The Roaming Photographer: 2024-10-27

Friday, November 1, 2024

Lumen Field

Photo Credit

Seahawks president says team plans upgrades

at Lumen Field | HeraldNet.com)

Researched and compiled by

Carrie Birdsong

Former Names:

1. Seahawks Stadium 2002 – 2004
2. Qwest Field: 2004 – 2011
3. CenturyLink Field: 2011 – 2020
Address: 800 Occidental Avenue South
Location: Seattle, Washington
Owner: Washington State Public Stadium Authority
Operator: First & Goal Inc.
Executive Suites: 111
Capacity:

1. 68,740 (NFL) Expandable to 72,000

for special events.

2. 10,000 National Women’s Soccer League

Record Attendance: Concert: 77,286 (Ed Sheeran,

August 26th, 2023)

Soccer: 69,274 (Seattle Founders FC vs. Toronto

FC, November 10th, 2019).
Field Size: American Football: 120 yd x 53.3 yd
Soccer: 116 yd x 75 yd.
Surface: FieldTurf Revolution 360.
Scoreboard: 84 ft x 24 ft.
44 ft x 50 ft

Construction

Broke Ground: September 28th, 1998 (complex)
Opened: July 28th, 2002.
Construction Cost:

1. $430 million (entire complex)
2. ($728 million in 2023 dollars(1))
Architect: Ellerbe Becket (2)
LMN Architects(2) Streeter & Associates(3)
Structural Engineer: Magnusson Klemencic Associates
Services Engineer: McKinstry/Cochran(2)
General Contractor: Turner Construction Company(2)
Tenants
1. Seattle Seahawks (NFL) 2002 – Present
2. Seattle Sounders FC (MLS) 2009 – Present
3. Seattle Reign FC (NWSL) 2022 – Present
4. Seattle Bowl (NCAA) 2002
5. Seattle Sounders (A-League/USL 1) 2003 – 2007
6. Washington Huskies (NCAA) 2011 – 2012
7. Seattle Dragons/Sea Dragons (XFL) 2020, 2023

Lumen Field is a multi-purpose stadium in Seattle, Washington. Located in the city’s SoDo neighborhood, it is the home field for the Seattle Seahawks of the National Football League (NFL), Seattle Sounders FC of Major League Soccer (MLS), and Seattle Reign FC of the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL). Originally called Seahawks Stadium, it was renamed Qwest Field in June 2004 when telecommunications carrier Qwest acquired the naming rights. The stadium became known as Century Link Field following Qwest’s June 2011 acquisition by Century Link and was nicknamed “The Clink” as a result(4); it received its current name in November 2020 with CenturyLink’s rebrand to Lumen Technologies(5). It is a modern facility with views of the Downtown Seattle skyline and a seating capacity of 68,740 spectators for NFL games and 37,722 for most MLS matches. The complex also includes the Event Center which is home to the Washington Music Theater (WaMu Theatre), a parking garage, and a public plaza. The venue hosts concerts, trade shows, and consumer shows along with sporting events. Located within a mile of Downtown Seattle, the stadium is accessible by multiple freeways and forms of mass transit.

The stadium was built between 2000 and 2002 on the site of the Kingdom after voters approved funding for the construction in a statewide election held in June 1997. This vote created the Washington State Public Stadium Authority to oversee public ownership of the venue. The owner of the Seahawks, Paul Allen, formed First & Goal Inc. to develop and operate the new facilities. Allen was closely involved in the design process and emphasized the importance of an open-air venue with an intimate atmosphere.

Seahawks fans at Lumen Field have twice claimed the Guinness World Record for loudest crowd roar at an outdoor stadium, first at 136.6 decibels in 2013, followed by a measurement of 137.6 decibels in 2014. The crowd’s notorious noise has also contributed to the team’s home-field advantage with an increase in false starts (movement by an offensive player before the play) and delay of game (failure of the offense to snap the ball before the play clock expiring) penalties against visiting teams(6). The stadium was the first in the NFL to install a FieldTurf artificial surface. Numerous college and high school football games gave also been played at the stadium, including the 2011 Apple Cup and all Washington Huskies home games during the renovation of Husky Stadium in 2012. The XFL’s Seattle Dragons began playing at Lumen Field in 2020 and returned in 2023 as the Sea Dragons.

