This Buffalo NY sports travel guide starts with the headline: the Bills now play in the new Highmark Stadium in Orchard Park, which hosted its first regular-season game on September 17, 2026, and the rules are new too. Parking in Bills lots must be bought in advance, lots open four hours before kickoff, bags must be clear, and the stadium is cashless. Downtown, the Sabres and the Bandits fill the KeyBank Center at Canalside from fall to spring, and the Bisons play Triple-A baseball at Sahlen Field through the summer. Without a car, NFTA’s Game Day Express runs to Bills games for $5 each way, and Metro Rail is free to the arena.
This guide is for visitors building a trip around a game, whether it’s a first Bills Sunday, a Sabres weekend or a summer night at the ballpark. The caveat is that schedules, parking and stadium rules change from season to season, and the new stadium is still settling into its routines, so check the team’s game-day page in the week of your game. Everything here was checked September 23, 2026 against the teams’ and the transit authority’s official sources.
| Team | Venue | Season | Getting there | Book ahead? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Buffalo Bills (NFL) | Highmark Stadium, Orchard Park | September to January | Game Day Express, $5 each way, or prepaid parking | Yes: tickets and parking |
| Buffalo Sabres (NHL) | KeyBank Center, Canalside | October to April | Walk or free Metro Rail to Canalside | Yes, for weekends |
| Buffalo Bandits (NLL lacrosse) | KeyBank Center, Canalside | Late November to April | Walk or free Metro Rail | Helpful |
| Buffalo Bisons (Triple-A baseball) | Sahlen Field, downtown | Spring to early fall | Walk from downtown hotels | Rarely |
Which game should you build a trip around?
For most visitors, it’s the Bills. A home game in Orchard Park is one of the great experiences in American sport: a whole region in blue and red, tailgates that start before breakfast and a crowd that treats every play like a playoff. It’s also the hardest to plan, with high ticket prices, prepaid parking, long days and, in December and January, serious cold. The remaining 2026 regular-season home dates are November 1, November 22, November 27 and December 20, with January 4 still to be confirmed, and playoff games are possible after that.
A Sabres game is the easier win. It’s indoors, downtown and on a weeknight as often as a weekend, and the KeyBank Center sits next to Canalside’s bars and restaurants and a free Metro Rail station. A Bandits lacrosse game is the local secret, loud, fast and surprisingly family-friendly, with some of the biggest crowds in the league. And a Bisons game at Sahlen Field is the cheapest night out in town in summer, a short walk from the downtown hotels. If you can combine two in one weekend, a Saturday night at the arena and a Sunday Bills game is the classic Buffalo double.
What’s new at Highmark Stadium?
The new Highmark Stadium was built across Abbott Road from the old one in Orchard Park, about 10 miles southeast of downtown Buffalo, and it opened for the 2026 season, hosting its first regular-season game against the Detroit Lions on September 17. It was designed around Buffalo’s weather and crowds, with a canopy over much of the seating, and it brings a set of rules that differ from the old stadium’s. The biggest are that parking in Bills-controlled lots must be bought in advance, with no cash or card sales on the day, and that every point of sale inside is cashless.
The stadium also has seven sensory rooms, open to all ticket holders, and the team has worked with KultureCity on sensory-inclusive certification, with sensory kits available to borrow at the Guest Experience booths. On the day before select home games, Rally Day tours let you walk the building and step onto the field: self-guided tours cost $45 plus taxes and fees, run from 9:30am to 5:30pm, with field access in 15-minute slots from 10am to 4pm; the remaining 2026 Rally Days are October 31 and November 21. The Highmark Stadium 2026 visitor guide in this series covers the building section by section, including where to find food, restrooms and the best views.
How do you get to a Bills game?
You have three realistic options: the Game Day Express bus, driving with a prepaid parking pass, or a rideshare. Each works; they just work differently on a day when tens of thousands of people are heading to the same place.
