The brutal constructive criticism hitting the Buffalo Bills’ new home is missing the point
The Buffalo Bills’ new Highmark Stadium didn’t exactly get the strongest endorsement from one play in a key area but it’s missing the point.
Most things new usually receive criticism when they’re replacing something nostalgic. The Buffalo Bills have found that out the hard way in more ways than one in recent weeks.
First came the ‘Nickel City’ alternate uniforms, which drew ire for how drastically different they were from Buffalo’s current kit. Then game the formal reveal of New Highmark Stadium for the team’s in-stadium scrimmage. The stadium is a $2+ billion marvel. It looks beautiful. But several images of seat views with blocked seats became the subject of memes and jokes across the internet. That feedback is secondary to the latest round of critical feedback for Buffalo — the venue’s playing surface appears to be a work in progress.
New Highmark Stadium’s field quality catches flak but let’s keep the main thing the main thing
“The field is ass right now,” said one player who didn’t want to be identified. “But it’s early.”
Tim Graham, The Athletic
On Highmark Stadium's grass field
Tim Graham of ‘The Athletic’ profiled the team’s first preseason contest at New Highmark Stadium and the struggles with the first full test drive of the new surface. There will be growing pains, as there are with just about everything else.
But those growing pains are worth the price of getting a natural playing surface for the players — especially amid the recent push from active players to campaign for all grass surfaces. This summer’s World Cup festivities were played exclusively on grass and further highlighted that it was, indeed, possible to play on natural surfaces. Buffalo’s decision-making with New Highmark Stadium were well ahead of that curve, but they caught the perfect wave to ride to highlight their new grass surface.
If we’re calling for all grass playing surfaces across the NFL, that needs to be celebrated, no matter what. Even if it takes a few games to work out the kinks.
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