The joint venture of Gilbane Building Company and Turner Construction Company, in association with 34 Group, has been selected by the Buffalo Bills to provide construction management of the team’s planned new NFL stadium in Orchard Park.
Of the US$1.4bn initially pledged, Bills ownership under Terry and Kim Pegula will provide US$550m, New York State will give US$600m and Erie County will pay US$250m.
The Bills recently unveiled the first two renderings for the new stadium scheduled to open in 2026. The project team also includes the project management firm, Legends Project Development, and Populous as the designer. Gilbane Building Company and Turner Construction Company have worked together for over 25 years, building over 5.5 million ft2 together. The two companies have built or renovated 16 NFL stadiums.
“34 Group is incredibly honored to be part of building a vibrant new NFL stadium for the Buffalo Bills and our community,” said founder Thurman Thomas. “We are dedicated to delivering a stadium that fulfils the vision for this new venue.” Thomas was formerly a member of the Buffalo Bills, playing a total of thirteen seasons in the National Football League (NFL) before establishing 34 Group alongside his partner.
“We are tremendously excited to build the new home for the Buffalo Bills,” said John LaRow, senior vice president at Gilbane. “This new NFL stadium will be a proud representation of the energy, passion, and dedication of the Bills organization, the team, its fans, and the City of Buffalo. Our joint-venture team is committed to driving opportunities for diverse and local businesses and working with our partners to deliver this transformational project for Western New York.”
The agreement includes a proviso for a minimum of 60,000 seats and could see a fully functional stadium as early as 2026, though there are currently no plans to apply for LEED certification.
“We are excited and honored to be a part of the team building the new NFL stadium for the Buffalo Bills,” said Turner Vice President and General Manager Carlton E. Stewart. “The stadium will elevate the fan experience for this incredible team, and we will create opportunities and engagement for members of our community during construction.”
