Tell Me About Average Bills Fans

[machine gun kelly]

43 minutes ago, HOUSE said:

The average Bills fan is 5'10", 152 lbs, has 2.5 kids and one cat. Waldo

Dude, a cat (a blimp, we’re not in the stratosphere). Chris Brown promo reference.  Dogs brother.

 

Cats are for old ladies and spinsters.  Dogs are a guy’s best friend.

 

Now go take a shot of toradol for that leg. 

[The Frankish Reich]

58 minutes ago, Greg S said:

 

There is no such thing as an average Bills fan. Pats fans that is a different story. You mention Steve Grogan, Andre Tippett to them and they have no clue. They have no knowledge of anything before Parcells and Bledsoe. Once the Pats start to suck again they will go back to being Giants fans while following only the Sox, B's and Celtics.

Teams with long winning traditions have more fans, and their fans are spread out over larger geographic areas. The percentage of fans who are hardcore - who could name your starting QBs from bygone eras - is simply higher for the teams that have been traditionally bad. I get that we were good - really good - for half a decade or more in the 90s, but that's overwhelmed by two decades of irrelevance. So Bills fans tend to be hardcore. We followed teams that really didn't deserve to be followed. And for a long time.

 

But that changes. Depending on how the next few years unfold, you'll likely see a lot of new casual Bills fans. A lot of them will be Josh Allen fans who can name only Allen and Diggs (maybe half a dozen others if they're committed), and they'll live in places like the Central Valley of California (Josh ties) and everywhere that doesn't have its own loyal-to-a-fault fanbase. The places on the TV map that get the Bills as the second half of the Sunday doubleheader.

 

I see a lot of Dodgers caps where I live. Those people are saying "I'm an LA transplant." (We tolerate you, but do you have to advertise it?) They maybe know Clayton Kershaw, possibly Mookie Betts. I occasionally see a guy (always a guy) in an old school Montreal Expos cap. That guy will recite from memory the Expos 1981 starting lineup from memory (they got cheated by the strike-shortened season; they were the best team in baseball). As time goes on we'll see more of the Dodger type fans, fewer of Expos cap guy in our fanbase. That, my friends, is called success!

Edited August 19, 2021 by The Frankish Reich

[H2o]

Bills fans........average? Au contraire mon frere, Bills fans are the greatest fans on the face of the earth. Nothing average about them. All of the ones I have met here in VA are definitely more dialed in than other team's fans as a group imo. Hell, half of the other teams' fans I know around here just buy a jersey so they can get drunk at the local Buffalo Wild Wings and throw their hands up in the air or talk **** if their "team" actually does something. Most of the Bills fans I know also seem to have a broader knowledge of all the NFL teams, even more so than some of those other teams' fans. It's like we have a greater love for the game in general. Idk, that's just me and the way I see it. 

[Dr. K]

We must be about the same age (ancient). I saw my first live Bills game the day after my 16th birthday, in 1966, at the Rockpile, Bills vs. Houston Oilers with George Blanda at QB, won by the Bills with seconds left in the game by a 66 yard interception return by defensive back Haygood Clarke. I was sitting in the end zone where Clarke scored. 

 

https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/196609250buf.htm

I moved to Kansas in the 1970s and North Carolina in the 80s. It was hard to see the Bills in those days--they were seldom on TV--but I still followed them. I guess I'm a diehard. 

Edited August 19, 2021 by Dr. K

[blitzboy54]

I was born in Buffalo and after moving around a bit as a kid ended up back there just in time for the SB years. As an adult I've lived all over the country and settled in Albany (Giants country). When I was getting to know my neighbor (now good friend) he told me there is no such thing as a casual Bills fan. If they exist he had never met one.

 

I've had that sentiment repeated to me on a few occasions by others. Like you said casual fans exist but I don't really know any. 

[Bills fan since 87]

I might be an interesting case.  I know which players play where but not as much on back stories.  Some but not all.  I might even miss one or two starters when going through the line up.  I can say  however I've missed one single game since the 87 season, the Saints game the day I got married on Sept 27th, 2009. 

 

I also have an excellent memmory for games and moments.  Without looking it up I can tell you final score of any Bills playoff game, ever.  Part of the reason I love board member corta765's  "Game defining moments"  I can litterally see and remember all the moments that are written up.  Whish those write ups would go back further.

 

I've always been in the know on players, positions and such to a pretty good degree.  But my fanatiscm is tied into games, moments and the uniform.  I love to read old box scores and game recaps. the "relentless book" was a god send in the days before the internet and Pro Football Ref.com.  

