During the Buffalo Bills’ preseason debut at the new $2.2 billion Highmark Stadium on Saturday, the newly installed Kentucky bluegrass surface drew mixed reviews from players and staff after chunks tore away during gameplay.
Divots and Discontent on the Field
The first game at the newly constructed venue in Orchard Park, New York, brought immediate scrutiny to the playing surface. On the final play of the first quarter against the Carolina Panthers, a scramble by backup quarterback Kyle Allen ended with a tackle by cornerback Chau Smith-Wade that sent a massive clump of turf flying into the air. The resulting rut required four Bills players—quarterback Josh Allen, receiver DJ Moore, and tackles Dion Dawkins and Spencer Brown—to physically stomp the displaced roots and dirt back into place.
Bills "very happy" with how field held up in
The condition of the sod drew blunt criticism from the locker room. The field is ass right now, an anonymous player told The Athletic’s Tim Graham, adding, But it’s early. Another unidentified player remarked that the field was soft, but not in a good way.
The surface issues led to continuous maintenance throughout the 29-14 preseason victory. Officials even reset the play clock in the first quarter so umpire Tab Slaughter could smash down loose soil in the backfield. By halftime, bald spots had developed between the hashmarks, particularly on the south end of the stadium. Midway through the fourth quarter, small craters pockmarked the area between the 14- and 21-yard lines, requiring long snapper Reid Ferguson to stomp down loose ground ahead of an extra point. Tyler Bass missed a 46-yard field goal attempt during the contest, though he noted he was too quick with his mechanics and did not blame the field conditions.
Other players offered a more optimistic perspective on natural grass compared to artificial surfaces. The grass looked good, Bills linebacker Dorian Williams said. “It was cool. A couple spots kind of chunked up a little bit, but it’s better than playing on (artificial) turf. The kinks will keep getting worked out. You can see some of the grass kind of mound up and guys knocking it back down, but I’ve had no traction problems so far. Running back James Cook reported that the field felt smooth,carrying five times for 21 yards with a 13-yard run. Panthers running back Jonathon Brooks also shared a favorable review, stating,
It was actually pretty good. It was a little lumpy out there, but it wasn’t bad. The grass felt good.”
The Field Is Ass,' Bills' New Highmark Stadium Grass
Front Office and Groundskeeping Response
Bills president Pete Guelli told the Associated Press that the initial state of the field was anticipated. Our grounds people were aware that was a possibility with a recently installed field, Guelli said. He noted that issues were attended to quickly and expressed confidence that performance would improve over time. From a playability and safety perspective, everybody’s very happy, Guelli said. It’s Year 1. So it’s a brand new field and it’s going to take time for the foundation to build up. So some of the things people saw in the game, those will dissipate over time.
The Kentucky bluegrass at Highmark Stadium was grown at Tuckahoe Turf Farms in New Jersey—a company that has handled fields for Acrisure Stadium, Lincoln Financial Field, Fenway Park, and Citi Field—and was installed in October 2025. The infrastructure features heating coils underneath to keep the ground from freezing, alongside millions of dollars in agricultural equipment stored beneath the lower seating bowl. Post-game maintenance was extensive; two hours after the final whistle, 16 groundskeepers were still examining every inch of the field and performing repairs, while sprinklers activated at 6:30 p.m.
The field is ass right now
Stadium Opening Hurdles
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The field conditions followed a wave of early public feedback regarding the new facility following an August 8 open practice that gave season ticket holders their first look at the stadium. Visitors circulated photos of obstructed-seat views, and a downpour highlighted areas lacking canopy shelter. Fans also raised concerns about traffic, the size of the scoreboards, and the audio system, while a 6 percent Erie County sales tax caused sticker shock on concessions and souvenirs. The organization addressed the operational feedback by stating they would utilize the next six weeks to refine any details as we prepare for the home opener on Thursday, Sept. 17,
against the Detroit Lions, noting that many obstructed-view seats will not be sold for football games and instead reserved for events like concerts.
The Bills have one remaining home preseason game this month before opening the regular season.