By Game Day Express
NFTA’s Game Day Express is the easiest way in if you’re staying in Buffalo without a car, and it skips both parking and the worst of the traffic. Buses leave from six pickup points: the Metropolitan Transportation Center downtown, University Station at the north end of Metro Rail, Utica Rail Station, Thruway Plaza Transit Center, Eastern Hills Mall and the Niagara Falls Transportation Center. The fare is $5 per person each way, paid in exact cash or through the Token Transit app; MetGo passes aren’t valid. Schedules are posted in the week before each game, and NFTA asks riders to arrive 10 to 15 minutes before the departure time.
Buses drop off at the Transit Center near Abbott Road and Southwestern Boulevard, a short walk from the gates, and the first return buses leave about 30 minutes after the game ends. There’s no eating, drinking or smoking on board, and no getting off partway. The how to get to Highmark Stadium without a car guide in this series walks through each pickup point and the return trip.
By car
If you drive, buy your parking pass in advance: the Bills’ own lots take no day-of cash or card payments. The lots open four hours before kickoff, and Abbott Road closes six hours before kickoff between Bills Drive and the NFTA Transportation Hub, so plan your route around it. From downtown Buffalo the stadium is about 20 minutes away on a normal day, but on game days allow an hour or more, and much longer after the final whistle. The Bills game day parking guide in this series compares the official lots and the private lots nearby.
By rideshare
Rideshares work for getting there, less well for getting back, when thousands of people request cars at once and prices surge. If you use one, agree on a pickup point a short walk from the stadium’s busiest roads, be patient, and consider walking to a quieter spot before you request. Our guide to getting around Buffalo covers fares, transit and driving in more detail.
Plan it: Game Day Express $5 each way, exact cash or Token Transit, from six pickup points; Bills lots open four hours before kickoff and require prepaid parking; security gates open three hours before kickoff and ticket entry two hours before; details on the Bills game-day page and the NFTA Game Day Express page.
| Option | Cost | Best for | Drawbacks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Game Day Express | $5 each way, exact cash or Token Transit | Visitors staying downtown or near a pickup point | Fixed departures; lines for the buses after the game |
| Drive with a prepaid Bills lot pass | Pass bought in advance | Tailgating on your own schedule | Game-day traffic; no day-of sales in Bills lots |
| Rideshare | Surge pricing likely | Getting there door to door | Slow, pricey pickups after the game |
What does game day look like, hour by hour?
Here’s how a typical 1pm Bills Sunday runs, working back from kickoff with the stadium’s official timings. A later kickoff shifts everything by the same amount.
| Time | What happens |
|---|---|
| 7am | Abbott Road closes between Bills Drive and the NFTA Transportation Hub, six hours before kickoff |
| 9am | Bills parking lots and the paid VIP Tailgate open, four hours before kickoff |
| 10am | Security gates open, three hours before kickoff |
| 11am | Ticket entry opens, two hours before kickoff |
| 1pm | Kickoff |
| About three hours after kickoff | Final whistle; the first Game Day Express buses leave about 30 minutes later |
A first Bills game is best done slowly. If you’re driving, arrive when the lots open, with your prepaid parking pass on your phone, and give yourself two or three hours to tailgate, wander and meet your neighbors in the lot; it’s the part of the day many fans love most. Head for the gates about an hour before kickoff to clear security without a scramble, find your seats and take in the new building while it fills. If you’re on the Game Day Express, pick a departure that gets you there two hours or more before kickoff, eat before you board, and do your tailgating by strolling the lots on foot. After the game, don’t rush: the crowds and traffic ease after the first half hour, and the first buses back only leave about 30 minutes after the end anyway. The first Buffalo Bills game travel guide in this series has the full plan, from what to eat to when to leave.
What’s Bills tailgating like?
It’s the main event for many fans, and it starts early: the parking lots open four hours before kickoff, and plenty of people are there when the gates lift. Expect grills, wings, Sahlen’s hot dogs, beef on weck, music, blue-and-red everything and a friendly welcome for visitors, including fans of the other team, as long as they don’t take themselves too seriously. The Bills Mafia’s famous table-diving is the part to watch rather than join; the team and local police discourage it, and people do get hurt.
