Bill from NYC

I agree wrt the sunday ticket. This is purchased by diehard fans. But, many casual fans buy t-shirts, jerseys, etc. Often they are also given as gifts. I have been to a game when there were 55,000-60,000 due to rain, and a poor team. Casual fans would rather stay home. If the team was winning, this same game would have sold out. Jmo.

This is the part that although spelled out to them, many seem to miss. I am 100% sure that some (not all) of the posters applauding this particular ban will be screaming like mad when the next ban comes along. My guess is that it will be barbecues. Barbecues at stadiums can be extremely dangerouus for a slew of obvious reasons. Not only that, without them there might be a hungrier crowd for the 6 dollar hot dogs in the stadium. On a personal level, I have 3 daughters who are non smokers. I accused the oldest one of being in the "regulated generation." Her retort was compelling imo. She accused the ex-hippies of my generation (who protested away) of being the most involved in our passing of these new rules. I had to agree. In "tough" Boston, they are really "cracking down." Yes, Boston, the home of various ethnic gangs, "Southie," etc. has really decided to take a stand. Check this out: http://www.foxnews.com/us/2011/04/10/boston-mayor-thomas-menino-kos-soda-oks-alcohol/

Believe it or not, I understand this. However, lots of things are considered gross by lots of people. Some view looking at obese people as gross. How gross is it to see people puke from the booze they consumed at games? I see it all the time; I have been to a game every year since 1994. You know what I do when I see drunks puking, fighting, etc.? I avoid them. Non-smokers were free to avoid smoke by not going out on the ramp. It's not really that hard. In terms of the game day experience, I dare say that me smoking outside, away from seats, concessions, bathrooms, etc. really isn't the problem at a football game. The true problem (assuming there is one) is alcohol in terms of bringing your wife and children to a game. And Bro, do you have any suggestions about bbqs? There are cars around with gasoline tanks, and people throwing footballs, frisbees, etc. They are a serious injury waiting to happen, not to mention the toxic fumes. And, animal flesh is being cooked. Many are offended by this. I am obviously doing a poor job of making my point, which is that human behavior is not perfect. Imo we are far too judgemental as a society, which is driven by the absolute need to be PC. It has driven us to the point where we are intolerant, unless dealing with a "trendy" issue.

But my friend, yours makes little sense imo. A designated smoking are "bothers" people. Everything bothers people in our intolerant society. Two men wearing dresses getting married bothers the s--t out of some people. Are you about keeping laws to ban gay marriages because some people are "bothered" by this? I know, I know, RWS is not a government entity. And in all honesty, this does make the ban easier to tolerate from a political standpoint. That said, I am calling for Russ Brandon to be fired for this policy, and because he has not done 1 thing to make this team win football games. Now I suppose he will have some supporters due to this ban. People who fiddle while Rome burns.

I hope you are right, and I do hope that this sister was not harmed too much by this. I'm 100% for a person being able to turn his or her life around, and I've seen in happen. That said, life has taught me to be a bit more skeptical than are most on this thread. That's all.

You have no idea who you are talking to, so I take your snide comments with a grain of salt. Let's just say that I have a lot more professional experience with this type of stuff than you could imagine. I get the feeling it is you who gains info from TV shows. But, I would love to read your resume. Then maybe we can compare notes wrt acts of domestic violence.

They should ban seats as well..... http://sanfrancisco.cbslocal.com/2011/06/08/healthwatch-sitting-vs-smoking/

I have no predictions to offer, but will say that I wouldn't be all that shocked if there was another incident of some sort of deviant behavior. Sorry, but that's often the way this stuff works.

I disagree my friend. I think that the Bills stupid draft picks are what put us in this hole..... Whitner, Spiller, Lynch, McKelvin, Maybin, Parrish, Losman, Youboty, Mike Williams, etc. You simply cannot draft this collection of shrimps, simps, and a useless blimp with your best picks and expect to win because it's impossible. This is not to mention a collection of useless UFAs. Before Levitre, and POSSIBLY Wood, the best offensive lineman the Bills drafted was Jonas Jennings. What good OL did they draft before him? Couple the above with hirings such as Levy, Jauron, and Brandon (for whom I call for his immediate dismissal), what chance did this team (or the suffering fans) have? Even with Big Pat they would have been weak sisters.

You Go!!!!!!

The above does well to describe human frailty, and brings to mind the phrase, "there but for the grace of God." This, in a far from eloquent way, was some of what I have been trying to get across in this thread. My money says that even those who appear to be taking a pious stance about this issue have faults and even weaknesses of their own. At one of my daughters graduations, I heard Elie Wiesel make a speech. It was one of the most enlightening moments of my life. He slammed the word "tolerance" and spoke of instead having "respect." Perhaps if smokers and non-smokers would heed his words, this would be less of an issue. Or, maybe not because of the government money at stake. Either way, I appreciate constructive dialogue. I remember posting on this site when "Mambo #5" was a hit song. Some people here were probably 7 or 8 years old. Cablelady was 19. Thanks SDS. I sense that you find my views and personality to be trifling, but I do appreciate the forum, and the friends that I have made due to your work.

