corta765

I think it is the coolest thing when you are out of town and you wear something Bills and someone walks past and remarks "Go Bills" or vise versa. I can't believe the places I have had that happened including Europe haha

When we broke the drought the amount of congrats I got from friends who are not Bills fans was kinda nuts haha. But being 31 that really was a pretty special time to dump that drought and was a nice payoff for how years of crap we had.

Great description

Exactly. The team even said with their guy that their not concerned about the occasional table jump and they know how important the scene is to their scene. For me getting out of the car on gameday is the equivalent to christmas a few times a year. I love the smells and noise from everyone and how much everyone interacts from sharing food drinks music etc.. It is something that is truly organic and not replicable.

In the wake of recent tailgate change in the Bus & Limo lot it seems a massive debate has ignited about what Bills Culture or Bills Mafia is to us the fans. To me Bills Culture as a fan is not just simplistic rowdy tailgate which while great seems to be overriding the general goal which is to win. To me being a Bills fan I am proud of the loyalty the fans have shown, the willingness to donate as seen with Dalton & the Titans fanbase contest, supporting Pancho, fans showing up at the airport in droves with the drought broken, taking over Miami yearly (if you've never went its amazing), and above of the fact in a league dominated by commercialism Buffalo is an Alamo league wide of fans who support the team thick and thin, not an LA Rams where people only come when they are in the limelight. Green Bay & Pittsburgh get credit for being similar but I ask those fans to go through even a decade of what we have when they have had HOF QB's for decades on end. The day when Mario signed, when he Pegula's bought the team, when we broke the Drought etc.. I couldn't stop listening to the radio to hear Bills fans all over on what it means to them, where they were, and how awesome everything is. There is something truly special and unique about being in this fanbase that you do not get in 95% of the league (Cleveland I will give them this prop). One of the things I do not like that the tailgate debate has absolutely centered on though is that we have to solely be defined as passionate fans by some wild crazy frat party. I love that reputation wise people now have marked Buffalo as a place to go nationally I think it is a great credit to the team, but I don't like that a large segment of fans solely care about that tailgate as our defining trait. I have got to the lot at 6:45 and had some great tailgates, I tell my friends from other place that they have never seen a tailgate and game until they go to Buffalo. But its kinda insane that the ability to not jump off a buss will forever alter the reputation of the fanbase in many fan's eyes. This goes into my frustration with the team not getting night games. Tons of people were thrilled because it meant then 1pm tailgate parties were kept. BUT the general more important goal is missed with all of this. I want the Bills to win the Super Bowl. Like a lot of fans my dad and family got me into the Bills and some of my favorite memories with him have been at the Ralph. He is older now and I hope that someday I get that chance to watch a SB with him when the Bills finally do it and win. I'd rather have 3 night games, 3 4pm games, and stuff that throws it all off because it means the team is winning and matters for the main prize. I'd rather then just being a party, we could have the tailgate culture just a piece of what Bills fans have created across the board. The entire tailgate debate basically shows that for some people its the party not the actual team performance that they give care about and truthfully good riddance then. I get that this team has been a crater of crap from two decades and the Bills need to be extremely careful with modifications to tailgating because the tailgate scene is a decent reason the fans still have come. But in general culture wise I just think frankly we can be better straight up expectation wise on who we are. I do not need some drunken moron jumping off a buss to define how passionate our fans are when since just 2017 I could name a list of great things this fanbase have done. I want the fan expectations to be better then anger on a policy change that will not effect most Bills fans attending. This is just my .02 I am very curious how others value Bills Culture regardless if it differs greatly

That is where I am closing in on. I am a little nervous that if this is successful they make a few lots have area's like this.

With that then it really isn't the worst thing ever. The ability to bring your own food and drink is probably my biggest thing because its a major cost savings and we look forward to making food to share with others. But you gotta be able to heat some of it haha

That is where I am. People do not realize that had a person or two died in one of these table jumps the team may have just said screw it we are not opening the lots until 10 or 11 like a lot of teams. I do have a little fear that they eventually bring this into one of the regular parking lots as a money grab but overall the logic makes sense. My bigger question is if you can bring your own grill off a buss to cook your own food.

The point was more that for primetime TV you don't want the top headlines reading that people are dying out of stupidity. My understanding is that was part of why it took a bit for Buffalo to get a game after 2012. The Patriots actually were not on TV for a long time until Kraft took over due to some really bad stuff happening during their night games. And yea winning cures all with the NFL. If the Bills win everything falls in step with that. I would be curious to see though if the Bills do ask the NFL for 1pm games like they did in the past

$120 million. It was a 1/5 of KC's cost and originally back when the lease/reno was discussed the goal was to do a Chiefs reno but at the time without ownership certainty with the NFL pushing for a new stadium a band aid was used not the full surgery which truthfully should've been done. Had the Pegula's owned the team before the most recent renovation I think the Bills would've done a full reno and that would be that. The Chiefs have been a far more consistent winning product so that certainly helps. But yes the NFL likes having stadiums to show off and open larger revenue streams. Sal C of WGR 550 has said how much of a pain the Bills stadium is to setup for night time home games because of how old the infrastructure is. That in itself makes it a hard sell for a team that has been irrelevant for 20 years. Additionally at least with Ralph/Russ Brandon at the end the Bills asked for 1pm games and tried avoiding night games because of their fanbase that drives in. I believe the Pegula's have pivoted from that and the fact the last two night games have went on without any issue that helps to make night games not as scary. That Dolphins TNF in 2013 was a mess like 3 people died etc..

I had seasons and in no way ever wanted 3 DEC homes games. I had to give up my MIA game in 2016 because of the holiday. I will take 6 home games before Thanksgiving for the rest of time.

