In 1972, Rich Products, a Buffalo-based food products company, signed a 25-year, $1.5 million deal ($60,000 per year), by which the venue would be called 'Rich Stadium' one of the earliest examples of the sale of naming rights in North American sports.

Naming rights The stadium's former name, Ralph Wilson Stadium (1998–2015) Bonds were approved by the county legislature in September 1971.

The stadium was ultimately built by Frank Schoenle and his construction company. However, plans changed because it was not wanted to be close to Lancaster High School. The location and construction of the stadium in Erie County were the source of years of litigation, which ended with a financial settlement for a developer who had planned to erect a domed stadium in Lancaster. The potential loss of the team hastened the stadium project and Rich Stadium opened in 1973. In early 1971, owner Ralph Wilson was exploring options to relocate the team, possibly to Seattle, with other cities such as Memphis and Tampa soon expressing interest as well. The league mandate instituted after the AFL–NFL merger of 1970 dictated a minimum of 50,000 seats.

While suitable for AFL play in the 1960s, the 'Rockpile' (as the stadium came to be nicknamed), was in disrepair and with a capacity of under 47,000, undersized for a National Football League (NFL) team. History Finding a new place to call home Īn original franchise of the American Football League (AFL) in 1960, the Buffalo Bills played their first 13 seasons at War Memorial Stadium, a multiuse WPA project stadium that opened in 1938, located on Buffalo's East Side. It was known as Ralph Wilson Stadium from 1998 to 2015, New Era Field from 2016 to 2019, and Bills Stadium in 2020. The stadium opened in 1973 as Rich Stadium and is the home venue of the Buffalo Bills of the National Football League (NFL).

Highmark Stadium is a stadium in Orchard Park, New York, in the Southtowns of the Buffalo metropolitan area.

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