You points are well taken, here ya go..... 1) I agree with the bold. A drunk can sleep through a game, wake up, and drive his or her automobile. 2) I don't think a ban like this serves to, or even purports to stop young people from smoking. I think it was more of a situation of trying to accomodate people such as SDS, who it seems had legit problems with people smoking in seating areas, as well as anti-smoking zealots. 3) Your point about economics was what I was driving at. Going to an NFL game is not like going to a library or a health spa. How many times have you seen young people toss footballs that wind up near charcoal grills? Have you seen drunks get in fights that cause injuries? The smoking ban probably won't cost them much money. Banning alcohol would, thus the hypocrisy. Imo bbqs will be next. The grills are dangerous, the fumes are unhealthy and the sight of burning animal flesh is offensive to militant vegetarians. And, they might sell more food inside. But, alcohol will certainly be banned at some point imo, at the very least in the parking lots. People will always have vices. Searching for that utopia is a lost cause. It is also noteworthy that the policy was announced by a person who is good at making money and bad at providing the fans a winning product.

I don't think that everyone lacks compassion. Obviously, we are all subject to things in life that we find unpleasant or unhealthy. And yes, you are on the winning side of this issue. There are enough government subsidized organizations to demonize all smokers just enough to raise taxes and create yet another American "enemy." This is not unprecedented As someone said, at least this was the Bills and not the government who made this ill advised decision. It is up to me to do the same, and I have decided not to attend a game. I do hope that as people are searched and cigarettes are seized as contraband, some people here see what is happening in this country. I just read that Buffalo is the second poorest city in America behind Detroit. My wish is that citizens, leaders and business people find ways to solve these issues, and do so by focusing on things that mean more than the elimination of designated outdoor smoking areas in a football stadium. You makes sense, but I noticed that you were responding to my post about alcohol. Any thoughts about that particular post?

What should happen to drunks who assault and injure others both in and out of the stadium? Do you have an equally imaginative scenario for them?

Sorry.

First of all, I do appreciate the tone of this post. But I must say that one dui who paralyzes an accident victimm does FAR more harm to humanity than even an inconsiderate smoker who sneaks a cigarette in a seating area. It isn't close. The two are not to be rationally compared, but this is merely my opinion. I will have to make decisions in terms of attending games accordingly. So will society at large. EDIT: I am going with that my decision to not attend a game is solidified. Perhaps someone else will be glad about this and make up for the loss of revenue to WNY.

If you are talking to me, you missed the entire point of my appreciative post to you. As for having problems, I suppose we all do. My guess is that you have at least as many as me.

This is true. Thanks for cementing my decision of not attending a game this season.

E-man, this is utter b.s. I mean absolute nonsense. Approx. 75% of domestic violence cases involve alcohol. This I know. What percentage of fights at RWS and accidents after the game do YOU think involve alcohol? C'mon.....let's have an honest conversation here. My point is that if something need be banned, alcohol would be MUCH more important to the health and safety of those who attend games. I have been posting back and forth with you for years and cannot think of a way how you could possibly dispute this. You are obviously a smart person. Please put away the PC nonsense and have a serious conversation.

Actually, this is the best post in this sickening thread. Sickening in the sense that people's rights are being stripped away as others cheer. I have a decision to make. I, along with my 3 best friend of 45 years have attended a Bills game every year since the Bills/Miami game of 1994. Every year we leave on a Saturday and come home on Monday. It gets expensive. There is nobody we have ever partied with from this site that will tell you that we skimp. I have made true friends from TBD, and I don't do this easily. My inclination is to not attend a game this season. Brandon helped up the team, now he is ing up the game day experience. Hypocrisy abounds in this thread as well. I have done a few things too many for humanity to be treated as a criminal for wanting to smoke a cigarette on the ramp, away from those "offended." We have spent thousands of much needed dollars in the WNY economy. I am thinking at this point that the right thing to do is let the market sort itself out and keep the money in my pocket. Thanks again for a great post.

This post is offensive to the mentally challenged, and well beneath your intellect. Thanks for providing Bills fans with this forum. I am sorry about your mom and dad and hope that all is as ok as can be by you under the circumstances.

Can we consider this a call to ban all drinking in the stadium?

The smoking area at RWS is outside, and far away from the seating area. It isn't even around the concession stands. If this affects your breathing, I personally apologise because this is where I smoke. As for the intox person, they might affect you as well if they drive after the game, throw objects such as batteries (which I have seen), have bloody fights in front of your family members, etc. In short, I think that alcohol at games is a much bigger threat to your immediate, and even long term health than people smoking AWAY from your seats and concession stands. Someone mentioned grills as well. There are cars around, all with tanks of gasoline. Charcoal fumes are said to be pretty awful too as I recall. This ban is no different than the city of Boston's recent ban of "sugary" soda on public property. It is P.C. b.s. We are going around the world to promote "freedom" as our rights here wither away and the citizens react like trained seals. Either way, it would seem to me that we are all entitled to an opinion without being insulted.

Do you think that it affects your health? Also, do you feel affected when people get intoxicated at games?