 

I don't think the "average" fan could hold their own against me in game and moment specific Bills history trivia.

 

GO BILLS

Edited August 19, 2021 by Bills fan since 87

[Shaw66]

39 minutes ago, The Frankish Reich said:

Teams with long winning traditions have more fans, and their fans are spread out over larger geographic areas. The percentage of fans who are hardcore - who could name your starting QBs from bygone eras - is simply higher for the teams that have been traditionally bad. I get that we were good - really good - for half a decade or more in the 90s, but that's overwhelmed by two decades of irrelevance. So Bills fans tend to be hardcore. We followed teams that really didn't deserve to be followed. And for a long time.

 

But that changes. Depending on how the next few years unfold, you'll likely see a lot of new casual Bills fans. A lot of them will be Josh Allen fans who can name only Allen and Diggs (maybe half a dozen others if they're committed), and they'll live in places like the Central Valley of California (Josh ties) and everywhere that doesn't have its own loyal-to-a-fault fanbase. The places on the TV map that get the Bills as the second half of the Sunday doubleheader.

 

I see a lot of Dodgers caps where I live. Those people are saying "I'm an LA transplant." (We tolerate you, but do you have to advertise it?) They maybe know Clayton Kershaw, possibly Mookie Betts. I occasionally see a guy (always a guy) in an old school Montreal Expos cap. That guy will recite from memory the Expos 1981 starting lineup from memory (they got cheated by the strike-shortened season; they were the best team in baseball). As time goes on we'll see more of the Dodger type fans, fewer of Expos cap guy in our fanbase. That, my friends, is called success!

This sounds correct to me, and it's an explanation why so many people are responding that there are no average Bills fans.  Well, not no, but not many.   If you're a Bills fan, the experience was primarily pain for a long time, you put up with it, and you were dedicated to the team.  So, you pay more attention to the team.  On the other hand, the other extreme, actually, is Dodger fans.   They're like "yeah, whatever" about their team, and they get excited only when the team's winning, and even then they're largely only about the stars, as you say.  

 

Obviously, these are all generalizations.  

 

But I think you're right about the Bills, if they continue to have success.  The growth of the fan base will be average fans building in to enlarge the base.  

 

I assumed there were a lot of average fans, but you guys are convincing me that there are fewer than I thought.  

[BuffaloBill]

1 hour ago, Rocky Landing said:

My neighbor put up a Patriots* flag in his front yard. I spray-painted "cheaters" across the front of their house, slashed all the tires of their cars, and killed their child's pet hamster, which the kid had named Tom. That makes me "average," right?

 

 

Makes you a little scary …. But in a lovable, Tony Soprano, sort of way..

[Albany,n.y.]

1 hour ago, Guffalo said:

I have a similar background, grew up watching them as a kid, couldn't understand why we traded Haven Moses, always watched or listened even when they were horrible in the late 60's/early 70's. Hated the dolphins through the 70's. Left after college in 1982, moved to Long Island, would have my dad put the radio to the phone so I could hear Van do the play by play. Kept the season tickets since then. Long Island is 65% Jets fans, 25% Giants fans and 10% "other". Still travel to as many home games as possible, at least one road trip each year. Converted my wife and all my kids are Bills fans, my daughter is  marrying a Jets fan next year and to end the father daughter dance we will be doing the Shout song.

When I was living in Long Island (Northport, then Oakdale) in the 1980s I lived far enough away from NJ (where there was a weak station on 930 AM) that at night I used to be able to listen to WBEN at night, although it was through a lot of static.  I used to listen often, especially on Monday night when they had the coach's show.  I didn't get to see a lot of Bills games on TV except when they played the Giants or Jets.  One time the Bills were playing NE & the game was on in Connecticut.  I went to a friends house closer to Connecticut & we had to hook an antenna up to a hockey stick out on his porch to see the game.  

 

I went to Bills @ Jets games in 1985, 86 & 87.  When the Bills played the Eagles I used to go to Philadelphia for the games,  They played at the Vet in 1985 & 1987.  For the 1987 game I found out I could get Eagles tickets at the mall in Massapequa.  Since the 1987 game was 2 days after Christmas & I couldn't get anyone else to go & I went alone.  The Bills ran for the bus that game with only Bennett showing up on the field.  

 

Shortly after the Philly game I moved to Albany and was able to get a lot more coverage & go to more Bills games.  A couple of times in 1988 the game was on TV in Utica & not in Albany & I drove west with a little battery TV & watched the game in my car.  The next year I discovered places that had satellites & would go there to watch games I didn't go to.  Since then the only times I've missed watching the game on either TV or at the game (I now only go to about 2 games a year, but I had seasons from 1990-2011) was when I was at another NFL game or in the hospital.  