Lumen Field is also designed for soccer. The first sporting event included a United Soccer Leagues (USL) Seattle Founders match. The USL team began using the stadium regularly for home games in 2003. The MLS expansion team, Seattle Sounders FC, began its inaugural season in 2009 at the stadium. Lumen Field was the site of the MLS Cup in 2009 and 2019; the latter set a new attendance record for the stadium with 69,274 spectators. The venue also hosted the 2010 and 2011 tournament finals for the U.S. Open Cup as well as the second leg of the 2022 tournament for the CONCACAF Champions League; the Sounders won all three finals, with new tournament attendance records set for each final (or leg) hosted at Lumen Field. The stadium hosted several CONCACAF Gold Cup matches across multiple editions, including the Copa America Centenario in 2016. It will also host matches during the 2026 FIFA World Cup, which was awarded to the United States, Canada, and Mexico. (7)

Funding

The Seahawks played their home games at the Kingdome from their 1976 inaugural season until 1999, sharing the stadium with Major League Baseball’s Seattle Mariners and the National Basketball Association’s Seattle SuperSonics(8). In 1995, a proposal was made to issue county bonds to fund a remodeling project of the facility. The proposal failed, and as a result, Seahawks’ owner Ken Behring threatened to sell or move the team (likely to Los Angeles). In 1997 local billionaire Paul Allen pledged to acquire the team if a new stadium could be built and said that the team could not be profitable until they left the Kingdome. He asked the state legislature to hold a special statewide referendum on a proposal to finance a new stadium Allen also agreed to cover any cost overruns(9)(10). With Allen agreeing to pay the 4 million dollar cost, the legislature agreed. The vote was scheduled to be held in June 1997, but in May a Seattle resident filed a lawsuit that claimed the legislature did not have authority to call for such a vote since it would be paid for by a private party who could gain from the result. The case was delayed until after the vote(11). The proposal was pitched to voters as providing both a new home for the Seahawks and a venue for top-level soccer. It passed on June 17th, 1997,(12) with 820,364 (51.1%) in favor and 783,584 against(11)(13). The vote was close in Seattle, but it received 60% approval in Seattle’s northern and eastern suburbs. The public funding was unpopular farther away in the eastern portion of the state(14). In October, a Thurston County Superior Court judge ruled that the legislature acted properly and in the public’s interest, and he dismissed the pending lawsuit. The Washington Supreme Court upheld the decision that December.(11)(15)

Voter approval of the referendum created a public-private partnership(12). The Washington State Public Stadium Authority was created to oversee public ownership of the stadium, exhibition center, and parking garage complex. Allen purchased the Seahawks and formed First & Goal Inc. to build and operate the facility. The budget for the project was $430 million. Of this cost, $44 million was allotted to build the Event Center, $26 million for the parking garage, and $360 million for the stadium. First & Goal was to cover the cost overruns and pay up to $130 million for the project while the contribution from the public was capped at $300 million(16). The public funding package included new sports-related state lottery games, taxes on the facility’s admissions and parking, sales tax credits and deferrals, and an eight-year extension of the 2% tax on hotel rooms in King County(17). The taxes on admissions and parking were set below the authorized 10% to preserve the tax-exempt status of the project’s bonds, which were first issued on May 1st, 1999; the percentage was increased to the full amount when the bonds were completely paid on January 1st, 2021, with the taxes subsequently serving as dedicated funding sources for maintenance and modernization of the facilities(16)(18). Furthermore, a clause in the referendum required Allen or his estate to give the Public Stadium Authority 10% of the proceeds from the sale of a majority or all of their interest in the Seahawks if they had done so before or on the 25th anniversary of the first bond sale. The proceeds would have been reserved for the state’s public schools had a sale of the team occurred before the bonds were fully paid off; any sale in between the bond retirement and the clause expiration would have seen the proceeds go towards improvements to the stadium instead.(18)

In September 1998, First & Goal signed a 30-year stadium lease that includes options to extend for another 20(19). Per the agreement, the Public Stadium Authority receives $850,000 a year from First & Goal (adjusted for inflation), and First & Goal keeps all the revenue from the stadium and parking garage. The company receives 80% of the revenue from the exhibition center while the other 20 percent is allotted to a state education fund. First & Goal is responsible for all operating and maintenance costs, expected to be $6 million a year, and must keep the facility in “first-class” condition. Other details of the lease include the availability of affordable seats, a coordinated effort with neighboring T-Mobile Park (the Mariners’ current ballpark) to prevent gridlock, a provision for naming rights, the investment in public art at the stadium, and the giveaway of a luxury suite to a fan each Seahawk’s game.(19)

Construction and Layout

The architectural firm Ellerbe Becket, in association with Loschky, Marquardt, and Nesholm (LMN) Architects of Seattle, designed the 1.5 million square feet project. Allen was closely involved during the design process. While growing up he attended games at the University of Washington’s (UW) outdoor Husky Stadium. His goal was to create a similar experience and atmosphere at the new venue(20)(21). The exposition center portion of the project was designed over a period of 14 months by LMN Architects while First & Goal managed the construction(22)(23). Town meetings were held to discuss the impact on the public, and the company created a 6 million dollar mitigation fund for nearby neighborhoods(24). Per a program established by the building team, contracts totaling $81 million were awarded to minority- and women-owned businesses. Union apprentices made up 19% of the workforce through another program with local trade unions.(25)

