Democratic New York Gov. Kathy Hochul stepped up to a microphone Tuesday in front of a crowd of Buffalo Bills fans, tried to start a chant, and got near-total silence in return.
Video of the awkward incident circulated widely on social media after the ribbon-cutting in Orchard Park for the newly finished Highmark Stadium. The Buffalo native arrived dressed for the part, wearing a Bills cap and a blue-and-white outfit as she took the stage, the New York Post reported.
“All right, let’s get this party started — let’s go!” Hochul said before attempting to initiate a “Let’s go, Buffalo!” chant.
The crowd answered with barely a trickle of applause. (RELATED: Diana Russini Called An NFL Head Coach To Avoid A Speeding Ticket)
But Hochul wasn’t done. “Buffalo, let’s go!” she belted out, pointing toward different sections of the audience to invite them to join in the call and response. Almost nobody took her up on it.
The governor then stopped and looked out at the muted crowd. “Alright, seriously? You want to win a championship season with that kind of enthusiasm? Men and women of labor you know what I’m talking about,” Hochul said, before trying once more to rouse a chant. That attempt fell flat too.
In the end, she gave up and gently ribbed the audience. “We gotta give this place some good karma, right?” Hochul said, before returning to her prepared speech.
New York Gov. Kathy Hochul tried to get a “Let’s Go Bills!” chant going… but the Buffalo crowd had other plans.
“Seriously?” pic.twitter.com/IG76wUZXKU
— Fox News (@FoxNews) June 26, 2026
Other speakers fared better at the ceremony, which celebrated the completion of the $2.1 billion, 60,000-seat venue after three years of construction, according to OutKick. Team owner Terry Pegula spoke, as did Mary Wilson, widow of the late former owner Ralph Wilson. The building stood 99.75% finished at the time, Bills Senior Vice President of Design and Stadium Operations Frank Cravotta said, according to LifeZette.
The stadium will anchor the franchise in Western New York for the next three decades, the New York Post reported. The new facility replaces the adjacent stadium, which had also been called Highmark Stadium since 2021 and had served as the team’s home since 1973.
The new stadium it is set to open ahead of the coming NFL season.