The playoff bound Buffalo Bills marked their final game at Highmark Stadium in emphatic fashion on Sunday Jan. 4, cruising to a dominant 35 to 8 win over the struggling New York Jets. The victory mattered for more than just the score line. It secured the sixth seed’s spot against the second seeded Jacksonville Jaguars in the wild card round on Sunday Jan. 11, while also closing the book on a 53 year era at the stadium the team has long called home.
So how did the Bills choose to mark the occasion. By turning to one of Buffalo’s most cherished bands and their most iconic song, blasting the Iris hit from hometown heroes the Goo Goo Dolls.
Fans who had already endured hours in bitter 20 degree temperatures stayed put after the final whistle, with more than 70,000 people joining in to sing the Mr. Brightside by The Killers as fireworks lit up the sky. As the celebration continued, Louis Armstrong’s “What a Wonderful World” echoed through the stadium speakers, underscoring the emotional farewell.
The most powerful moment came soon after. A five minute tribute video honoring Highmark Stadium rolled on the big screen, soundtracked by the Goo Goo Dolls’ 1998 Billboard Hot 100 No. 9 hit. In fan recorded footage from the scene, bundled supporters can be heard singing along to the chorus, soaking in the final memories inside what had stood as the league’s fourth oldest venue.
Two days later on Tuesday Jan. 6, the band led by John Rzeznik shared clips from the moment on social media, including shots of current Bills players quietly watching the montage on the Jumbotron. Alongside the post, they expressed their gratitude. “What an incredible honor to have ‘Iris’ played as the very last song at Highmark Stadium,” they wrote on Instagram. “Home to the @BuffaloBills for 53 seasons !!!!”
Just a week earlier, the Goo Goo Dolls had celebrated another milestone, with “Iris” surpassing three billion streams on Spotify. The group is now preparing for a summer run across the United States with Neon Trees, including an appearance at the Innings Festival in Tempe Arizona on Feb. 20, before heading out on a stretch of Canadian dates throughout March and April.
