The Buffalo Bills are set to hold a second organized practice session at the new Highmark Stadium on Tuesday, August 18, per an article written by Lance Lysowski with The Buffalo News. The report comes on the heels of news that the team’s annual “Return of the Blue & Red” practice will be offered exclusively (first) to season ticket holders who have paid Personal Seat License (PSL) fees.
This just-announced second practice session won’t be offered first or exclusively to PSL holders. Further details are to come on that matter and more. On the move to add the practice, Bills president of business operations Pete Guelli had to following to share with Lysowski:
“We’re expecting since it’s PSL holders’ first chance to get into the building that they’re likely to take the vast majority of tickets,” Guelli said. “Since we now have PSL holders, they have the right to their specific seat, where in the past, it was maybe more of a general-admission type of event. We could see some available inventory, but I think it’s important to manage expectations. There’s so much (excitement) to get in the building, and it’s the first opportunity for PSL holders to see it, so we’re expecting them to be here.”
The new stadium’s seating capacity is 91% filled by PSL holders, per Lysowski, which leaves little room for the remainder of Bills Mafia to make their way into the new venue. It’s a situation that initially had plenty of fans in an uproar, many of whom also attend a game or several each season despite lacking season tickets.
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The added practice is a positive move by One Bills Drive in recognizing the frenzy of public interest to see the finished stadium. The Buffalo News article revealed that new head coach Joe Brady and Guelli was instrumental in the August 18 practice being added after a meeting between the two in June.
In addition to the “Return of the Blue & Red” practice as an official end to training camp, the Bills will host two preseason games ahead of the 2026 regular season. The first preseason home game is on Saturday August 15 against the Carolina Panthers, while the second (and preseason finale) is against the Pittsburgh Steelers on Thursday, August 27.
The added open practice on August 18 precedes Buffalo’s only road game of the preseason, which is against the Cleveland Browns on August 22. Traditionally, the second game has served as a regular-season dress rehearsal of sorts for the team’s starters, which means fans could be in line to see more of the team’s featured players in the practice on August 18.
Regardless, now those who otherwise may not be able to attend a preseason game will be able to enjoy the new place while also catching a glimpse of this year’s team mere weeks before the start of the regular season.
