The Stadium Wall, Went to my First Game

[Thrivefourfive]

2 hours ago, stinky finger said:

 

nah......you nailed it just right. I appreciate the picture you painted. Glad you had such a memorable experience. 

We sure? Because my opinions on the football play that are equally insane. I think I’m right. I’ll tell you all all about it soon

[Sierra Foothills]

@Thrivefourfive, I've followed the Bills since 1968 but never made it to a game at the fabled Rockpile, aka War Memorial Stadium.

 

My first Bills game was at Rich Stadium... the same stadium now called Highmark.

 

My Dad took me and my brother. The tickets were an early Christmas gift. The weather was cold, damp, and windy. The Bills lost. And our seats were in the upper end zone. For an inexperienced football fan, it was hard to get a sense of depth. I remember on a few sweeps OJ ran, that it was really hard figuring out how many yards he gained. The other thing I remember is that even though the stadium was less than 2 years old, the "state-of-the-art" scoreboard (among the first to show video replays), was terrible with lots of blown light bulbs to the point where you couldn't make out too much of the video replays. The ride home was dark and the traffic was terrible. The mood was glum.

 

https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/197411100buf.htm

 

I'm glad your first experience at the old stadium was better than mine!

 

[Dan]

I’m envious.   I’ve seen the Bills play in a lot of stadiums, but never had the fortune of making it to Rich Stadium.  I had a trip planned for this fall, but family issues kept me out.   Now….  I have 2 games left to splurge and try to make it happen.    
 

wish I coulda been there

[BillsPride12]

25 minutes ago, Dan said:

I’m envious.   I’ve seen the Bills play in a lot of stadiums, but never had the fortune of making it to Rich Stadium.  I had a trip planned for this fall, but family issues kept me out.   Now….  I have 2 games left to splurge and try to make it happen.    
 

wish I coulda been there

Dude you've gotta make it to a game before next season is over

[Dan]

1 minute ago, BillsPride12 said:

Dude you've gotta make it to a game before next season is over

Isn’t THIS the last season in the stadium ?

[Sierra Foothills]

3 minutes ago, Dan said:

Isn’t THIS the last season in the stadium ?

 

Nope.

 

2025 is.

 

[Dan]

Just now, Sierra Foothills said:

 

Nope.

 

2025 is.

 

Seriously!!    I was literally pricing flights for the WC game.      How did I get my years wrong!  lol. 
 

definitely going next year 

[Richard Noggin]

Come on, where did you sit? Where did you park? Where did you eat? 

 

The warm fuzzies are fine and all, but let's get down to details we can debate and disagree on and be divisive about. 

[BillsPride12]

26 minutes ago, Dan said:

Seriously!!    I was literally pricing flights for the WC game.      How did I get my years wrong!  lol. 
 

definitely going next year 

Now you have no excuses...a whole extra year to plan! 

[Thrivefourfive]

3 hours ago, Sierra Foothills said:

@Thrivefourfive, I've followed the Bills since 1968 but never made it to a game at the fabled Rockpile, aka War Memorial Stadium.

 

My first Bills game was at Rich Stadium... the same stadium now called Highmark.

 

My Dad took me and my brother. The tickets were an early Christmas gift. The weather was cold, damp, and windy. The Bills lost. And our seats were in the upper end zone. For an inexperienced football fan, it was hard to get a sense of depth. I remember on a few sweeps OJ ran, that it was really hard figuring out how many yards he gained. The other thing I remember is that even though the stadium was less than 2 years old, the "state-of-the-art" scoreboard (among the first to show video replays), was terrible with lots of blown light bulbs to the point where you couldn't make out too much of the video replays. The ride home was dark and the traffic was terrible. The mood was glum.

 

https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/197411100buf.htm

 

I'm glad your first experience at the old stadium was better than mine!

 

Ferguson threw six picks! That’s a sentence I’ve never said or wrote out in front of me. Speaking of, it’s true that the red helmets came about because he was colorblind and all the division teams had white helmets so he didn’t know who was a phin and who was a Bill?
 

My dad’s first was at the Rockpile. Then Rich Stadium. “Went to see OJ run”

 

I asked a few people around town is: 

 

Was anyone around when the filmed The Natural was filmed, and sat in as extras in War Memorial? My grandparents did 🤣

2 hours ago, Dan said:

Seriously!!    I was literally pricing flights for the WC game.      How did I get my years wrong!  lol. 
 

definitely going next year 

Im saying it. I’m saying it. I’m saying it. After the Bills win the Super Bowl, next season will be more about celebrating The Rich as opposed to recovering from a bad playoff loss. 
 

