The parking lots open four hours before showtime, and by hour two the smoke is already rising. Charcoal grills line the asphalt in rows. Coolers are cracked open. Someone has a folding table with a speaker blasting the headliner’s greatest hits. This is Highmark Stadium on a concert day — 71,000 seats in Orchard Park, surrounded by the same tailgate culture that has made Buffalo Bills game days a pilgrimage for football fans across the Northeast. When a stadium tour rolls into Western New York, it doesn’t just bring the music. It brings the whole carnival.
Fifty Years of Stadium Rock
Highmark Stadium opened in 1973 as Rich Stadium — a no-frills, open-air bowl built for football in a part of the country where open-air means something. The first major concert came just two years later, when the Rolling Stones played to a sold-out crowd of 72,000 on August 8, 1975. The Stones would return four more times over the decades — in 1978, 1981, 1997, and 2015 — making Orchard Park one of their most-visited American stadiums.
The venue has cycled through naming rights — Rich Stadium, Ralph Wilson Stadium, New Era Field, and now Highmark Stadium — but the concert legacy runs unbroken. The Jackson 5’s Victory Tour stopped here for two consecutive nights in August 1984. Beyonce and Jay-Z brought the On The Run II Tour in 2018. Billy Joel, delayed by the pandemic, finally took the stage on August 14, 2021. The Stadium Tour in 2022 packed the house with Def Leppard, Motley Crue, Poison, and Joan Jett. George Strait headlined in June 2025 with Chris Stapleton and Parker McCollum. When an act is big enough to fill a football stadium, Orchard Park is on the short list.
The Stadium Experience
At roughly 71,600 seats for concerts, Highmark Stadium is the largest live music venue in Upstate New York by a wide margin. It’s an open-air facility — no roof, no dome, just Western New York sky overhead — which means weather is part of the deal. Summer concerts can be glorious. They can also be unpredictable. Dress in layers, bring a poncho, and commit to the experience either way. Bills fans have been doing it in January for decades. You can handle August.
The stage is typically set up at one end of the field, with general admission floor sections and reserved seating climbing through the bowl. Sightlines are generally strong throughout — the bowl design means even upper-deck seats have a clear view of the stage, though you’ll want binoculars or a screen for facial expressions. Sound quality varies by section and production, as it does at any open-air stadium, but major tours bring their own massive PA systems tuned for the space.
The New Highmark Stadium
Here’s the headline: a brand-new Highmark Stadium is under construction right across the street, with the $2.2 billion facility on track to open for the 2026 NFL season. The new stadium, designed by Populous, seats 62,000 in a more intimate configuration and features a sweeping 360-degree steel canopy covering approximately 60 percent of seats — a significant upgrade for weather protection. The canopy houses the league’s largest snow-melt system, because this is still Buffalo.
The current Highmark Stadium will be demolished after the new building opens. For concertgoers, the transition means the 2026 concert season and beyond will take place in one of the newest, most modern stadium venues in the country. If past concert history is any indication, the new stadium will aggressively pursue major touring acts to fill dates between football seasons.
The Tailgate
You cannot write about Highmark Stadium without writing about the parking lots. The tailgate culture here is not a sideshow — it’s half the draw. The lots along Abbott Road open four hours before events, and by the time gates open, the scene rivals a small festival. Grills are loaded with Buffalo’s signature offerings: chicken wings with Frank’s RedHot, beef on weck, and whatever else fits on a charcoal grate. Craft beer from local breweries flows freely.
Key lots for tailgating include Lot 4, the Camper Lot, and Tailgate Village — an exclusive section within Lot 3 designated specifically for the pre-game ritual. Groups of up to 11 are permitted. If you want a more structured experience, Gameday Hospitality operates an all-inclusive tailgate at 3880 Abbott Road, directly across from the stadium, with food, drinks, live music, and fan experiences included.
For concerts, the tailgate vibe is slightly different than a Bills game — less organized mayhem, more festival-adjacent — but the spirit is the same. Show up early. Bring food. Talk to strangers. This is Western New York.
Getting There and Parking
Highmark Stadium is located at 1 Bills Drive in Orchard Park, about 15 minutes south of downtown Buffalo. From I-90 (the Thruway), take exit 56 to Route 179 south. From the south, Route 219 connects directly.
All Buffalo Bills-controlled parking lots require advance-purchase passes for events. Accessible parking is available in Lot 2 ADA and Lot 6 ADA on a first-come, first-served basis without advance purchase. On event days, Abbott Road closes between the south entrance of Lot 2 ADA and the north entrance of Lot 6 ADA. Plan for significant traffic getting in and out — patience is a virtue on Abbott Road.
Where to Eat
The tailgate IS the restaurant for most concertgoers, but if you want a sit-down meal before or after the show, Orchard Park delivers:
- Big Tree Inn — Just 0.3 miles from the stadium, a no-nonsense American spot that has fed the pre-game crowd for years.
- Prohibition 2020 — Right next to the stadium with 20 tap lines of craft beer and over 20 wing flavors. Built for event days.
- Winfield’s Pub — A local favorite with a loyal following, known for friendly service and solid pub fare.
Insider Tips
Arrive early. Not “30 minutes before gates” early — “four hours before showtime” early. The tailgate is the appetizer, and skipping it means missing half the experience. If you’re not tailgating yourself, walk the lots. The hospitality is genuine and the food is free-flowing.
For the best concert experience in the current stadium, lower-bowl sideline seats offer the strongest combination of sightlines and sound. Floor GA is great for energy but rough for visibility unless you’re near the front. Upper deck is fine for the spectacle but you’re watching the screens more than the stage.
Keep your eye on the new stadium’s inaugural concert season. First events in a brand-new $2.2 billion venue tend to be historic — and tickets will move fast.
Website: highmarkstadiumny.com