Ralph Wilson Stadium

The Buffalo Bills played their first 13 seasons at War Memorial Stadium, nicknamed 'The Rockpile', a WPA-era venue on Buffalo's East Side with a capacity under 47,000. After the AFL-NFL merger in 1970, the league mandated a minimum of 50,000 seats, prompting the search for a new home. Owner Ralph Wilson had explored relocating the team to Seattle before settling on a new stadium in Orchard Park. Ground was broken on April 4, 1972, and the stadium opened on August 17, 1973, as Rich Stadium, named after Rich Products which held the naming rights. The first event was a preseason game against the Washington Redskins. The stadium was built at a cost of $22 million. It was renamed Ralph Wilson Stadium in 1998 in honour of the Bills' founding owner. The stadium underwent renovations in 1998 and 2013, with the 2013 renovation including new scoreboards, improved concourses, and enhanced amenities. The playing surface went through several iterations, starting with AstroTurf from 1973 to 2002, then AstroPlay from 2003 to 2010, and finally A-Turf Titan 50 from 2011 onwards. The stadium was known for its electric atmosphere, particularly during the Bills' run of four consecutive Super Bowl appearances in the early 1990s. The Bills played their final game at the stadium on January 4, 2026, before moving to the new Highmark Stadium built adjacent to the old site. Demolition of the original stadium began in spring 2026.

The stadium went through six different names during its existence: Rich Stadium, Ralph Wilson Stadium, New Era Field, Bills Stadium, and Highmark Stadium. It was colloquially known as 'The Ralph' during the Ralph Wilson era. The stadium was famous for its tailgating culture, considered among the best in the NFL. Bills fans, known as the 'Bills Mafia', were renowned for jumping through flaming tables in the parking lot. The stadium's harsh winter weather, including lake-effect snow from nearby Lake Erie, created some of the most memorable conditions in NFL history. The Bills won four consecutive AFC championships while calling the stadium home from 1990 to 1993. The stadium's elevation of 770 feet made it one of the higher NFL venues. Despite its large capacity, the stadium never hosted a Super Bowl due to its cold-weather location.