Pittsford, N.Y. (WGR Sports Radio 550) – The Buffalo Bills are just over a year away from playing their first NFL game in the new Highmark Stadium. So far, the construction of the Bills new home is on schedule to open for the 2026 NFL season.

When the new stadium was announced, shortly after, the Bills announced they would be introducing Private Seat Licenses (PSL’s) for all Bills season ticket holders. PSL’s are a paid license that entitles the holder to the right to buy season tickets for a certain seat in a stadium.

The selling process was slow at first for the Bills front office. However, Bills and Sabres COO Pete Guelli has a more positive report on the PSL process a year out from the Bills big move.

“It’s going really well. When I first got here, we were going through this whole kind of premium process, and everyone felt like we needed to get through that first. I think people were a little concerned, maybe a little impatient, which you completely get. So we’ve really made an effort to get everybody through. We’re literally now into the last wave of season ticket holders. So almost everybody’s been through the building or through this process.” Guelli said in his appearance on the ‘Jeremy and Joe Show’ on Thursday.

A main focus for the Bills has been ensuring that all season ticket holders in the current Highmark Stadium get the first chance to choose their seats in the new stadium. Along with that, the team has prioritized an affordable price point for all fans no matter where the seat is.

“We were saying that from the beginning, that there would be a price point for everybody. We would lower the barrier to entry. We want everybody from the current stadium be over there. We don’t want it to be an impediment. In a lot of ways, you had to start with some of those higher priced products. What was interesting is how they moved really quickly, and we sold through them really quickly.” Guelli said with Jeremy White and Joe DiBiase, “So it wasn’t an issue for a lot of people. There’s a lot of people I think, that wanted to be in those premium areas. Once we got through that and started moving into the lower and upper bowl, then the process really escalated and went very fast. But, we’re already down to $1,000 PSL price point right now, likely to be another one coming here in the near future. So, I’m glad we’ve got a price point for everybody, an opportunity for everyone to participate in the new building.”

With the construction of the new stadium, came the possibility of bringing new events to the area. One of the biggest events the Bills have their sights set on is hosting the NFL Draft.

“So every single year, you basically have to resubmit your expression of interest. So we did that again. As we started looking at the overall landscape, the new stadium coming online, when the old stadium is going to come down, from a timing perspective, it felt like 29, 30 would be better for us. Put us in a better position to kind of execute things.” Guelli said, “we sent a team down to Green Bay, and they looked at the layout there and how that was set up and the layouts important. Making sure it’s authentic to the market is really important. We try to make sure we have time to check every single box and be ready for something like that.”

Along with the new stadium, Bills fans will find new and improved parking lots and tailgating lots. The addition of larger lots and different points of entry and exit give Guelli hope for smoother traffic for fans on game days.

“I think it’s going to be better. There’s a number of different entry points, the way it’s set up, the way that they’re going to handle Abbott, kind of moving forward. I think we’re hopeful because, that’s the process, right? It’s not just about the game. It’s when you leave your house and what it takes to get there, and what are your plans for tailgating, and what’s it like when you walk into the building, and how is it on exit? So, obviously we’ve had a lot of experience in the old building, and we’ve seen how that worked.” Guelli said, “But yeah, we feel like we’re in a good place there. We haven’t rolled anything out yet, but that’s definitely something we’ve been working on.”

Featured Image Photo Credit: Brayton J. Wilson