PITTSFORD, N.Y. (AP) 鈥� Josh Allen laughed at the notion of some referring to the Buffalo Bills鈥� new home as 鈥渢he house that Josh built鈥� by saying he had nothing to do with the .
It鈥檚 a figurative nickname, after all, in representing how the Bills have enjoyed a surge in popularity and competitiveness since the star quarterback鈥檚 arrival in 2018.
What Allen can鈥檛 dispute is looking forward to the Bills’ first opportunity to take the field at Highmark Stadium on Saturday night, when the team holds its annual Blue and Red scrimmage in front of what鈥檚 expected to be a full house.
鈥淚t鈥檚 really cool to be a part of a team that gets to play the inaugural season at a new stadium, a stadium I think that was long-needed here in Western New York,鈥� Allen said Friday, after the Bills closed their in suburban Rochester, New York.
Allen acknowledged he鈥檚 not much of a sentimentalist in reflecting on the team鈥檚 former home, also called Highmark, which has since been reduced to rubble across the street.
鈥淲e had good times there,鈥� he said. 鈥淏ut looking forward to having good times in the new one, too.鈥�
Entering the modern age
In having bid farewell to their aging, utilitarian home, with dark, narrow corridors and few amenities, the Bills make the transition into the modern age.
There will be much to get accustomed to from new sightlines to the sound system, a curved overhang to reduce the effects of the wind and elements, and a natural grass field replacing the artificial turf surface.
There will be no cramped tunnel for the players of both teams to squeeze out of, with home and visiting locker rooms now separated. And even the seating configuration will be different, with the 60,000-plus seats stacked more vertically, and seemingly on top of the action.
First-year coach Joe Brady regards the practice on Saturday as the first of several key test runs. The Bills will hold several more practices in the new facility, along with playing two preseason games, before their prime-time Thursday home-opener against Detroit on Sept. 17.
鈥淚鈥檓 going to be looking at everything, just getting a feel of play clocks while I am calling it. Vantage points from lights and how does the wind feel? There鈥檚 so many things just from my perspective,鈥� Brady said, noting he has spent countless meetings going over every scenario regarding the new stadium.
Brady even had Bills staff provide an orientation of the building to members of players鈥� families. The last thing the coach wants is having his players distracted on game day because someone can鈥檛 find an entrance.
鈥淚t鈥檚 like truly walking into the house,鈥� general manager Brandon Beane said. 鈥淵eah, it鈥檒l be different, and the number one thing we have to do is try and get over there as much as we can with our team to make it feel like home.鈥�
Getting accustomed to the elements
For most players it won鈥檛 take long to get accustomed to their new surroundings. The big exception is the special teams unit, with kicker Tyler Bass and Buffalo鈥檚 two punters on the roster having to take into account the wind and elements.
Though the new stadium is not covered, it has design elements to reduce the effects of the wind.
The curved overhang is one element. Another is the the new stadium being taller and also having a north-south orientation. That鈥檚 different from the west-east facing former home, which allowed the gusting winds blowing in off of Lake Erie to funnel and swirl into the stadium bowl.
鈥淚鈥檇 love to go over there on a windy day just to see,鈥� long-snapper Reid Ferguson said. 鈥淚鈥檓 sure it鈥檒l take a few practices in there to kind of get our bearings on the different parts of the field where the wind may swirl a little bit if there is any. So, yeah, excited to get in there.鈥�
Veteran pass rusher Bradley Chubb might be in his first season with the Bills, but he鈥檚 familiar with playing in Buffalo after spending the previous four seasons with the AFC East rival Miami Dolphins.
Though eager to play in the new stadium, Chubb said .
鈥淚t鈥檚 that old-school feel. Everybody shares the same tunnel, the locker room鈥檚 not super updated, the shower鈥檚 cold, even when it鈥檚 cold outside,鈥� Chubb said. 鈥淏ut you know, change is good. New is good.鈥�
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