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Bills Open $2.1 B Stadium, O.J. Simpson Excluded Posthumously

6/28/2026

Summary

Bills Omit

The Buffalo Bills opened the $2.1 billion Highmark Stadium and excluded O.J. Simpson from the Family Circle.
Chief operating officer Pete Guelli said the Hall of Fame inductee would not be honored despite his 1985 entry.
Simpson, who owed $33.5 million from a 1995 civil judgment, died of prostate cancer in April 2024 at 76.
The stadium includes 4,400 panels, an open-roof snow-melt system, a canopy over 60 % of seats, and heated grass.

Summary

Bills Open Plaza

The Family Circle plaza opened outside Highmark Stadium’s main entrance as a year-round outdoor space.
The plaza displays plaques honoring thirty Bills greats, reducing the count from thirty-one after O.J. Simpson’s exclusion.
The site provides a permanent gathering spot where fans can meet and view the tributes at any time.
Its placement ensures the honors are visible before entering the stadium, creating a separate recognition zone.

Summary

Bills Unveil Bison

Bills will debut three bison statues and legend plaques in the Family Circle during their first regular-season game on Sept. 17, 2026 vs Detroit Lions.
Building the new Highmark Stadium requires a $2.1 billion investment and 5,000,000 labor hours.
The stadium has a 360-degree canopy over 60 % of seats, heated grass and steel bull-shaped panels.
COO Pete Guelli said Simpson is not suitable for display inside the Family Circle.

Summary

Bills Exclude

The Buffalo Bills decided to exclude O.J. Simpson from their Wall of Fame after fans repeatedly urged the team to strip him.
Michael Petro of The Buffalo News cited Pete Guelli’s remark to provide media context for the exclusion.
Simpson was accused of murdering Nicole Brown Simpson and Ronald Goldman in 1994, was acquitted criminally, and was later found liable in a civil suit.
Simpson was convicted of armed robbery in 2007 after a Las Vegas hotel raid with five accomplices to take memorabilia he claimed.

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Bills Omit

The Buffalo Bills opened the $2.1 billion Highmark Stadium and excluded O.J. Simpson from the Family Circle.
Chief operating officer Pete Guelli said the Hall of Fame inductee would not be honored despite his 1985 entry.
Simpson, who owed $33.5 million from a 1995 civil judgment, died of prostate cancer in April 2024 at 76.
The stadium includes 4,400 panels, an open-roof snow-melt system, a canopy over 60 % of seats, and heated grass.

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