Bills Open Highmark Stadium with New Traditions
The Buffalo Bills kicked off the opening of Highmark Stadium with an exciting win over the Lions during “Thursday Night Football.” It was a memorable night, where familiar traditions made their presence felt.
In the fourth quarter of the Bills’ 41-31 victory, The Killers’ popular song “Mr. Brightside” filled the stadium, igniting both players and fans to dance and sing along. A social media clip captured offensive linemen Dion Dawkins and Connor McGovern bouncing around, enjoying the moment as the catchy chorus played.
The atmosphere was electric, with the entire crowd seemingly unified in their enthusiasm as the song reached its peak. Singing along to this tune during Bills victories has turned into a recent tradition in Western New York, and it clearly transitioned from the team’s previous home, which is currently being torn down.
The Bills’ connection to “Mr. Brightside” actually traces back to a game against the Cowboys in December 2023. Tight ends Dalton Kincaid and Dawson Knox had expressed a desire to hear it during that game, which caught the attention of Brian Haberkorn, the Bills’ game presentation director. He felt it was a good idea to play the song—an impression that, I must say, definitely resonated with everyone that night.
“We played ‘Mr. Brightside’ and it was a great reaction from both fans and players. After that game, I thought if the players responded like that, we should do it more often,” he revealed in a 2025 interview.
Since then, the song has become a staple in the fourth quarter of Bills games. Haberkorn explained that he wanted to create that burst of energy during key moments to boost both the team and the fans.
However, it wasn’t just “Mr. Brightside” making waves at the new stadium. The iconic table-breaking tradition also made an appearance. During the broadcast, former Bills quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick leaped through a table, and notably, the stadium designers incorporated a large broken table into Highmark Stadium’s architecture to honor this longstanding ritual.
