Archives for June 2005

‘The Celebration of Champions’ pinnacle event culminates with the presentation of the Bills’ third jersey at 2:30 pm on Saturday, June 4 at Ralph Wilson Stadium. Celebration of Champions weekend sponsors Dick’s Sporting Goods, the official sporting goods retailer of the Buffalo Bills, and Reebok, the official outfitter of the NFL, will offer fans an exclusive opportunity to purchase the third jersey for the first 72 hours after the unveiling.’

‘The Labatt Blue Rock Pile will include eight sections and over 2,400 seats located in the 200 level of the scoreboard end zone. The $250 season ticket price represents a savings of $80 per seat from the 2004 season ticket price and a savings of $16 per game compared to the 2005 individual game ticket prices. InBev will create promotions and special offers for fans seated in the Rock Pile.’

‘Defensive tackle Jermaine Haley was supposed to show up at the B.C. Lions’ training camp yesterday, but at the last minute opted to fly to Buffalo to attend the Bills’ mini-camp.’

‘”First and foremost, they are evaluated on physical appearance because that’s how they are evaluated by the general public,” Mateczun said.’

‘Coming off a 9-7 record in 2004, the Bills announced in January an increase in ticket prices, for both season tickets and individual game tickets. Season tickets will cost $2 to $4 more in various seating areas. In addition, the Bills introduced a new seating category, the "Rock Pile," featuring more than 2,400 seats. The lowest-priced ticket in those seating areas will be $250. By comparison, individual game ticket costs will rise from $3 to $5 per seat, depending on location.’

‘As of Wednesday, the ticket office has confirmed the sale of over 43,000 season tickets this year despite being 12 weeks away from the preseason home opener against Green Bay. At this point last year, the Bills had sold just over 40,000 season tickets.’

‘The Bills have brought in carnival rides and attractions for children that will be set up in the stadium parking lot. They will be open from 5 to 9 p.m. today, 5 to 11 p.m. Friday, noon to 11 p.m. Saturday and noon to 6 p.m. Sunday. There will be reduced prices for rides and games today. Live music will be held in the lots Friday, Saturday and Sunday.’

‘”Oh yeah, 1.5 million people were at the game and everyone was with a friend who wanted to leave,” said Steve Tasker, the Bills’ former special teams ace who can be verified as being among the players on the field that day.’

‘The 6-foot, 223-pound back led the Cardinals in rushing in 2003. Despite missing time with injuries during his senior season, he ran for 373 yards and seven touchdowns.’

‘The Evansville BlueCats are excited to announce that wide receiver Shawn Miller was invited to attend next week’s mini camp with the Buffalo Bills of the National Football League. Miller’s participation in the mini camp workouts gives him the opportunity to compete for a spot on the Bills training camp roster.’

‘The second annual Turf Jam ’05 will kickoff at 10 p.m. and will feature celebrity karaoke from many of your favorite Buffalo Bills. The event is benefiting Bills punter Brian Moorman’s Punt Foundation, a group that helps Western New York children that are fighting chronic and terminal illnesses.’

‘Gates is the first of the Bills six draft picks to sign with the team.’

‘Running back Lionel Gates, a seventh-round choice of the Bills, is the first of the team’s six picks in the 2005 draft to come to contract terms. The former Louisville star signed a three-year, $959,000 contract that includes a $34,000 signing bonus and league standard minimum base salaries for all three years. Although he started just eight games during his college career, splitting time with fellow 2005 draftee Eric Shelton in the backfield, Gates is regarded as a solid prospect.’

‘"What I have found is, I shouldn’t run away from these past stories," he said. "But the art of it is: How do I transition from these stories and really connect with people? I want to do that for the right reasons in order to give a more important message. And that’s what I try to do."’

‘"I travel a lot, and for me to be able to sit at my home and to be able to talk to my wife and three kids, and tell each and every one of them that I love them and miss them, for me that’s huge," he said. "I said, ‘Why can’t we do this with the military? Why not military families?’ and they (5LINX) just took the idea and ran with it."’