If you don’t have your own setup, the Bills VIP Tailgate is a paid, all-inclusive option with food, drinks and entertainment in a pavilion near Gate E on Abbott Road, opening four hours before kickoff. Otherwise, the bars in Orchard Park and along the routes to the stadium fill up with pregame crowds. The Bills tailgating guide for visitors in this series covers what to bring, where to set up and how to find a welcoming group if you’re coming alone.
What are the rules inside the stadium?
Know the bag policy before you pack. Each fan can bring one clear bag no larger than 12 by 6 by 12 inches, or a small clutch no larger than 6.5 by 4.5 inches, and anything bigger goes back to the car or the bus. Security gates open three hours before kickoff and ticket entry opens two hours before, so if you want to explore the new building, get there early. Every point of sale is cashless, taking cards and mobile wallets, and there’s no re-entry once you’re inside.
What should you wear to a Bills game?
Dress for three or four hours outdoors, plus the tailgate and the trip home. In September and October that can mean sun and warmth, or rain and wind off the lake. From November, it means layers: thermal base layers, a warm waterproof coat, a hat, gloves and warm, waterproof boots, plus hand and foot warmers for the December and January games. Blankets are welcome, and seat cushions help on cold seats. Remember that whatever you carry in has to fit the clear-bag rules. The Bills winter game packing guide in this series has a checklist, and our Buffalo winter guide covers the rest of the cold season.
Can you bring kids to a Bills game?
Yes, with some planning. The noise, the crowds and the long day are the main challenges, and the new stadium’s seven sensory rooms, open to all ticket holders, give children who get overwhelmed a quiet place to reset; sensory kits can be borrowed at the Guest Experience booths. Consider skipping the early tailgate with young kids, arriving closer to gate time, and choosing seats near an aisle. The Bills game with kids guide in this series covers tickets, timing and what to bring.
How do you see a Sabres game?
The Sabres play at the KeyBank Center at Canalside, and a game there is the easiest big-league night out in Buffalo. The arena is walkable from most downtown hotels, and Metro Rail’s Canalside station, on the free above-ground section of the line, is right outside. After Sabres games, the last train leaves Canalside 30 minutes after the final horn, so you can stay for the three stars and still ride home. Doors open 90 minutes before regular-season games.
The arena’s rules are stricter than the stadium’s on bags: all bags, backpacks and purses are prohibited except clutches no larger than 4 by 6 by 1.5 inches, with exceptions for medical and diaper bags after screening. The arena is cashless, and so is its parking, in the KeyBank Center ramp, the surface lots and LECOM Harborcenter next door. Before the game, the bars and restaurants at Harborcenter and around Canalside fill with fans. The first Buffalo Sabres game visitor guide in this series covers seating, tickets and where to eat nearby.
Plan it: doors 90 minutes before regular-season games; no bags except small clutches; cashless arena and parking; walk or take free Metro Rail to Canalside; last train 30 minutes after the game; details at keybankcenter.com.
What about the Bandits?
The Buffalo Bandits play professional box lacrosse in the National Lacrosse League, and in Buffalo they’re a phenomenon: games at the KeyBank Center are loud, fast, high-scoring and among the best attended in the league, with a family crowd and a party atmosphere. The 2026-27 home season opens on Saturday, November 28, at 7pm against Georgia, and the schedule runs to April 24, 2027. Tickets are generally cheaper and easier to get than for the Sabres, and the same arena rules on bags and cashless payment apply. The Buffalo Bandits game day visitor guide in this series explains the game for first-timers and how to pick seats.
What’s a Bisons game like?
