Populous Architect Defends Stair Design Behind Highmark Stadium Obstructed Views

The Buffalo Bills opened their brand new $2.2 billion Highmark Stadium on Saturday in Orchard Park, but the venue has quickly faced fan scrutiny over sightline issues instead of wowing the NFL world. Photos of obstructed-view seating circulated widely across social media following the team’s Blue & Red practice, capturing portions of the field blocked by overhangs, sharp angles in the structure, and stairways with plexiglass barriers that led into the aisles.

In response to the growing discussion, the Bills issued a statement on Monday, August 10, expressing that they are currently addressing internal and external feedback regarding the facility's operation following the first event. Meanwhile, the venue’s architecture firm stepped forward to address the design choices behind the 60,108-seat facility, which is the smallest in the NFL in terms of seating capacity.

Populous Architect Defends Outboard Stair Design at Highmark Stadium

Jonathan Mallie, the managing director of Populous’ Americas practice, called into Buffalo’s WGR 550 to explain the reasoning behind the controversial stairways after previously declining comment to For The Win. He pointed out that large-scale public venues rank among the most complex engineering projects in the world, requiring architects to balance competing priorities.

Buffalo Bills Address Obstructed Views at New Highmark Stadium

“Starting with just the building type, stadiums in general or airports, these are some of the most complex buildings in the world that we have to deal with. When you think about that, all of design are trade-offs. And so one major thing that we wanted to do was alleviate as much congestion on the concourses as possible. Create open views from concourse. Old Highmark didn’t have this.”

Jonathan Mallie, managing director of Populous’ Americas practice

Mallie explained that older venues typically required fans to go behind a wall to get food and get a drink, cutting them off from the field. By keeping those stairwells out of that concourse and putting them on that leading edge, the design team aimed to keep traffic moving while opening up sightlines.

According to the architect, this layout is common practice rather than a local anomaly. He noted that there are 21 professional stadiums between the NFL and Major League Baseball—14 of which in the NFL—that have outboard stairs to improve concourse circulation and allow fans to catch a view of the game when they go and get their drink.

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Weighing 360-Degree Concourse Views Against Seating Trade-offs

The architectural trade-off was intended to achieve a specific goal: providing 360-degree stadium views from the concourse level. Mallie emphasized that this configuration also offers protection for the fans to duck in and get out of the elements for a minute while keeping spectators connected to the action on the field.

“It is, and that was a key element in providing that protection for the fans. So when you have that opportunity to maybe duck in and get out of the elements for a minute. You go get your drink, but you can still have an eyeball on the game. And that’s a complete departure from old Highmark. Just a noticeable difference.”

Jonathan Mallie, managing director of Populous’ Americas practice

Despite the design rationale, fans might not take lightly to those comments given the financial investment required for the new venue. The old Highmark Stadium had been home since 1973, and while the additional legroom at the new $2.2 billion venue is a bonus, fewer seats typically conveys a message of better sightlines. Many supporters purchased personal seat licenses (PSLs) essentially purchasing the right to buy season tickets, raising expectations for optimal sightlines throughout the seating bowl.

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A source close to the Bills’ project also told For The Win that “less than 1%” of PSL holders voiced concerns about sightlines, indicating that the vast majority of ticket buyers have not raised formal objections. It does sound like there was a thought process behind that stairway design, and the Bills will just have to figure out a way to alleviate the obstruction those stairs created as the venue works through its early returns in Orchard Park.