
Buffalo Bills’ home has a new name: New Era Field
ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. — Following years of discussions, Chris Koch will never forget the moment the Buffalo Bills sold him on the idea of transforming Ralph Wilson Stadium into what became New Era Field on Thursday.
It happened near dusk on June 15, when the New Era Cap Co. president and CEO was whisked by police escort to the Bills’ headquarters and ushered to midfield where he was greeted by team owners Terry and Kim Pegula. That’s when the west-end scoreboard began displaying a three-minute video highlighting the legacies of Koch’s late father, David, and Bills late Hall-of-Fame owner Ralph Wilson, and emphasizing what both meant to Buffalo.
“I’ve got to tell you, I had tears rolling down my face,” Koch said during an interview with The Associated Press. “And Terry came up to me and said, ‘Look, we won’t do this with anyone else. We want you.’”
Walking off the field, Koch recalled how New Era executive Paul McAdam leaned over and, in his thick Scottish accent, said: “You must do this deal.”