So yes, go! I’ll go too 

 

[Thrivefourfive]

2 hours ago, Richard Noggin said:

Come on, where did you sit? Where did you park? Where did you eat? 

 

The warm fuzzies are fine and all, but let's get down to details we can debate and disagree on and be divisive about. 

These are all the best parts!!

 

Got our gear at Rally House, had the rental car (with Florida plates 😂) so I just decided to wing it (pun) and get some parking residential. I’ve read on here about getting out of the stadium lots. No thanks. Parked at Sheldon and Brompton. This really is where at the magic began. Without giving out names, because I met and chatted with everyone. Sorry, fuzz. 
 

Machine/Shot Gun Kelly’d a Blue Light with awesome tailgaters, was offered a lot more. Did our thing and had the greatest walk to the stadium. Right down Sheldon. Pictures and videos. New Stadium and Old. Italian Sausage on the go (and I regret not getting a BUF hoodie at the cool merch tent. It was different that the ones at BFLO and so on. 
 

Did the rail yard depot lines converging getting into that end of Highmark. End zone fate. Seats were 134-24-1 & 134-24-2

 

The timing of our walk up was we were in our seats at 1pm. So all the noise walking up was ENERGY BUILDING

 

Ahhhh sorry everyone that went to their first game in the 300s. Me too at Angel Stadium in 1986 when I was 8. Still remember seeing Boggs career batting avg on the screen as he was third all time at that point in his career. Something like that. Whoops.. hey Anaheim is chilly at night in July — swear it!
 

The seats took time for me to purchase. At first, I was all about row 5, but I decided it’s too close. The players cut off half the field. And then from our seats the big camera station is in the way. No way. Then I was going to go for 130 row 1. Great player interaction they say. But, the game- I wanted to see every play the best I could. 
 

We were the 50 yard line. We were practically directly in between Nantz and Romo, in a straight line with JA17’s seat on the bench (I want him sitting BETWEEN the line and the skill guys, not at the end!)

 

Just unreal. Everyone around us was awesome. All Bills fans. I was vibing and the 300s would’ve been just as awesome. Nothing was going to stop that party.
 

Not a big drinker either on the regular and I wanted to grab some beers for our new friends, but I chose to stand and watch every minute from kickoff until security told me kindly: “Gotta go.” I didn’t leave 134-24-1/2

 

Ate up at TC Wheelers Saturday night after getting in and checking into the old BUFFALO INSANE ASYLUM hotel!!!!!! YESSSSSSSS

 

We do wings at home, but I hadn’t realized I’m lathering them with Franks and it’s too much, and subtle is what’s called for. We practice every game day.

 

The city is dead by 8pm, and wanted to eat downtown but didn’t happen. 
 

Come at me!

[Richard Noggin]

TC Wheelers lays down solid pizza and wings, no doubt. I used to live nearby for a short time when I first returned to the region. 

 

Your seats were effing elite. Congrats there. 

 

I'm super curious about the private residential parking just off Southwestern. Pre-determined/selected, or just found it driving by? What time did you get there? (I almost always park at ECC out of habit, but the construction has really extended the walk to and from, so I'm always on the look out for options west of Abbott Rd.)

[Thrivefourfive]

21 minutes ago, Richard Noggin said:

TC Wheelers lays down solid pizza and wings, no doubt. I used to live nearby for a short time when I first returned to the region. 

 

Your seats were effing elite. Congrats there. 

 

I'm super curious about the private residential parking just off Southwestern. Pre-determined/selected, or just found it driving by? What time did you get there? (I almost always park at ECC out of habit, but the construction has really extended the walk to and from, so I'm always on the look out for options west of Abbott Rd.)

Parking was one of those where you either pull in now and get your spot, or play games driving closer and nearer and feeling squeezed at your first Bills game. These little decisions to not push our luck.. all the difference.

 

We drove up Brompton from Southwestern and as we turned right on Sheldon we just pulled in and it was $20. Simple. House on corner. They’ll remember us probably forever so just let Christina know that the California couple who came inside the house while she snapped the security tag off a new jacket that the store forgot to remove sent ya. The Jets game people. Funniest thing.. The 92 years young patriarch was telling me about going to the Rams/Bills game, and he was feeling guilty that he cause the loss. He’s convinced. Bills fans. Here I was from the opposite direction on a cooler, telling him there is no way my bad luck can stop this team FROM GLORY  
 

We parked at 11:35ish and stayed for 45 mins I’d say before waking down to the game. All the way down Sheldon was residential game parking and tailgating and insane colors of Blue and Red. 
 