The Buffalo Bisons are the Toronto Blue Jays’ Triple-A affiliate, one step below the majors, and they play at Sahlen Field downtown, a short walk from the hotels, the Theater District and Canalside. A game is relaxed, cheap and fun, with promotions, fireworks nights and players who could be in the majors next month. The season runs from spring into early fall; the 2026 season opened on March 27, and the 2027 schedule hasn’t been released yet. The box office is open Monday to Friday from 9am to 5pm and Saturday from 10am to 2pm, at (716) 843-4373.
Sahlen Field also hosts the National Buffalo Wing Festival on Labor Day weekend, set for September 4 and 5, 2027, which makes a Bisons game and the Wing Fest a very Buffalo summer weekend. The Buffalo Bisons game day visitor guide in this series covers tickets, seats and the best promotional nights.
What other sports are there?
Beyond the big four, Buffalo has plenty of live sport. The University at Buffalo’s Bulls play Division I football and basketball on the north campus in Amherst, and Canisius University and Niagara University field Division I basketball and hockey teams with loyal local followings. LECOM Harborcenter’s rinks host college, junior and youth hockey throughout the winter, and those games are an easy, inexpensive add-on. Runners can join the Buffalo Marathon on Memorial Day weekend or the YMCA Turkey Trot on Thanksgiving morning, which is listed for November 26, 2026 and is one of the oldest footraces in the country. And every sports bar in the city will be showing the Bills, the Sabres and the NCAA tournament in season. Our guide to Buffalo festivals and events covers the rest of the calendar.
Where should you stay for a game weekend?
For the Sabres and the Bandits, stay downtown, ideally near Canalside. The Buffalo Marriott at LECOM Harborcenter sits next to the KeyBank Center, and the other downtown hotels are a short walk or a free Metro Rail ride away, so you can skip the car entirely. For the Bisons, any downtown hotel works.
For the Bills, the choice is between downtown and the Southtowns. Downtown gives you restaurants, nightlife and the Game Day Express from the Metropolitan Transportation Center; the handful of hotels closer to Orchard Park put you nearer the stadium but still in the game-day traffic. Either way, book early: hotel prices climb on Bills weekends, and they climb further when a home game coincides with a festival or a big concert. The where to stay for a Buffalo Bills weekend guide in this series compares the areas, and our guide to where to stay in Buffalo covers the neighborhoods.
Where should you eat and drink around the games?
For Sabres and Bandits games, Canalside and LECOM Harborcenter have bars and restaurants within a few minutes’ walk of the arena, and the Chippewa Street and Theater District bars are a short Metro Rail ride north. For Bills games, most of the eating happens at the tailgate, but the bars in Orchard Park and the Southtowns fill with fans before and after. On any sports weekend, the city’s wing institutions are part of the pilgrimage, from the Anchor Bar at 1047 Main Street to Duff’s in Amherst. Our Buffalo food guide covers wings, beef on weck and the rest.
How do you plan a Buffalo sports weekend?
A good sports weekend has one big event per day and some slack around it. For a Bills weekend, arrive on Friday, take a Rally Day tour of the stadium on Saturday if one falls on the day before your game, catch a Sabres or Bandits game on Saturday night if the schedules line up, and give Sunday to the Bills, from tailgate to the ride home. On Monday, sleep in and eat wings. For a summer weekend, pair a Bisons game with Canalside and a waterfront day, or with the Wing Festival on Labor Day weekend.
Leave room for the city itself: the Buffalo AKG, the waterfront, the Frank Lloyd Wright houses and Niagara Falls are all within half an hour. The Buffalo sports weekend itinerary in this series lays out the timings, and our Buffalo travel guide covers the seasons and the basics of planning a trip.
What about accessible seating and transit?
Both venues sell accessible and companion seating through their official ticketing, and it’s best to buy those directly rather than on the resale market. The Game Day Express reserves priority seating for seniors and people with disabilities. At Highmark Stadium the sensory rooms and borrowable sensory kits help fans with sensory needs, and the KeyBank Center is reached on level ground from the Canalside Metro Rail station. Our accessible Buffalo travel guide covers transit, paratransit and venues in more detail.
