The Buffalo Bills announced on Mar. 24 that they have released exclusive renderings of three bison statues set to be installed at the Family Circle area of Highmark Stadium.
The new sculptures are intended to represent the strength and resilience of the Buffalo community, serving as a visual symbol for both the team and its supporters. The installation aims to create a welcoming space for fans while honoring local heritage.
According to Frank Cravotta, Senior Vice President of Design, Stadium Operations for the Bills, “This portion of the project has taken several years to come together. Right from the start, we wanted to place American Bisons in front of our stadium. It’s taken a lot of hard work and coordination; we’re thrilled with the result.” The display will feature three figures—a bull, cow, and calf—symbolizing family. The bull will stand 27 feet tall and stretch 29 feet in length with an estimated weight of 23,000 pounds. For comparison, quarterback Josh Allen stands at 6-foot-5.
The cow is planned at 22 feet tall by 23 feet long, while the calf will be 12 feet tall by 13 feet long. At night, five programmable lighting systems will illuminate the statues. Both bull and cow are designed to emit smoke through their nostrils during cold weather conditions.
Cravotta said about the process: “I didn’t expect just how complex the engineering and fabrication would be for these statues. The sculptures are very large and one-of-a-kind.” He added that including bison has been part of stadium planning since its earliest stages: “Like the progressive design of our stadium, the Bisons help us look ahead to the future.”
Construction is underway at ART Research Enterprises in Lancaster, Pennsylvania under sculpture artist Blessing Hancock’s direction. Cravotta said: “Blessing Hancock is an acclaimed sculpture artist whose impressive work can be found around the world. She has a real talent for telling community stories, and the Bison family captures our story in a truly unique way.”
The base structure for these statues is complete along with surrounding features such as plaques honoring former players and benches designed for visitors’ use within Family Circle. Additional tributes will appear inside Highmark Stadium on Skyline Deck.