Edited December 31, 2024 by Thrivefourfive
Oh, we were the last car to drive away after the game, so no idea how departure from the home was handled. They have a big property. Could fit a hundred cars

[Richard Noggin]

9 minutes ago, Thrivefourfive said:

Parking was one of those where you either pull in now and get your spot, or play games driving closer and nearer and feeling squeezed at your first Bills game. These little decisions to not push our luck.. all the difference.

 

We drove up Brompton from Southwestern and as we turned right on Sheldon we just pulled in and it was $20. Simple. House on corner. They’ll remember us probably forever so just let Christina know that the California couple who came inside the house while she snapped the security tag off a new jacket that the store forgot to remove sent ya. The Jets game people. Funniest thing.. The 92 years young patriarch was telling me about going to the Rams/Bills game, and he was feeling guilty that he cause the loss. He’s convinced. Bills fans. Here I was from the opposite direction on a cooler, telling him there is no way my bad luck can stop this team FROM GLORY  
 

We parked at 11:35ish and stayed for 45 mins I’d say before waking down to the game. All the way down Sheldon was residential game parking and tailgating and insane colors of Blue and Red. 
 

 

You've unearthed a fascinating option for closer-to-kickoff parking, as some of the mainstays reach capacity earlier than an hour-and-half-out. Especially when snow removal and storage eats into parking supply (although of course those smaller, private options could be more dramatically impacted under certain circumstances). Appreciate the granular detail.

 

Love to hear how welcome you were made to feel at every step. 

[ganesh]

15 hours ago, Da webster guy said:

Dude what a great time, it was a nice way to close out the regular season at home.

 

The stadium is obviously rough, and now instead of showing replays they just post a giant Fanduel banner on the old big screen, I think Pegulas 12 year old grandkid is running the AV program over there.   And no flyover again after the national anthem, somehow they can't seem to coordinate that one either.  Once in awhile they figure it out.   Bathrooms, food, its definitely the worst stadium in the NFL but I still love it just for all the memories we've had there and what it represents.

 

And despite all of that, all you need is a friendly fan base, great qb and some defensive action and its a fkin blast every time, rain or shine, warm or cold.

 

 

This year would have been great for the fans at the stadium as we went 8-0...Not a single game where the fans are down after the game....It is truly a great time to be a Bills fan and to be at that stadium.  

 

My own experience of watching Bills game in other stadiums -  I am 4-0 in all of them....lucky me...

[Dan]

4 hours ago, BillsPride12 said:

Now you have no excuses...a whole extra year to plan! 

 

2 hours ago, Thrivefourfive said:

Ferguson threw six picks! That’s a sentence I’ve never said or wrote out in front of me. Speaking of, it’s true that the red helmets came about because he was colorblind and all the division teams had white helmets so he didn’t know who was a phin and who was a Bill?
 

My dad’s first was at the Rockpile. Then Rich Stadium. “Went to see OJ run”

 

I asked a few people around town is: 

 

Was anyone around when the filmed The Natural was filmed, and sat in as extras in War Memorial? My grandparents did 🤣

Im saying it. I’m saying it. I’m saying it. After the Bills win the Super Bowl, next season will be more about celebrating The Rich as opposed to recovering from a bad playoff loss. 
 

So yes, go! I’ll go too 

 

I’m absolutely going next year.   It’s the one place I want to experience.  

[Thrivefourfive]

16 hours ago, Richard Noggin said:

 

You've unearthed a fascinating option for closer-to-kickoff parking, as some of the mainstays reach capacity earlier than an hour-and-half-out. Especially when snow removal and storage eats into parking supply (although of course those smaller, private options could be more dramatically impacted under certain circumstances). Appreciate the granular detail.

 

Love to hear how welcome you were made to feel at every step. 

It’s a market, but that type of parking and experience and safety, for $20, is irrational in LA. I had a $50 and wanted it out of my hands for that quality of parking. I took a $20 for change because they were so quick to hand it to me. 

 

Why is Lambeau taunted as the ONLY neighborhood ballfield?? Come on

Edited December 31, 2024 by Thrivefourfive

[AlCowlingsTaxiService]

On 12/30/2024 at 6:19 PM, BigAl2526 said:

My first home game was also against the Jets.  It was the early 1980s and the Bills were terrible.  It was a Monday night game.  The play of the Bills was pitiful and fans got surly.  There were fights breaking out all over the stadium and angry fans with full cups of beer were flinging them all over.  The spirals looked like little galaxies of beer.  It was memorable all right. 

I think I was at that game. I was in college at the time, and I worked as a beer vendor, when they had them working up and down the aisles. I got in a fist fight when some Canadian stole one of my beers.  A few haymakers, then grappling as we rolled down the stairs.  Those were the days 😂