Near shooting at last Bills-Lions 1972 game at War Memorial Stadium

[Big Turk]

I had no idea this even happened...apparently a guy was a able to sneak a gun into the stadium attending the final game at War Memorial Stadium(before moving to OP) between the Bills and Lions in 1972 and afterwards while on the field and people were taking seats and pieces of the field, etc, things about took a turn for the worse...

 

Does anyone have more background about this or was anyone in attendance at this game on the board?

 

https://youtu.be/03_uFjs5Nm4?si=dkJLUaod5VKlrjn7

Edited December 19, 2024 by Big Turk

[Simon]

That's not a near mass shooting, that's a guy with a little .22 in his pocket.

[Simon]

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[klos63]

I was at the game. I think it was OJ with the gun. 

[SoCal Deek]

I was there. It was freezing. 

[notpolian]

I was at that game.  My first game, I was 6.  I was in a full "snowmobile suit" as we called them back then.  Serious pia to take a leak while wearing one of those.

 

I don't remember any guns. I do remember it was a tie however.

[1962]

The kid on you tube  is shocked that the fan was able to bring a gun into stadium, that is funny. In 1972 there was no security at the entrance gate it was a different era. The ticket takers were there to prevent fans without tickets from entering. The biggest controversy when Rich stadium opened was that fans were no longer allowed to bring in their own booze. Can you imagine Ralph Wilson’s greed at making fans buy overpriced beer in the stadium. Handguns required a permit in NY in 1972 just like today, and carrying a pistol without one was a felony. A felony arrest would not result in a $25 fine even accounting for inflation. This guy was most likely drunk, relatively harmless, but wired politically thus the small fine.  And yes I was at that game

[Buffalo716]

43 minutes ago, Simon said:

[This is an automated response]

 

The topic title is potentially misleading. Accurate titles help the community find topics relevant to their interests and avoids reader frustration. Please change the topic title to more accurately reflect content of the original post.The topic starter can edit the topic title line to make it more appropriate.

 

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44 minutes ago, Simon said:

That's not a near mass shooting, that's a guy with a little .22 in his pocket.

 

I don't want to get too political and certainly not a firearm expert..

 

But can't that still kill fairly easily 

 

[BillsPride12]

38 minutes ago, 1962 said:

The kid on you tube  is shocked that the fan was able to bring a gun into stadium, that is funny. In 1972 there was no security at the entrance gate it was a different era. The ticket takers were there to prevent fans without tickets from entering. The biggest controversy when Rich stadium opened was that fans were no longer allowed to bring in their own booze. Can you imagine Ralph Wilson’s greed at making fans buy overpriced beer in the stadium. Handguns required a permit in NY in 1972 just like today, and carrying a pistol without one was a felony. A felony arrest would not result in a $25 fine even accounting for inflation. This guy was most likely drunk, relatively harmless, but wired politically thus the small fine.  And yes I was at that game

Ironically I have heard this is what really birthed tailgating as we know it today.  It was before my time so I don't know how much truth there is to that but I have read that Buffalo was behind the times and the Rockpile was the last stadium where you could bring your own booze in.  Fans counter punched by just drinking out in the parking lots before the game at Rich Stadium 

[stuvian]

The video host talks about a security incident at SB 18 but nothing is to be found online

[US Egg]

1 hour ago, 1962 said:

The biggest controversy when Rich stadium opened was that fans were no longer allowed to bring in their own booze.

Not true.

[klos63]

32 minutes ago, BillsPride12 said:

Ironically I have heard this is what really birthed tailgating as we know it today.  It was before my time so I don't know how much truth there is to that but I have read that Buffalo was behind the times and the Rockpile was the last stadium where you could bring your own booze in.  Fans counter punched by just drinking out in the parking lots before the game at Rich Stadium 

I brought booze into rich stadium, in one of those igloo type coolers,  1980 I think.  We certainly didn't sneak it in, so it must have been allowed. 

[dwight in philly]

Was at the game, nothing that I recall out of the ordinary..

[HOUSE]

The game ended in a tie. Some people get angry 😠 

[amprov56]

My family disassembled the seats they had since 1960 and took them.

[PromoTheRobot]

10 hours ago, klos63 said:

I was at the game. I think it was OJ with the gun. 

Looking for the killer. Somehow he knew.

[Haslett_Stomp]

My dad used to bring in a big thermos of hot chocolate in the late 70's and early-mid 80's for those November and December games.  Lord know what others brought into Rich in theirs.

Edited December 19, 2024 by Haslett_Stomp

[First Round Bust]

went to the game as my friends parents were sick...we were 11 year-olds...just us two getting dropped-off and picked-up...that doesnt happen today

Back then it was the norm for kids to do that as well wait and sleep in the entrance lobby of the Aud to get Sabres tickets as well as concert tickets without adult supervision.

Back to the game...a tie...after every quarter...adults tearing up the seats, grass, and goldposts...the good ole daze of my misspent youth...of which Buffalo sports was a big part and still are today...thanks for walk down memory lane

 

[GoBills1111]

13 hours ago, SoCal Deek said:

I was there. It was freezing. 

I was there for that game. My very first Bills game...Watching Len Barney from Detroit and getting the experience of War Memorial Stadium...Freshman in HS

[Beast]

I was there.

 

No I wasn’t.