> At a Glance
> – The Bills closed Highmark Stadium with a 35-8 win over the Jets on Jan. 4
> – “Iris” by the Goo Goo Dolls played as the final song in the venue’s 53-season history
> – Band members John Rzeznik and Robby Takac, both Buffalo natives, called the moment “an incredible honor”
> – Why it matters: The track, released in 1998, becomes a permanent part of Buffalo sports lore as the team moves to a $2 billion stadium next season
The Buffalo Bills ended their 53-season run at Highmark Stadium with a blowout victory, a fireworks show and a sing-along soundtrack that culminated in the Goo Goo Dolls’ classic ballad.
The Final Moments
After the 35-8 win over the New York Jets on Jan. 4, fans stayed to watch a highlight montage set to “Iris”. The song, which peaked at No. 9 on the Billboard Hot 100 and has since gone diamond for 10 million units sold, was the last audio memory echoing through the venue.
The Killers’ “Mr. Brightside” and Louis Armstrong’s “What a Wonderful World” also played during the send-off, but it was the Goo Goo Dolls hit that bookended the stadium’s history.
Hometown Pride
John Rzeznik and Robby Takac, both born in Buffalo, formed the Goo Goo Dolls there in 1986. On Jan. 6, they posted stadium footage to Instagram:
> “What an incredible honor to have ‘Iris’ played as the very last song at @highmark_stadium – home to the @buffalobills for 53 seasons !!!!”
Rzeznik told OnMilwaukee in 2022 that early on, the city’s clubs “wanted cover bands,” so the group “rented a hall, put up the posters” themselves to create an alt-rock scene.
Next Chapter
The team will move “across Abbott Road” to a new, weatherproof facility that has received more than $2 billion in construction funding. Cornerback Tre’Davious White told The New York Times:
> “When you think about the stadium, you can’t think about the present players. You’ve got to think about the guys that laid the foundation before us.”
Key Takeaways
- “Iris” now holds a permanent place in Buffalo sports history
- The Goo Goo Dolls’ hometown roots made the moment especially meaningful
- The Bills transition from a 53-year-old venue to a state-of-the-art stadium
- Veterans and fans alike honored the franchise’s legacy before the move
As the final notes of “Iris” faded, Highmark Stadium closed its doors, capping more than five decades of memories for Western New York.
