New parking facility for Bills games to be tested at season opener

PITTSFORD, NY (WIVB) – The Bills completed training camp at St. John Fisher University on Thursday and the team and their fans are now looking forward to Saturday’s first preseason game against the Colts.

Saturday’s game marks another first beyond the pre-season opener: it will be the first home game at Highmark Stadium while the new stadium is being built across Abbott Road, a major test for the new park plans representing Bills.

“We’re going to address that in every game,” said Andy Major, Bills’ vice president of operations and gaming experience. “We looked at it closely on Friday night, I know it was an open practice. But that was a good start… kind of a blush.”

Major said the number of car parking spaces really didn’t change between last year and this year. However, the construction of the stadium has resulted in the RV park being closed.

Though the RV site may no longer exist, Major says it offers more space to park cars. Additionally, fans can now park in the Bills’ parking lot, which was previously only used for game-day staff.

While some fans at training camp said they weren’t overly concerned about the new parking situation, others are already planning ahead.

“The biggest bottlenecks are where the new stadium is being built,” said Bills fan Emily Galka. “We loved being able to park at ECC and walk across it – somehow that doesn’t work anymore. So it’s as if the extra planning that will be required and the time that will be required to get there is a cause for concern. But we also know it’s up to the Bills, we’re going to do it anyway.”