium they've visited for decades for games gradually disappear or take part by purchasing a piece of its history.

Owen Klein has covered football, basketball and baseball for Penn State athletics as a broadcaster on local radio, including producing Penn State’s 2024 men’s basketball Big Ten Tournament games and calling Penn State football’s Whiteout vs. Washington in November 2024. He has internships with the Buffalo Bisons and CBS affiliate WIVB in Buffalo, NY, in the summer of 2025. He is a Penn State University broadcast journalism student at the Bellisario College of Communications majoring in broadcast journalism and is passionate about college and professional sports, the Pokémon Video Game Championships and the Buffalo Bills.
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