ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. (WIVB) — The Buffalo Bills want fans to be more connected on game days — which is why the team announced Verizon as the exclusive wireless telecom partner of the New Highmark Stadium.
“Every day that goes by, more and more will come into focus around this amazing facility,” said Bills and Sabres chief operating officer Pete Guelli. “Today, it’s about technology. Verizon brings its 5G network to Highmark Stadium with the goal of making Bills Mafia the most connected fanbase in the National Football League.”
On Monday, the Bills announced that Verizon is now a founding partner of the new stadium and will provide 5G internet and Wi-Fi at the stadium for fans to enjoy.
With tens of thousands of football fans using their phones, technology plays a major role on game day.
“There’s nothing more frustrating than capturing a video and trying to share it, and you’re waiting and waiting, especially when you’re in the stadium,” said Chris Flood, the Atlantic North Market president for Verizon. “We are absolutely set up for success with the technology that’s being built here, that Bills Mafia and Verizon customers are one of the same. That is not one thing they have to be concerned about. It’ll be a great experience and they’ll be right there in the center of all the action in real time.”
“The experience is going to be magnified and really bring those fan experiences to life,” said Jake Kornblatt, who works for Verizon on the business sales team. “If you think about it, fans want to check their fantasy scores, they want to send videos to their friends and family. That data needs to transmit extremely quickly.”
Verizon is installing a distributed antenna system that officials say will be nine times more efficient than the network in the old stadium.
“That’s not only covering the 60,000 fans in here, but we know how important, how passionate Bills Mafia is, we’re going to be extending the poles and the system and the experience to cover all 20,000 fans-plus in the parking lot as well,” Kornblatt said.
“We’re promising a seamless experience, a street to seat experience, as easy from a technology standpoint as you can possibly have — and none of that works without Verizon,” Guelli said.
Officials with Verizon say the 5G connection will be the same for Verizon customers and fans who also use a different phone provider.
Construction on the new stadium remains on schedule and is expected to be completed by July 2026.
Sarah Minkewicz is an Emmy-nominated reporter and Buffalo native who has been a part of the News 4 team since 2019. Follow Sarah on Twitter @SarahMinkewicz and click here to see more of her work.