Skip to main content
Bills Central

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

A couple larger items are joining seats, signs and other items on the market.
A final look outside Highmark Stadium hours after the Bills win over the Jets in their last regular season game at Highmark Stadium in Orchard Park on Sunday, Jan. 4, 2026
A final look outside Highmark Stadium hours after the Bills win over the Jets in their last regular season game at Highmark Stadium in Orchard Park on Sunday, Jan. 4, 2026 | Shawn Dowd/Rochester Democrat and Chronicle / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

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.

Buffalo Bills fan
Jan 4, 2026; Orchard Park, New York, USA; A fan holds up a sign before the game between the Bills and the Jets at Highmark Stadium. | Gregory Fisher-Imagn Images

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?

Highmark Stadium
A view of Highmark Stadium in Orchard Park on Jan. 4, 2026. This was the last game at the stadium before the Bills' move across the street into a new stadium. | Tina MacIntyre-Yee/Democrat and Chronicle / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

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.

Loading recommendations... Please wait while we load personalized content recommendations


Published
Owen Klein
OWEN KLEIN

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.

Share on XFollow Kleiner2003