How do the venues compare?
The two big venues have different rules, and the bag policy is the one that catches visitors out.
| Venue | Bags | Doors | Payment | Easiest way in |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Highmark Stadium | One clear bag up to 12 x 6 x 12 inches, or a clutch up to 6.5 x 4.5 inches | Security 3 hours and tickets 2 hours before kickoff | Cashless; prepaid parking | Game Day Express, $5 each way |
| KeyBank Center | No bags; clutches up to 4 x 6 x 1.5 inches | 90 minutes before Sabres games | Cashless, including parking | Walk or free Metro Rail to Canalside |
What does a game weekend cost?
A Bills weekend is the priciest sports trip in Buffalo, and the costs stack up: game tickets, prepaid parking or the $5-each-way Game Day Express, a hotel on a high-demand weekend and a long day of food and drinks at a cashless stadium. You can trim it. Staying downtown and taking the Game Day Express saves both parking and a rental car, a hotel booked early costs far less than one booked in the week of the game, and a big breakfast plus your own tailgate food saves on stadium prices.
Sabres, Bandits and Bisons weekends are much cheaper. Metro Rail is free between downtown and Canalside, so you won’t need a car or a cab, and Bandits and Bisons tickets generally cost well below NHL and NFL prices. A summer Bisons game with a walk along the waterfront might be the best-value night out in the city. Wherever you go, remember that both the stadium and the arena are cashless, so a card or a phone wallet is essential.
What if the weather turns?
Football in Buffalo is played in whatever the lake sends, and a snow game is part of the legend. Before a December or January game, watch the National Weather Service’s lake-effect forecasts as well as the team’s announcements, because a heavy band south of the city can slow the drive to Orchard Park for hours; the Game Day Express spares you from driving in it. Dress for wind as well as cold, and remember the clear-bag limit when you pack extra layers. Indoor sports are weatherproof, but the drive to the arena isn’t, which is another reason to stay near Canalside. For Bisons games, rain can delay or postpone play, so check the team’s app or site before you leave.
Where can you watch if you don’t have tickets?
You don’t need a ticket to feel a Bills Sunday. Bars across the city fill for every game, from the sports bars around Canalside and the Theater District to the neighborhood taverns of South Buffalo, Allentown and the Elmwood Village, and the roar in a packed Buffalo bar after a touchdown is an event in itself. Arrive well before kickoff for a seat, especially for late-season and playoff games, and expect the whole city to stop for three hours. Our guide to Buffalo’s neighborhoods will help you pick an area.
What should you know about tickets?
Buy from the team’s official ticketing or its official resale partner, and be wary of social media sellers, screenshots and paper tickets, since entry is by mobile ticket. Bills tickets are among the hardest to get in the league, especially for the new stadium’s first season, so start looking early and be flexible about the opponent. Sabres and Bandits tickets are easier, and weeknight games cost less. Bisons tickets are cheap and rarely sell out, except on fireworks nights and holidays. Whatever the sport, remember the payment rules: both the stadium and the arena are cashless, and so are their parking lots.
If you’re traveling from out of town, pick your game with the calendar in mind. Early-season Bills games in September and October bring the best weather and the longest tailgate days; November and December games are colder but classic; January games, when they happen, are for the committed. For the Sabres, a Saturday night game sells faster than a Tuesday, and for the Bandits, the home opener and the late-season games draw the biggest crowds. For the Bisons, check the promotions calendar for fireworks nights, which are worth planning around with kids.
Buffalo Sports Travel FAQ
How do you get to Highmark Stadium without a car?
Take NFTA’s Game Day Express, which runs from six pickup points, including the Metropolitan Transportation Center downtown and University Station, to the Transit Center near Abbott Road and Southwestern Boulevard. It costs $5 each way in exact cash or through Token Transit. The first buses back leave about 30 minutes after the game ends.
Do you have to prepay parking for Bills games?
