The Buffalo Bills’ new stadium could host the NFL draft in the coming years, according to Buffalo Sabres and Bills Chief Operating Officer Pete Guelli.
Speaking at the KeyBank Center Wednesday, Guelli says it’s one of several big sporting events they’re pursuing at the future Highmark Stadium.
“We’ve been public that we’re pursuing the NFL draft, and I think the most likely dates for that would be [2029 or 2030] if that worked out,” he said. “We’ve talked to the [NHL] about the Winter Classic, we’ve talked to them about the Stadium Series. We told them we want it; we’d love to have it here and right now, we’re looking at the dates that would work best for that.”
Guelli says the NHL would “love” to have the Winter Classic return to Orchard Park after the Sabres hosted the first-ever event on Jan. 1, 2008.
“It was a big success. It was approximately 20 years ago, which would be fun to maybe memorialize that type of event with another one in this market,” he said. “And to do it at the new stadium? I think it’s the perfect venue for it.”
The new Highmark Stadium, a project totaling more than $2 billion, is set to open in time for the 2026 NFL season.