Construction of the new exhibition center and parking garage was set to commence on September 19th, 1998, but prolonged lease discussions between First & Goal and the Public Stadium Authority delayed the official groundbreaking to September 28th(26)(27). The exhibition center opened on October 30th, 1999, and subsequently hosted its first event on November 4th(28). On March 26th, 2000, to make way for the stadium, the Kingdome was demolished in the world’s largest implosion of a single concrete structure(29). Almost all of the Kingdome rubble was recycled with roughly half used for the new stadium. The designers were challenged by the soft soil at the site since it was a tidal marsh until public works projects in the early 20th century adjusted the waterline of nearby Elliot Bay. The top layer is a soft fill taken from the gardening projects that had leveled portions of Seattle’s hills. To account for the soft soil, the complex sits on over 2,200 pilings driven 50 to 70 feet below the ground to form what is essentially a pier for the foundation(30). Eight individually connected sections were built to account for the soil concerns, temperature effects, and the potential for earthquakes(31). The adjoining exhibition center and parking garage are separate structures and are not part of the eight-section stadium.(31)

The site of Lumen Field is the smallest of those developed for new NFL Stadiums, at 30 acres. The upper levels were cantilevered over the lower sections to fit within the limited space. Along with the angle of seats and the placement of the lower sections closer to the field, this provided a better view of the field than typically seen throughout the country and allowed for a 67,000-seat capacity(34). Space is available to increase the total capacity to 72,000 for special events. Included in the capacity are 111 suites and over 7,000 club seats. The stadium has 1,400 seats for those with disabilities and their companions located in various sections(34). In 2009, Qwest Field ranked 21st out of the 31 stadiums in the NFL for total seating capacity. (35)

The configuration of Lumen Field in a U-shape with an open north end provides views of downtown Seattle and the large north plaza. The large retractable roof of T-Mobile Park along with Mount Rainier to the southeast can be seen from the partially open south end(32). The stadium’s concourses were built to be wide, and they provide additional views of the surrounding area(36). A 13-story tower was erected at the north end of the stadium that visually compliments the Seattle skyline(37). The tower features a vertically oriented scoreboard which is the first of its kind in the NFL. At the base is a bleacher section for 3,000 called the “Hawks Nest”. Another addition not previously seen in the NFL is field-level luxury suites located directly behind the north end zone.(32)

Allen rejected plans for a retractable roof during the early stages of the stadium’s design. The lack of a retractable roof made it open to the elements, provided better views, and reduced the total cost of the project(32). The roof, at 200,000 square feet, covers 70% of the seats but leaves the field open(25). The roof spans 720 feet between concrete pylon supports at the north and south ends of the stadium. Its two expansive sections are held from below by trusses(39). From above, two arches with additional supports rise 200 feet over the field(38). Post-tensioned cables were used to achieve its final shape and positioning(40). To minimize damage in the event of an earthquake, the roof has a friction pendulum damper system. This disconnects the roof from the support pylons so that it can move independently of the structure. The technology had never been applied to a large-scale roof before Lumen Field(31). A 6.8-magnitude earthquake struck the Seattle area during construction. The structure responded as expected by the designers, and there was minimal damage(40). The project was completed on budget and a month ahead of schedule.(39)

The roof was originally painted white to aesthetically distinguish it from both T-Mobile Park and the nearby industrial area;(37) however, the paint gradually turned ash gray despite cleanings and repainting, prompting a blue-colored repaint of the roof from May to July 2010(41)(42). Light-emitting diodes following the outline of the stadium’s logo were subsequently installed on the roof in October 2019(43). The east side of the stadium has a large glass curtain wall that faces the nearby International District. The exterior of the stadium also consists of salmon-colored concrete, and the west side of the structure is partially clad with red brick. The coloring and façade were designed so the stadium would blend with the older buildings in neighboring Pioneer Square. To reduce costs, the exterior was not completed with brick or ornate steel work.(32)

In 2015, the stadium was expanded with the addition of the Toyota Fan Deck(b) on 5,775 square feet of space at its southern end; privately funded by the Seahawks, it consisted of a new 12-raising platform flanked by two 500-seat sections, pushing the capacity of the stadium to 68,000. The 1,000 additional seats were made available to then-current season ticket holders, with the remaining seats allocated to the Blue Pride waiting list for season tickets(45)(46). The stadium also has additional seats that can be deployed for special events, bringing the maximum capacity to 72,000.(47)

Lumen Field underwent minor renovations in 2022 as the stadium marked its twentieth anniversary. Improvements to the stadium made before the start of the 2022 Seahawks season include the conversion of an unused 6,300-square-foot space below the Hawks’ Nest into a food and beverage area on the concourse behind the Toyota Fan Deck, and the replacement of a pair of video display boards from Mitsubishi Electric that were more than double the size of the pre-existing ones(48), a 1,800-square-foot pregame hospitality area adjacent to the home team’s locker room was then opened for the 2023 Seahawks season; named the Tunnel Club, it allows spectators to view players walking between the locker room and field(49)(50). Additional planned renovations include the creation of two standing room open-air decks.(51)