[billsherd]

You won't find many "average" bills fan on this forum.

[wjag]

This should tell you all you need to know.  I once called my parents house from an airplane (remember those very pricey in seat air phones) and had my Mom place her landline phone next to TV so I could hear the Bills game.  Every time the pilot would come on, it would drop my connection and I would have to call back.  At one point the flight attendant came by and asked me in a somewhat rude tone, who the heck you talking to?  I listened to entire Bills game that way as I flew east coast to west coast. 

Edited August 19, 2021 by wjag

[Kwai San]

@Shaw66 - great topic and I agree with another poster on her who said there are NO average fans on this board!  We are all hard core.  Very very Hard Core.  You my friend have seasons AND live in CT?  So it is about an 7.5 hour drive from your domicile to The Ralph?  That is dedication!

 

Go BILLS!

[Shaw66]

1 hour ago, Bills fan since 87 said:

I might be an interesting case.  I know which players play where but not as much on back stories.  Some but not all.  I might even miss one or two starters when going through the line up.  I can say  however I've missed one single game since the 87 season, the Saints game the day I got married on Sept 27th, 2009. 

 

I also have an excellent memmory for games and moments.  Without looking it up I can tell you final score of any Bills playoff game, ever.  Part of the reason I love board member corta765's  "Game defining moments"  I can litterally see and remember all the moments that are written up.  Whish those write ups would go back further.

 

I've always been in the know on players, positions and such to a pretty good degree.  But my fanatiscm is tied into games, moments and the uniform.  I love to read old box scores and game recaps. the "relentless book" was a god send in the days before the internet and Pro Football Ref.com.  

 

I don't think the "average" fan could hold their own against me in game and moment specific Bills history trivia.

 

GO BILLS

You're definitely not average!

[Bills fan since 87]

2 minutes ago, Shaw66 said:

You're definitely not average!

 

I've been told that a lot through my life, for various reasons.  For better or for worse 🤔

[Shaw66]

21 minutes ago, Kwai San said:

@Shaw66 - great topic and I agree with another poster on her who said there are NO average fans on this board!  We are all hard core.  Very very Hard Core.  You my friend have seasons AND live in CT?  So it is about an 7.5 hour drive from your domicile to The Ralph?  That is dedication!

 

Go BILLS!

Six and a half.  

 

There is nothing like the atmosphere in a sold-out NFL game, and there's no sold-out NFL game like a sold-out Bills home game.  It's a great experience, every time. 

[Patrick Duffy]

Honestly can say I have never came across an "average" Bills fan. But I have came across quite a few that were fans of other teams.

[Kwai San]

1 minute ago, Shaw66 said:

Six and a half.  

 

There is nothing like the atmosphere in a sold-out NFL game, and there's no sold-out NFL game like a sold-out Bills home game.  It's a great experience, every time. 

 Well now 6.5 is not that bad!!  I had seasons from 87 thru 2012.  The best games in my mind were during the SB run.....81k+ fans screaming their collective heads off???  That stadium feeling like a jet taking off?  I agree, NOTHING like a sold out game at The Ralph!  I have been to a few other stadiums.....did.  not.  compare!

 

Go BILLS!

[TheBrownBear]

I never met an "average" fan until I moved from Buffalo to California in my late teens.  I hated those people when I met them and I still hate them today.  Lol.

 

But seriously, there is something to the notion that larger cities with tons of entertainment options or places with great outdoor activity options tend to produce more "average" fans.  I mean, if we get an 80* day here in San Diego on a late October Sunday, it's darn hard to sit inside and watch the Bills for 3 hours when I could be out at the beach surfing, spearfishing or playing a round of golf at Torrey Pines.  I still do it, but it makes me absolutely sick to waste a beautiful morning watching us lose.

 

I love Buffalo, but as far as entertainment in the Fall-Winter, the Bills and Sabres are pretty much it (yes, I know we (Buffalo) have an art scene and bowling alleys...lol).

[The Wiz]

Played the shout song no less than 5 times at my wedding. 

 

Any fan that watched the Bills through the Drought weekly is pretty much an above average fan in my book. 

[TheBrownBear]

10 minutes ago, The Wiz said:

Played the shout song no less than 5 times at my wedding. 

 

Any fan that watched the Bills through the Drought weekly is pretty much an above average fan in my book. 

"Above average?"  I think the term you're searching for is "masochist."