It’s not a ski resort, nor is it an ice hockey arena. It’s the Buffalo Bills‘ home ground Highmark Stadium ahead of the Bills-Steelers NFL wild card game scheduled on January 15. The unrecognizable makeover of the grass field following the overnight snowstorm at Buffalo shocked former NFL cornerback Richard Sherman, who questioned the team’s interest in building a retractable or permanent roof stadium.

The Orchard Park Stadium is set to complete its renovation by the summer of 2026. And the lack of a dome means exposure to harsh weather conditions like this. Which often affects the scheduled game’s outcome and potential health concerns, or may even stop a game from happening. So why is the franchise still pursuing an open-air plan despite cashing out nearly $1.7 billion?

Richard Sherman blasts the Bills as Highmark Stadium turns into ice hockey arena

NFL aggregator Dov Kleiman shared a clip of the stadium on Sunday, showcasing the all-white landscape amid the raging snowstorm in Buffalo. The current stadium does not contain a roof or dome, and surprisingly it still won’t, according to the Bills’ $1.7 billion upgradation plan. And things look concerning given the snow needs to be cleared before the 4:30 PM Monday Kickoff for the Bills-Steelers playoff game, which is a big challenge for the few bulldozers and workers operating there.

There is a chance that the game may get postponed again or even shifted to its rumored location, Cleveland. Pissed off by the possibility, Amazon Prime analyst and former Super Bowl winner Sherman took a dig at the home side, sharing Kleiman’s post, captioning it “So this is why they don’t want a dome? I understand wanting an advantage but when does it become counterproductive.” The analyst didn’t like what he was seeing and kept the ongoing upgrade plan in mind, which doesn’t include a roof.

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But why are the Bills not including it despite being well aware of such situations? Why is the Highmark Stadium set to become the first roofless stadium in one decade since the 49ers Levi’s Stadium in the modernistic-stadium era of the NFL?

Why are the Bills reluctant?

With the 2023 July inflation rate, a fresh, new open-air NFL Stadium costs just over a billion. A dome or retractable dome arena costs over $1.5 billion. That month was crucial cause that was when the franchise’s plan to renovate Highmark Stadium came out publicly. By August, the Associated Press revealed that the new stadium would cost $1.4 billion with 60,000 seats.

However, later in the same month, they reported that the cost overran to $1.7 billion, which meant a dome or retractable stadium would cost close to $2.3 – $2.4 billion, well over their budget. Asking the state for the extra money wasn’t an option either, as it was unlikely that they would pay half a billion extra just for a roof. Handling the taxpayers’ money smartly sounded more promising for the local county.

Furthermore, a certain part of the fanbase in every franchise loves an open-air arena, for diplomatic reasons. Despite missing out on an entire roof, the plan revealed that the new Highmark was designed to give increased and effective protection against the earth’s elements, such as snow. That also meant the home fans would get to enjoy the games from a better-protected section, and the away fans would almost always be on the more exposed side of the construction.

But, when things reach as bad as 18°F with 27 mph speed, no eaves are enough to protect the ground. That is evident from the domeless Highmark Stadium’s current condition, which is set to stay the same even after its makeover. Will the Bills-Steelers game get further postponed or even relocated? Should the franchise consider investing more in a comparatively expensive permanent roofing solution?

Watch This Story: NFL Wildcard Rumors: Bills vs. Steelers Likely to Be Postponed Again Considering Weather Conditions