Surface

The 1997 state referendum stated that the stadium would feature a natural grass surface, but FieldTurf was not an option when the stadium was originally presented to voters according to the Public Stadium Authority(52). Seahawks management reconsidered the playing surface after the Seahawks played on FieldTurf at Husky Stadium during the 2000 and 2001 seasons. Artificial turf was installed because it was easier to maintain than natural grass. The potential damage to a natural grass field caused by Seattle’s frequent rain also made the surface an appealing option(32). To keep a grass surface robust under heavy football use during late fall and early winter rains, a $1.8 million irrigation and heating system would have been required(53). The coach of the Seahawks at the time, Mike Holmgren, said that FieldTurf installation was the right decision and stated that “the players love it, and I think this surface will offer a better product on the field for the fans.”(54) Local soccer fans were concerned that the lack of a natural grass field would hinder Seattle’s chances of receiving an MLS expansion franchise(53). They asserted that voters had approved the facility with the understanding that the new stadium was intended for soccer as well as football(54). In a compromise, First & Goal agreed to pay for grass to be installed for special events when needed.(55)

In 2002, Seahawks Stadium became the first stadium in the NFL to install a FieldTurf artificial field(20). The surface is made of plastic fibers rooted in a mixture of ground rubber and sand(53). The field was replaced in early 2008 after tests showed that compression of the sand and rubber increased the risk of player injuries. For the second installation, FieldTurf won the bid over Polytan. For the replacement surface, a one-inch poured rubber foundation was added to prevent the compression from reoccurring. Under the naming rights agreement, Qwest paid $500,000 for the installation and First & Goal paid the remaining amount, which was undisclosed(55). By 2010 the FieldTurf’s quality had decreased with the blades becoming matted down. It also failed FIFA’s quality testing to be ranked 2 Star. A new FieldTurf surface was laid down in 2012 and it met the requirements of a 2 Star field after testing(56). A new turf field, using the FieldTurf Revolution 360, was installed in February 2016 ahead of the 2016 Sounders season.(57)

There have been various opinions regarding both the artificial surface and temporary grass surfaces used for soccer matches. After the Brazilian national team defeated Canada’s side 3 – 2 in 2008, Brazil’s coach commented the one reason for his team’s unexpectedly poor performance was the loosely installed grass field(58). The Grenada national team struggled to cope with the artificial surface during their loss at the 2009 CONCACAF Gold Cup(59). In July 2009, the U.S. Soccer Foundation chose D.C. United’s RFK Stadium over Qwest Field for the U.S. Open Cup. The general manager of D.C. United speculated that RFK’s grass field was one of the reasons his team had a stronger bid(60). The general manager of the Sounders, Adrian Hanauer, told The Seattle Times in 2010 that replacement of the surface was a contributing conversation between the Sounders and Allen’s Vulcan Inc.(61). When the Los Angeles Galaxy traveled to Seattle in May 2012, the FieldTurf was noted one of the reasons David Beckham and Robbie Keane were left out of the lineup(62). In 2014, the field was criticized during an ESPN broadcast after an Amazon corporate event involving a game of Quidditch damaged the pitch before a Sounders match(63). Zach Scott expressed concerns over the same installation of the field and its effects on his body. The 10-year lease extension between Sounders FC and First & Goal announced in 2015 mandates new turf every four years or sooner; the first such new installation was in 2016.(64)(65)

Between August and November, both the Seahawks and Sounder FC host games at Lumen Field. Each team has emphasized the importance of playing their games without the other team’s painted lines on the field(66). Around 2003, at the Seahawks’ request, local company EcoChemical developed for the field a new kind of paint that is “designed to fail”. The new paint is relatively easy to remove with a power washer and a special chemical solution, a process that the company describes as environmentally friendly. With the new paint, converting the field between American football and soccer takes 14 hours in dry weather, though painting logos and other colors takes additional time(67). Despite various preparations, some Sounders matches – particularly in the playoffs – have had Seahawks logos and American football lines painted on the turf.(68)

References:

1. View from the southernmost point of the eastern

grandstand's upper deck, looking northwards.

The field, dressed in an American football format,

is decorated with the livery of the Seattle

Seahawks, the stadium's home tenant.

