The Buffalo Bills opened their new stadium on Thursday night with a 41-31 win over the Detroit Lions, and one of the first things fans typed into Google afterwards was whether the place has a roof. It does not, exactly. Highmark Stadium has a canopy over much of the seating bowl and an open field beneath it, and it sits across the street from the stadium it replaced in Orchard Park, about 12 miles south of downtown Buffalo. Here is how to get there, and what to arrange before you go.
Is the new Highmark Stadium a dome?
No. The canopy covers the upper deck and shades a good part of the seats, but the field is open to the weather. Buffalo in November and December is still Buffalo, so plan for wind, rain and possibly snow, and dress for an outdoor game rather than an indoor one.
The stadium seats a little over 60,000, which makes it one of the smallest in the NFL. Before kickoff on Thursday the crowd heard both the U.S. and Canadian anthems, with Barenaked Ladies performing “O Canada”, a nod to the many fans who cross the border from Ontario for Bills games.
Driving and parking
Orchard Park is a driving market. From downtown Buffalo, one tour operator puts the trip at 20 to 25 minutes in normal traffic and 40 to 50 minutes around two hours before kickoff, when everyone arrives at once. From Buffalo Niagara International Airport, the same guide estimates about 20 minutes via Route 219 and Abbott Road.
The part that catches visitors out is parking. According to the Bills’ own parking page, passes must be bought in advance, and the only spaces sold on game day are accessible ones. Lots open four hours before kickoff and close two hours after the game ends. A few rules worth knowing:
- One vehicle per space, and no box trucks or vehicles towing grills or trailers.
- Each space includes a tailgating area. Tents, propane or natural gas grills and small Bluetooth speakers are allowed; glass containers, megaphones and drones are not.
- Tailgating must end at kickoff.
Leaving takes time. Guides suggest 30 minutes to more than an hour to clear the lots, and many fans simply wait 20 to 30 minutes at their tailgate before pulling out.
The Game Day Express bus
If you would rather not drive, NFTA Metro runs the Game Day Express. The fare is $5 each way, paid in exact-change cash or through the Token Transit app, and regular MetGo passes do not apply. Buses run from six transit centers:
- Metropolitan Transportation Center, in downtown Buffalo
- Niagara Falls Transportation Center
- Eastern Hills Mall
- Thruway Plaza Transit Center
- University Station
- Utica Rail Station
Metro says to be at your stop 10 to 15 minutes before departure because demand is high. Buses drop off at the transit center near Abbott Road and Southwestern Boulevard, and the first buses back leave about 30 minutes after the game ends. It is an express service, so you stay on board until the stadium, and there is no eating, drinking or smoking on the bus. Routes and times are set for each game, so check the NFTA schedule before you commit.
Rideshare and where to stay
Rideshare drop-off is at the Erie Community College South Campus on Southwestern Boulevard, a short walk from the gates. After the game, request your car from two or three blocks away rather than the main pickup zone, where demand peaks.
There are few hotels near the stadium itself. Most visitors stay in downtown Buffalo or near the airport, 12 to 15 miles away, which also puts them close to the Game Day Express pickup at the Metropolitan Transportation Center.
Coming from Toronto or Southern Ontario
Thousands of Canadian fans make the trip every season. The drive from Toronto to Buffalo takes about two hours depending on the border, and you will need a passport. Expect delays at the Peace Bridge and the Queenston-Lewiston crossing on game days, and check live wait times before you leave rather than after you arrive. The Game Day Express also runs from Niagara Falls, which suits anyone based on the Canadian side of the falls.
What to eat, and what it costs
Buffalo’s food is part of the trip: chicken wings, beef on weck, cup-and-char pizza and poutine all turn up around the ground. The venue is cashless, so bring a card. Early reports from the opener flagged high beer and food prices inside, so if you are watching your budget, eat before you go in.
Planning beyond one game
The stadium is not only a football venue. Metallica’s 2027 North American stadium run lists Highmark Stadium on Tuesday, June 8, and our Metallica M72 trip guide has the full schedule. If you are building an NFL road trip, the logic is the same at other grounds: sort out parking or transit first, and arrive early. Our guide to Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City covers a very different setup, with the same advice about not leaving it to the last minute.
A short checklist
- Buy parking in advance, or plan your Game Day Express departure point.
- Bring a passport if you are crossing from Canada, and check border wait times.
- Pack layers: the canopy does not make this a covered stadium.
- Carry a card, not cash, for food and drink inside.
- Allow at least an hour to get out afterwards.
Transit routes, parking rules and prices change from game to game, so confirm the details on the Bills and NFTA websites before you travel.
Photo: WuTang94, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