Yep. I would've bet with AB we go at night for CLE and PIT. Outside of your major markets which get national games even if they suck like the Giants and Skins, if you are small to medium size you get games either by winning (which we haven't done) or by major stars joining. 2015 was like a banner year in terms of star power with Shady & Rex joining the team which is why they got two night games, London, and a 4 pm game. The only other time in my adult life I remember the Bills getting a bunch of headline type games was 2009 which was when we got TO and the AFL had its 50th anniversary. That year the Bills had 2 primetime games MNF Pats (Leodis fml) and TNF in Toronto (NYJ) plus FIVE 4 pm games which seems insane to believe now.

Their WR corp is hilariously bad pre-draft. We will see after

Yea that is the only point I was take with Leo. Ravens are absolutely our equal and I think were better straight up. They like the Steelers rest on reputation not actual true roster analysis these days.

I think really for any team even the best any more then 12 wins starts factoring in some luck and fortunate circumstances. The Chiefs really should've lost a game or two more that they squeaked out last year.

Right! It really is the mindset of who cares about bigger or better things. Most NFL fanbases care about success and a product of success is receiving national exposure. There use to be a time we got jazzed up that we got the big games because our mindset was big in the idea of winning big. I thought like you that with Allen's progress/big moments last year a national game with him against Baker or Darnold or Jackson was a shoe in. Even a game vs Wentz and the Eagles would've been cool given they both had the same college coach. Instead we get at best a national game in New England at night which is probably the only it is even being considered and most likely will be a massacre given the Pats record during home night games. This year the schedule actually worked out pretty favorably for the Bills and generally when its home game front loaded they do better. But yea LAC got screwed hard like us. Going that long from home really makes it a tough go and eliminates a home bounce back game to reset if things get rough.

Yea honestly if you swapped Allen with any of those three the attention received/hype would've been vastly greater and those guys would've received reduced hype. I think with Allen it does stem to the amount of people who were polarized on him. He silenced a lot of critics who said he was a tire fire by having some good games and putting together a solid string in his final 6 during the back half. There are people who do not want to give him credit but they really don't have the ammunition they did before so their silent. If Allen was in NY his hurdle vs MIN and pass vs JAX would've been played daily on the major networks. As others have said being small market and the lack of success for 20 years unfortunately hides the positives and attention he deserves. Oh well just gotta shock the world I guess

Agreed. I crave primetime and think it is BS we have zero national exposure. In terms of W/L's while I wish we were home week 1 or 2, the first 12 weeks the Bills have a substantial chance to really set themselves up to be in a strong position for the playoffs. After last years crap with like no home games the first two months, the schedule makers were farr kinder and the lack of december home games is fantastic.

That's kind of what I have. If we are making the playoff it is something like that.

It's completely renovated and cost over half a billion dollars

I’ve grown up with the team as a joke and punchline. National primetime games are fun and mean you matter a little. I know basically one small time when we mattered which was killing the drought. It gets tiring being the punchline etc and I generally believe they did a good job in FA. But it kinda confirms we’re never good enough whether it’s AB or stuff like this. Knowing the only way to get any exposure is winning is a sad existence.

The schedule is out if you haven’t seen this is it: Wk 1 at NYJ Wk 2 at NYG Wk 3 Cincy home opener Wk 4 NE Wk 5 at TEN Wk 6 BYE Wk 7 Miami Wk 8 Philly Wk 9 WSH Wk 10 at CLE Wk 11 at MIA Wk 12 DEN Wk 13 at DAL Thanksgiving Day Wk 14 BAL Wk 15 at PIT Wk 16 at NE possible Saturday game Wk 17 NYJ The Good: The Bills get an awesome 5 games in their first 8 games. Other then NE and PHI it sets up 6 very winnable games and the opportunity for the Bills to stack a lot of wins. While opening on the road two straight weeks is not preferable, opponent wise they should be able to get at least 1 win as they build forward. There is no killer road portion like we have seen before which is nice. And of course the Bills for the first time since 1994 are playing in Thanksgiving which for many fans like myself is the first time I’ll ever get to see them on the big day. 6 home games before Thanksgiving is a godsend for season ticket holders who were stuck with some crappy non impact December games the last few years. The Bad: Opening two straight on the road is still tough regardless of opponent. If you lose both your starring at an 0-2 hole before your first home game which is not fun. The last 5 games present some truly stiff tests and will be a major make it or break part for their playoff hopes with four AFC games against playoff aspiring teams/NE. The Ugly: The Bills are irrelevant nationally. Yea they got the Thanksgiving game and yes there is a small shot they get the Saturday game at night vs NE but the other 14 games are all 1pm. I know some people love 1pm games but all that confirms is that nationally this team has no one of attention drawing and no one thinks the Bills matter in the landscape of competition. If they did you would see some 4 pm games and another night game. When the Giants and Redskins get more night games and even Miami has the same number it confirms you a nobody league wide. The only time recently the Bills truly has some national exposure with the Rex disaster. Other then the Bills winning the division this is just another sign by the NFL that the Bills need a new stadium if they want any attention and we really not matter in the general landscape.

Can't you take a personal day to support your American brothers in the war against turkey?

Updated: Week 1 at NYJ Week 2 at NYG Week 3 CIN Week 4 NE Week 7 MIA Week 10 at CLE Week 11 at MIA Week 12 DEN Week 16 at NE Week 17 NYJ

That is rumored not confirmed. The Phins are on the road the week before the thanksgiving game and historically you have to be home if you go to Dallas for thanksgiving. Jeremy White researched this today going back to 2002 and literally every road opponent was home the prior week to Thanksgiving Dallas game.