2. The Toyota Fan Deck is sponsored by the

Western Washington Toyota Dealers, an

association of local Toyota dealers; it is not

Tuesday, October 29, 2024

The Buffalo Bills - Part 3

2010 – 2012: Buddy Nix, Chan Gailey, and Ryan Fitzpatrick

Buddy Nix, a former assistant general manager of the San Diego Chargers, was named general manager in the final week of the 2009 season. One of his first personnel moves was to cut ties with Owens (ironically, a man he had recruited during his time in college football). With Terrell Owens’ contract expiration in March 2010, the Bills chose not to re-sign him. Meanwhile, on January 20th, the team named Chan Gailey as head coach. Gailey was previously the offensive coordinator of Kansas City and head coach of Georgia Tech and the Dallas Cowboys, going 8 – 0 in the division in 1998, and leading the team to the postseason in both 1998 and 1999.

As the 2010 season began, the Bills lost to Miami at home. After going 0 – 4, the Bills released Trent Edwards and named Ryan Fitzpatrick starting quarterback. Despite some close games, they ended up at a 0 – 8 record before beating Detroit at home in week 10. Then came a 49 – 31 win in Cincinnati and an OT loss to Pittsburgh. The team finished 2010 with a 4 – 12 record. As a result of the Bills’ poor play in 2010, the team earned the third overall selection in the 2011 NFL Draft, using it to select defensive tackle Marcell Dareus to improve the team’s long-struggling run defense. The Bills fired Tom Modrak, one of the last connections to the Donahoe era, shortly after the 2011 draft.

Buffalo had an excellent start to 2011, routing Kansas City 41 – 7. The following week, they hosted Oakland and erased a 21 – 3 deficit, winning 38 – 35. In week 3, the Bills hosted the Patriots; they erased a 21 – 0 Patriots lead and led 31 – 24 in the fourth; a late Tom Brady touchdown tied the game, but the Bills whipped into range of a last-second field goal. The 34 – 31, win ended a 15-game franchise losing streak spanning 8 years to the Patriots. Despite starting the 2011 season with a 5 – 2 record, leading the AFC East for several weeks, a wave of injuries to several key starters led to the Bills compiling a 7-game losing streak, pushing the team out of playoff contention for the twelfth straight year. The losing streak was finally broken with a defeat of the Tim Tebow-led Denver Broncos on Christmas Eve, in a game that had unusually poor attendance. With the Detroit Lions making the playoffs for the first time since 1999 that same season, the Bills held the longest postseason drought in the NFL.

On March 15th, 2012, defensive end and former first-overall pick Mario Williams, formerly of the Houston Texans, signed a six-year contract with the Bills worth up to $100 million ($49.5 million guaranteed), which made it the most lucrative contract for a defensive player in NFL history at the time(27). Unfortunately, it was not enough to prevent another disappointing season in 2012 in which the Bills finished 6 – 10 again. Following the season, the Bills relieved Chan Gailey and his entire coaching staff of their duties(28). While Gailey reinvigorated the Bills offense, his teams were undone by poor defensive play, in contrast to bad offense but decent defense under the Juron years(29).

2013 – 2014: The Doug Marrone years and the death of Ralph Wilson

On January 1st, 2013, it was announced that Ralph Wilson had “passed the torch” to Russ Brandon and that he would have complete control of football operations. He then served as CEO and President of the team. Later that month, the team hired Doug Marrone as their new head coach. After the draft, Nix would announce his resignation, and Doug Whaley moved into the general manager position.

Offseason player moves included Ryan Fitzpatrick being released and replaced by Kevin Kolb in free agency(30). The Bills also swung a trade with the Indianapolis Colts, sending linebacker Kevin Shappard in exchange for edge rusher Jerry Hughes(31). Hughes and Mario Williams, Kyle Williams, and Marcell Dareus would form the ”Cold Front” defensive line that helped Buffalo rank in the top two teams for quarterback sacks over the next two years, attaining 54 or more in both seasons(32). In the 2013 NFL Draft, the Bills traded back from their 8th pick to the 16th pick and selected quarterback E.J. Manuel out of Florida State. Receivers Robert Woods and Marquise Goodwin, the latter of whom was also an Olympic sprinter, and linebacker Kiko Alonso were among the other notable players chosen in the 2013 draft.

As the 2013 season approached, a knee injury to Manuel and a season-ending concussion to Kolb almost forced the team to start undrafted rookie Jeff Tuel; Manuel nonetheless recovered in time to start week 1 only to injure his other knee a few weeks later, which resulted in the signing of Thad Lewis (who himself had started a game as an undrafted rookie the previous year with the Cleveland Browns). The Bills finished 6 – 10 yet again and missed the playoffs for the 14th consecutive season.

Owner Ralph Wilson died on March 25th, 2014, at the age of 95. Wilson’s assets, including the team, were placed into a trust governed by four members: Wilson’s widow, Mary Wilson; his niece, Mary Owen; Jeff Littman, the Bills’ chief financial officer; and Eugene Driker, an attorney(33)(34). The trust sold the team to Buffalo Sabres owner Terrence Pegula, along with his wife Kim, reportedly for $1.4 billion in cash, which the Wilson trust intends to use as an endowment for charitable causes in Western New York (and Wilson’s hometown of Detroit); Pegula outbid two other parties, a Toronto-based consortium led by Jon Bon Jovi and a stalking horse bid from Donald Trump (the latter’s failure was a major factor in Trump’s decision to run for president the next year), to secure the team. The deal closed October 10th, 2014(35)(36). Having committed to keeping the Bills in Buffalo, the Pegulas negotiated with Rogers Communications to cancel the Bills Toronto Series as one of their first actions as the new owners(37)(38).