Yes, for the Bills’ own lots. Parking passes must be bought in advance, and there are no day-of cash or card sales in Bills-controlled lots. The lots open four hours before kickoff, and Abbott Road closes six hours before kickoff between Bills Drive and the NFTA Transportation Hub, so plan your route.
What is the Highmark Stadium bag policy?
One clear bag no larger than 12 by 6 by 12 inches, or a small clutch no larger than 6.5 by 4.5 inches, per person. The stadium is completely cashless, so bring a card or a phone with a mobile wallet, and there’s no re-entry once you’re inside.
What time do the gates open at Highmark Stadium?
Security gates open three hours before kickoff and ticket entry opens two hours before kickoff. The parking lots open four hours before kickoff. Arrive early if you want to explore the new stadium, and allow plenty of time for game-day traffic on the roads around Orchard Park.
Can you tour the new Highmark Stadium?
Yes, on Rally Days, held the day before select home games. Self-guided tours cost $45 plus taxes and fees and run from 9:30am to 5:30pm, with field access in 15-minute slots from 10am to 4pm. The remaining 2026 Rally Days are October 31 and November 21, and behind-the-scenes guided tours are available by inquiry.
How do you get to a Sabres game?
Walk from downtown or take Metro Rail, which is free on its above-ground section, to Canalside station, right beside the KeyBank Center. Doors open 90 minutes before regular-season games, bags are banned except small clutches, and the arena and its parking are cashless. The last train leaves Canalside 30 minutes after the game.
When are the Bills’ remaining home games in 2026?
After mid-October, the remaining regular-season home dates are November 1, November 22, November 27 and December 20, with January 4 still to be confirmed, and playoff games are possible after that. Check the Bills’ schedule for kickoff times, which can change late in the season.
Related Buffalo Guides
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- Buffalo NY Food Guide
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- Buffalo NY Travel Guide
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Sources and How We Checked
Hours, prices, routes and other details in this guide were checked on September 23, 2026 against the official sources below. The guide is compiled from those operators and agencies rather than from other travel lists, and it doesn’t describe first-hand visits. Details change, so confirm anything time-sensitive with the operator before you go.
- Buffalo Bills / Highmark Stadium: buffalobills.com/news/fans-and-media-react-to-the-atmosph…
- NFTA Game Day Express: metro.nfta.com/getting-around/special-services/game-day-e…
- Highmark Stadium: buffalobills.com/game-day, buffalobills.com/stadium/events, buffalobills.com/news/bills-announce-seven-sensory-rooms-…
- KeyBank Center: keybankcenter.com/page/arena-guide
- NFTA Metro Rail: metro.nfta.com/schedules/route/rail, metro.nfta.com/schedules/heading-to-an-event
- Buffalo Bandits: bandits.com/bandits-announce-2026-27-schedule
- Buffalo Bisons: milb.com/buffalo/tickets, milb.com/buffalo/news/buffalo-bisons-2026-game-schedule-t…
- National Buffalo Wing Festival: buffalowing.com
- Buffalo Marriott at LECOM Harborcenter: marriott.com/en-us/hotels/bufbd-buffalo-marriott-at-lecom…
- Buffalo wings: visitbuffalo.com/crawl/buffalo-wing-trail
- YMCA Turkey Trot: ymcabn.org/ymca-turkey-trot/runner-information
Buffalo Tourism Guide is an independent publication. We are not affiliated with Visit Buffalo Niagara, the City of Buffalo or any attraction listed here, and no one paid to be included.
Photo Credits
- KeyBank Center: photo by Andre Carrotflower, Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0)
- Highmark Stadium old and new 2025: photo by WuTang94, Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 4.0)
- LECOM Harborcenter rink: photo by JFVoll, Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0)
- Bisons at Sahlen Field: photo by Andre Carrotflower, Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0)
- Marriott at HarborCenter: photo by Fortunate4now, Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0)
- Metro Rail at Canalside: photo by David Wilson from Oak Park, Illinois, USA, Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 2.0)