Lessons from the 50 Yard Line: What Building an NFL Stadium Teaches Us About Campus Capital Projects

Terrence M. Gilbride - The Gilbridge Law Group

Few campus projects rival an NFL stadium in scale, but the disciplines that deliver one on time and on budget translate directly to higher education. Terry brings a rare dual vantage point on the development of Highmark Stadium: he served for two years as Senior Vice President and Chief Legal Officer of the Buffalo Bills, sitting inside the organization as the project took shape, and he continues to serve as outside counsel to the project. Drawing on both perspectives, he examines how owners structure risk allocation, manage the design and construction team, negotiate with public partners, and hold schedule and budget discipline under intense public scrutiny. The session focuses on process and delivery, offering practical takeaways for business officers overseeing complex capital projects on their own campuses.

Learning Objectives

  1. Identify strategies for allocating and managing risk in complex capital projects.
  2. Examine approaches for coordinating owners, design and construction teams, and public partners throughout project delivery.
  3. Apply lessons from a large-scale stadium development to strengthen schedule, budget, and project oversight for higher education capital projects.

CPE Available

  • 1 Credit: Specialized Knowledge