The Bills finished the 2014 season with a 9 – 7 record, which broke a league-leading streak of nine consecutive losing seasons. However, they were eliminated from playoff contention after a loss to the Oakland Raiders in the second to last week of the season, which extended their league-leading playoff drought to fifteen seasons. The starting quarterback for most of the 2014 season was Kyle Orton, a last-minute signing who was named starter a month into the regular season. Orton announced his retirement the Monday following the conclusion of the season.

2015 – 2016: Rex Ryan and new ownership under the Pegulas

The 2015 season was the first full season for the Bills under the Pegula Family’s ownership. On December 31st, 2014, Doug Marrone chose to opt out of his contract with the Bills. He asked for a contract extension, but his request was denied by Mr. Pegula. It was reported that Rex Ryan, who had recently been fired from his head coaching job with the New York Jets, would become the next coach. Ryan was officially named the new head coach the next day, January 12th, 2015. The day after that, on January 13th, 2015, it was announced that defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz would not be returning for the 2015 season. The team dramatically overhauled its offense in the offseason, bringing in several new starters: quarterback Tyrod Taylor, running back LeSean McCoy, fullback Jerome Felton, wide receiver Percy Harvin, and tight end Charles Clay.

The Bills set a franchise record for season ticket sales for the 2015 season with more than 60,000 season tickets sold. The Rex Ryan hiring has been linked to the high increase in sales(39). The Bills opened the 2015 season with a 24 – 17 win over the Indianapolis Colts but faltered (despite an unsuccessful late-game comeback) against traditional nemesis New England. Through the first quarter of the season, the Bills led the NFL in penalties heading into their week 5 game against the Tennessee Titans. After being flagged 17 times in week 4 against the New York Giants, the Bills were only penalized only seven times in their 14 – 13, victory over the Titans(40). In the end, the Bills finished a middling 8 – 8, missing the playoffs for the 16th consecutive season, the longest active streak in major professional sport (after the 2015 Toronto Blue Jays broke their then-22-year streak).

In 2016 Kathryn Smith became the first woman to be a full-time coach in the NFL, when she was hired by the Bills as a special-teams quality control coach(41).

The start of the 2016 season was marred by long-term injuries to both of the team’s top draft picks, first-rounder Shaq Lawson and second-rounder Reggie Ragland (who will miss his entire rookie season). On December 27th, 2016, Rex Ryan was fired after compiling a 15 – 16, record in 2 seasons along with his brother Rob Ryan which made the Bills the third team in the NFL to fire a coach in-season (along with the Los Angeles Rams and Jacksonville Jaguars who both fired Jeff Fisher and Gus Bradley), Anthony Lynn was promoted to interim coach. After winning three more games to finish 7 – 9. Though Ryan was hired as a defensive-minded coach, Bill's defense ironically declined during his tenure, as compared to the Doug Marrone era, though the offense improved significantly(42)(43).

2017 – present: The McDermott / Allen era

2017

On January 11th, 2017, Sean McDermott was hired as the head coach of the Buffalo Bills(44). McDermott had previously spent the past six seasons as the defensive coordinator of the Carolina Panthers. Along with McDermott, Brandon Beane, the Panthers’ assistant general manager, replaced Doug Whaley as the Bills’ general manager. Many of the players that Whaley had added or extended, including receiver Sammy Watkins, cornerback Ronald Darby, and defensive tackle Marcell Dareus, were traded away before or during the season. During the 2017 offseason, McDermott popularized the term “Trust the Process” when questioned if he was rebuilding the team(45). The tandem of McDermott and Beane has since been referred to by fans as “McBeane”(46).

Despite low expectations for McDermott’s first season, the Bills played surprisingly well aside from a 3-game midseason slump. On December 31st, 2017, the Bills secured a playoff berth for the first time in 17 seasons with a win over the Miami Dolphins (concurrently with a Baltimore Ravens loss to the Cincinnati Bengals). Their season ended on January 7th, 2018, when the Bills lost to the Jacksonville Jaguars in the AFC Wild Card game by a score of 10 – 3.

2018

During the offseason, the Bills overhauled their roster yet again, trading away Tyrod Taylor and tackle Cordy Glenn. In addition, longtime center Eric Wood announced his retirement due to health issues, and guard Richie Incognito began suffering from mental breakdowns and was released from his contract at his request. They then brought in former Bengals backup A.J. McCarron and drafted Josh Allen to compete for the starting quarterback position. On May 1st, just days after the 2018 NFL draft, Russ Brandon abruptly resigned from the organization. He was replaced as president by Kim Pegula(47).

