The Buffalo Bills are gearing up for their first regular-season game at Highmark Stadium, but they are facing a significant challenge: the grass on their new $2.2 billion field is being replaced just days before their home opener against the Detroit Lions. The team has already gone through two different playing surfaces, with the original Kentucky bluegrass failing to hold up during early practices and preseason games.
Crews began stripping the initial grass this week, leaving the field nearly bare as they prepare to install a new surface. This decision comes after chunks of the original sod became dislodged during the Bills' first football events at the stadium in August. The Bills are determined to have a reliable playing surface for their players, especially with a demanding schedule ahead that includes three consecutive home games starting with the Lions on Thursday, September 17.
“We’re committed to having the best possible playing surface for our players,” said Pete Guelli, the Bills' president of business operations. The team opted to re-sod the field now, rather than risk further issues during the regular season. The new grass is expected to be fully installed by the end of this week, allowing sufficient time for the field to settle before the game.
The original grass was installed in October 2025, nearly a year before the stadium's first regular-season game. However, the challenges became apparent when the Bills began practicing on the field in August. During a preseason opener against the Carolina Panthers, large pieces of sod were displaced, prompting players and officials to physically stomp the grass back into place. Although the field passed the NFL's safety standards by the preseason finale against the Pittsburgh Steelers, the Bills decided that a complete replacement was necessary to ensure optimal conditions.
Aaron Ramella, the Bills' senior director of grounds, explained that while ordinary divots are expected on natural grass fields, the issue with the original sod was larger sections of grass being uprooted by player movements. The team is hopeful that the new sod, which was grown specifically for the Bills by Tuckahoe Turf Farms in New Jersey, will be more resilient. Approximately 80,000 square feet of Kentucky bluegrass was cultivated for this purpose.
The Bills tested the replacement sod in the south end zone during their preseason finale, and it held up well during gameplay. Ramella noted that the new sod is stronger than the previous installation, which should help mitigate the problems experienced earlier.
Highmark Stadium features an advanced natural-grass system, including a heated field designed to keep the grass healthy during the harsh winters of western New York. However, this system cannot prevent the physical disruption caused by players during games. The Bills' grounds crew is aware that maintaining a natural grass field involves regular re-sodding, and it is likely that they will need to replace the grass again during the season, depending on usage and weather conditions.
As the Bills prepare for their home opener against the Lions, the focus remains on ensuring that the field is ready for play. The team opened the season with a road game against the Houston Texans on September 13, but the upcoming matchup at Highmark Stadium marks a pivotal moment for the franchise as they look to establish a strong home-field advantage.
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