Transformative, interactive exhibit merges Western New York’s deep passion for sports with STEM learning; Ribbon-cutting ceremony set for September 24 before September 26 public opening.
BUFFALO, N.Y. — The Buffalo Museum of Science (BMS) is proud to announce the grand opening of Science Stadium, a brand-new, permanent exhibit that brings the high-energy world of professional sports into the science lab. Years in the making, this $3 million interactive initiative bridges Western New York’s legendary sports culture with the power of STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) education.
Developed in direct partnership with three professional league organizations—the Buffalo Bills, the Buffalo Sabres, and the Buffalo Bandits—Science Stadium offers an immersive, uniquely Buffalo experience pertaining to this city’s beloved teams, athletes, and personalities. The exhibit provides guests with an “under the hood” look into the dynamics of the world of sports, from recreational to professional and adaptive sports.
Science Stadium is designed to inspire the next generation of athletic innovators by exploring the diverse, essential STEM careers that power sports both on and off the field—from medical trainers and mascot designers to sports analysts and sound engineers.
“The Science Stadium exhibit builds upon Buffalo’s deep love for its local teams and players. This uniquely Buffalo exhibit highlights science and engineering that are often overlooked in the sports industry,” says Gary Siddall, president and CEO of the Buffalo Museum of Science. “From technology and training that advances athletic performance to the influence of fans, we are bringing those hidden details right to the forefront. We have created a dynamic, hands-on experience that sparks curiosity and inspires our community’s future sports stars and athletic innovators.”
Exhibit Highlights & Key Features:
- First Major Exhibit Renovation Since 2018: Marks the museum’s most ambitious permanent exhibit overhaul in nearly a decade.
- Hometown Champion Partnerships: Developed in collaboration with the Buffalo Bills, Buffalo Sabres, and Buffalo Bandits to ensure an authentic and deeply local fan experience that features familiar faces found in the game as well as in the stands.
- The Science of the Game: 17 interactive, hands-on experiences exploring the science behind sports—from physics and biomechanics to sports medicine and fandom culture.
- Innovative “MVP” Approach: Each exhibit section features a real-world “MVP” (Most Valued Professional) working in specialized STEM fields that uniquely power professional, recreational, and even adaptive sports.
- Hands-On Experiences: Features interactive highlights such as a sports analyst’s anchor desk where guests can practice sports storytelling through statistics, a medic station where visitors become trainers on the field in partnership with UB Orthopaedics, and a state-of-the-art sports simulator demonstrating coaching and training techniques using physics principles like velocity and momentum.
- Community & Art Collaboration: The BMS has partnered with acclaimed local artist Emeka Wajed to produce a custom art installation celebrating the diversity of athletes and sports within the exhibit.
By looking at the games we love through the lens of science, the Buffalo Science Museum intends to demonstrate to young people that their passion for sports can lead to exciting, impactful careers in STEM. This is also a wonderful opportunity for family bonding moments over the sports teams that Buffalonians have come to love and embrace.
Additional “Built for Buffalo” Exhibit Highlights Engineering Feats of New Highmark Stadium Construction
Recognizing the timing of the new Highmark Stadium’s recent opening, the Museum strategically unveiled an additional temporary exhibit called Built for Buffalo highlighting the engineering feats and cutting-edge technology behind the new home of the Buffalo Bills. Built for Buffalo allows visitors to get up close to the components, tools, and technologies that transformed a vision into a reality and features real construction materials, a player locker, stadium seats, and a highly detailed 3D model of the new stadium on loan from the Buffalo Bills.
To celebrate the opening of Science Stadium, the Buffalo Museum of Science will host a formal ribbon-cutting ceremony on Thursday, September 24, kicking off a new era of hands-on learning for sports fans of all ages.
The Science Stadium exhibit is made possible by the generous support of:
New York Power Authority | Empire State Development | NYS Senator Sean Ryan | NYS Senator April N.M. Baskin | NYS Assembly Majority Leader Crystal D. Peoples-Stokes | M&T Bank Charitable Foundation | UB Orthopaedics & Sports Medicine | Riester Collins Family Foundation | National Fuel | James H. Cummings Foundation | East Hill Foundation | Give716 | Cora E. Musial, PhD, MD | Buffalo Common Council Member Mitch Nowakowski | Rotary Club of Kenmore
The Built for Buffalo exhibit is made possible by the generous support of:
Gilbane | Turner Construction
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