Nathan Peterman, who performed the best of the three quarterbacks during the 2018 preseason, was named the opening-day starter. Midway through the first regular season game, in which he failed to obtain a first down until the third quarter and threw two interceptions (the team was down 40 – 0 by the end of Peterman’s day), he was benched in favor of Allen; that game ended up a 47 – 3 loss to the Baltimore Ravens. Though Allen was named starter from week 2 onward, Peterman would play several more games for the Bills after injuries to Allen but was released later in the season after several more poor performances, with Matt Barkley signed to replace him as the backup(48). The Bills would finish the 2018 season 6 – 10, fielding an anemic offense early in the year and poor special teams play throughout, but also the league’s second-ranked defense(49)(50)(51).

Notable games included a 27 – 6 win over the heavily favored Minnesota Vikings(52), a rematch of the previous year’s Wild Card game against the Jacksonville Jaguars in which the Bills avenged their loss,(53), and a battle of rookie quarterbacks between Allen and Sam Darnold of the rival New York Jets(54). 2018 was also notable for being the final season for longtime defensive tackle Kyle Williams, who retired at the end of the season and was widely considered the “heart and soul” of the team. Williams caught a pass from Allen in his final game with the Bills, a 42 – 17 victory over the Dolphins(55).

2019

The Bills freed up cap space after paying off the dead money for players from the Whaley era they had cut or traded. Before the season, numerous offensive players, such as John Brown, Cole Beasley, and Andre Roberts, center Mitch Morse, running backs Frank Gore and T.J. Yeldon, and others were added in free agency, with general manager Brandon Beane dismissing the notion that “players don’t want to play for Buffalo”(56)(57). The team also drafted defensive tackle Ed Oliver in the first round of the draft to replace Kyle Williams(58). Running back LeSean McCoy, who was an integral part of the offense, was one of the final preseason cuts after a strong preseason by rookie halfback Devin Singletary(59).

The Bills clinched their second playoff appearance in three years with a 17 – 10 victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers in week 15, in addition to their first season with 10 or more wins in the 21st century(60). Buffalo entered the playoffs as the AFC’s 5th seed, but lost the wild card round to the Houston Texans 22 – 19 in overtime, despite leading that game 16 – 0 in the third quarter(61).

2020

During the offseason, the Bills traded their first-round draft pick and several other selections for receiver Stefon Diggs, formerly of the Minnesota Vikings, and a late draft-round draft pick(62). They also signed free-agent defensive linemen such as Mario Addison and Verno Butler. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, training camp was not held at St. John Fisher College for the first time since 2000, moving the team facility to Orchard Park similar to all other teams in the league(63).

Buffalo started strong thanks to a high-powered passing attack, with Josh Allen enjoying a breakout year, though the defense regressed from the previous two years early in the season. Despite back-to-back losses in weeks 5-6 to the Tennessee Titans and the Kansas City Chiefs, the reigning Super Bowl champions, the Bills won nine of their next ten games, clinching their first AFC East division title since 1995 after a week 15 win over the Denver Broncos(64). The Bills went on to win 13 games, tying the franchise record set in 1990 and 1991. They also swept their entire division for the first time in franchise history(65).

As the number two seed in the AFC, the Bills hosted their first home playoff game in 24 years, against the Indianapolis Colts. The Bills won 27 – 24, their first playoff win in 25 years.

The Bills went on to defeat the Baltimore Ravens 17 – 3 in the divisional round, advancing to the AFC Championship round. The Bills were matched against the Chiefs in their first AFC Championship game since the 1993 – 94 season but were defeated 38 – 24.

2021

In the offseason, Allen signed a 6-year, $258 million dollar contract extension with the Bills, keeping him on the team until 2027(66). To back him up, Buffalo signed former Chicago Bears quarterback Mitch Trubisky to a 1-year deal, replacing the departing Matt Barkley(67). In an effort to bolster their defense, the Bills drafted defensive lineman including Gregory Rousseau and Carlos “Boogie” Basham.

After a week 1 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers, the Bills won the next four games dominantly, which included two shutout wins and a victory over the Chiefs, before some midseason struggles, including an upset loss to the Urban Meyer-coached Jacksonville Jaguars(68). Following a close loss to the Tom Brady-led Tampa Bay Buccaneers, the Bills closed out the season with another 4-game winning streak, including their third win over the Patriots in two years, to clinch their second consecutive AFC East division title despite failing to match their 13 – 3, record from the previous year(69). Buffalo also finished with the league’s top defense in several metrics(70).

