Guelli: Fans will be surprised with progress of Highmark Stadium

Pittsford, N.Y. (WGR Sports Radio 550) - Excitement abounds in Rochester at St. John Fisher University, as the Buffalo Bills have started preparing for the 2024 season of football with the opening of training camp on Wednesday.

Meanwhile, a different kind of excitement continues to brew back home in Orchard Park with the ongoing construction of the new Highmark Stadium along Abbott Road, across the street from the current facility.

The project is currently in Year 2 of construction with the steel infrastructure continuing to rise from the pit. Construction continues to remain on track, with the stadium still slated to open by the start of the 2026 season.

"When fans come to the stadium this year, they're going to be very surprised. They're gonna have obviously have a great view of what's going on, but they're gonna be surprised where we're at," said Bills COO Pete Guelli on Thursday during an appearance on WGR from St. John Fisher University. "I would never say ahead of schedule, but feel really good."

A big part of the stadium, once it is completed, is making it work for the NFL and being made for television. Guelli says the lower bowl of the stadium and the field were designed with all of that in mind.

"If it doesn't show up the right way on television, it can be an issue. We went through those same things in other leagues," Guelli said with Jeremy White and Joe DiBiase. "You've got to TV test everything to make sure it works, but that's part of it, being a big business. The television is critically important to our model. It's got to be considered with every decision that we make."

Meanwhile, Guelli is also serving as the COO of the Buffalo Sabres, who are also having some renovations done to KeyBank Center in Downtown Buffalo. While the upgrades are relatively minor with a new roof and new state-of-the-art videoboard, Guelli says everything should be up and ready by the first week of September.