Claiming the 3rd seed with an 11 – 6 record, the Bills hosted New England in the wild card round, winning 47 – 17 as they scored a touchdown on all their offensive possessions aside from the final kneel-downs and never punted or turned the ball over, a first in NFL history(71). They faced Kansas City in the playoffs again during the divisional round. In what would become regarded as one of the greatest games in recent NFL history, the Chiefs won 42 – 36 in overtime. Despite another playoff loss to Kansas City, Josh Allen played well, at one point out-performing Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes until the final 13 seconds and overtime(72).

2022

The Bills made a high-profile free agent signing, as All-Pro pass rusher Von Miller, formerly of the Denver Broncos and Los Angeles Rams, was added to the roster after signing a six-year deal worth up to $120 million nearly ten years to the date of the Mario Williams signing(73). Hyped up as the “Super Bowl favorites” before the season(74), the Bills matched a franchise record by winning 13 games during the season and won their third consecutive AFC East division title. However, several events that occurred to the team and the city of Buffalo, including the 2022 Buffalo shooting, two deadly winter blizzards, and near-fatal emergencies to both co-owner Kim Pegula before the season and safety Damar Hamlin during the Bills’ later-cancelled week 17 game against the Cincinnati Bengals, contributed to what several players described as an “emotionally draining” season(75). The team’s performance noticeably declined during the playoffs, as the Bills barely won in the wild-card round around a Miami Dolphins team down to their third-string quarterback before losing in the divisional round to the Bengals in blowout fashion(76).

Damar Hamlin injury

On January 2nd, 2023, Bills safety Damar Hamlin collapsed after tackling Tee Higgins of the Cincinnati Bengals with 5:58 left in the first quarter. Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) was administered on the field and a defibrillator was used. He was transported by ambulance to the University of Cincinnati Medical Center. There he was intubated and listed in critical condition. He was discharged nine days later on January 11th. The game against the Bengals was postponed until further notice at 10:01pm by the NFL after communication with NFLPA(77). The game was deemed a No Contest by the NFL on January 5th(78). The serious nature of Hamlin’s injury drew national attention, and after extensive rehab, Hamlin was cleared to play the next season, albeit in a more limited role.

2023

Fresh off a tumultuous season and with rumored tension brewing between Allen and Diggs(79)(80), Buffalo started off the 2023 season on Monday Night Football against the Jets, now led by former Green Bay Packer Aaron Rodgers at quarterback. Despite Rodgers suffering a season-ending injury four plays into the game, the Bills lost after the Jets defense forced Allen into four turnovers. Buffalo won their next three games, including a 48 – 20 win over Miami, before entering a six-game midseason slump in which the offense struggled and the defense lost three starters, including Tre’Davious White, DaQuan Jones, and Matt Milano. Following losses to the Bengals and Broncos, offensive coordinator Ken Dorsey was fired and replaced by quarterbacks coach Joe Brady(81).

Departing from Dorsey’s former air raid approach that focused mostly on passing, Brady sought a more balanced approach that put more emphasis on the rushing attack(82). Despite mounting pressure on head coach Sean McDermott to save the team’s season and an expose article that revealed McDermott’s controversial comments regarding the attackers in the September 11th attacks(83), the team threw their support behind him and Brady(84), winning six of their final seven games, including a week 18 “AFC East divisional title” game over the Dolphins, to clinch their fourth consecutive division title. After beating the Pittsburgh Steelers in the wild-card game, Buffalo lost another divisional round game, this time to the Chiefs again, with kicker Tyler Bass’s potential game-tying field goal attempt missing wide right in a similar fashion to Scott Norwood’s infamous miss in Super Bowl XXV.

Future Stadium Proposal

On December 21st, 2012, team CEO Russ Brandon, New York Governor Andrew Cuomo, and Erie County Executive Mark Poloncarz announced a new 10-year lease for Ralph Wilson Stadium. Included in the terms are $130 million in renovations and a $400 million penalty if the team relocates out of Buffalo (in addition to the NFL relocating fee). A buyout window was inserted into the lease that allowed the team to cancel the lease for a reduced $28 million fee after the 2019 season. The lease will include the team paying for part of the renovations for the first time. The deal also calls for a committee to explore building a new stadium in the Buffalo vicinity(85), a proposal the Pegulas eventually began pursuing in 2019. On January 31st, 2020, the Bills sent a formal letter to county executive Mark Poloncarz stating they would not exercise the buyout window(86).

After the team reached a deal with the state of New York and Erie County after the 2022 season to construct a new stadium next to the current site(87), construction began afterward with a completion date before the 2026 season(88).

References

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2. Abdo, Mike; Davies, Bob (November

7, 1959). "Unitas 'Started' Career at St.

Bona". Olean Times Herald.

3. "Texan millions are behind the Amer-

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SI Vault". Archived from the original on

October 26, 2012. Retrieved 

September 8, 2009.

4. "Buffalo Bills founder Ralph Wilson