Going to my first NFL game in Buffalo!

[convertedpatsfan]

A friend of mine invited me to go to this game too, almost accepted but I declined since he's a hardcore Bills fan and he'd also be my ride. If we lost, I'd have to hear him go on and on and on for the 2 hour drive back to Toronto. If we won, I'd have to walk home from Buffalo.

Hope you have an awesome time.

 

[baxter1]

I'm very excited to finally see the Patriots play in person. I've been to training camp and visited the stadium in the off-season twice. Even went to Vince's draft party a couple of years back.

Since I live in Ontario (Canada) Buffalo is the closest NFL stadium. Just got some tix from ticket exchange (section 112, row 31).

Any pointers on how early to arrive, parking, where to tailgate, or tricks on keeping warm? Any Patsfans going to the game?

I admit it, I'm psyched.

Bills fan here..being your first NFL game, let me give you some quick pointers.

1) Okay to wear your Patriot gear, but if the Pats go up by 21, don't start talking trash in the stands or after the game..that goes for any fan in an away stadium.

2) Say hello and be pleasant to the folks around you in the lots and in the seats close to you from the get go...then you can start to talk a little trash as you establish you are a normal person who realizes this is a football game , and not some ascertion that you are somehow superior as a person cause the team you root for is so damn good.

3)If a drunk chucklehead comes up and starts talking trash..walk away..again happens in every stadium, not worth a fight( and yes this hapens to me in Foxboro as well..very rarely but it happens).

4) root like hell for your team, just don't talk chit on the Bills while doing that.

5) keeping warm..the old addage on layers is always spot on. The person who recommended NON-Cotton..perfect advice, especially if there is any chance of precipitation. Just remember,once you get cold, very hard to get warm again. If you have plenty of layers on, make sure you take some off as you walk from the tailgate to the staduim..if not you can begin to sweat, which is not a great thing when are going right back to being stationary for the next 3 hours.

6) Do not time your use of the facilities and concessions to end of quarter, half, after punts etc. You have to gamble soetimes on missing two plays or so during a drive, but trust me after a punt you will miss the whole next series unless you are first in line.Get two beers everytime..and make sure you get all the beer you want in the 3rd qtr.

 

[BTTA]

As a long time, passionate New England sports fan, it hurts to say this, but I'd wager that there is an inverse relationship between how civil and happy a city's people are and how seriously they take their professional sports.

 

[patsfaninpittsburgh]

I've been to 12 NFL stadiums and Buffalo is actually my favorite.

CBS shoots their area promos at Niagra Falls Saturday morning. Gotta wear a name/numbered jersey to get on TV.

The buffet at the casino at Niagra Falls is pretty good

I believe the Pats stay at the Adam's Mark downtown. Last week in Chicago, their hotel was a state secret. I did meet Dane Fletcher's father.

Ralph Wilson Stadium actually has great viewing dimensions. If anyone has ever been to Heinz Field, you get the feeling you are in the next timezone.

In and out of the stadium can tough.

 

[upstater1]

As a long time, passionate New England sports fan, it hurts to say this, but I'd wager that there is an inverse relationship between how civil and happy a city's people are and how seriously they take their professional sports.

So, Red Sox fans and KC Chiefs fans are miserable people?

The dynamic in Buffalo is simple: cheap tickets tend to attract a lot of men in the 20-30 age range.

The old Foxboro was similar.

 

[JSn]

Sheesh. I wish I'd seen this before I ordered. lol

I'm already a member of the group, guess I wasn't paying attention.

Need tickets? Just $22 for $68 value tickets.

Buffalo Bills vs. New England Patriots tickets Ralph Wilson Stadium Orchard Park, NY, Directions, seating chart. Official Ticketmaster site.

Use code: UBALUMNI

or....

Make a $20 donation to the Make a Wish Foundation

Make-A-Wish Foundation of Western New York The Buffalo Bills Season of Wishes Week

 

[JSn]

Thanks for all the tips guys! Very helpful.

Do you guys know if there's an NFL/Stadium policy on bringing DSLR's?

Also, is it possible to sneak in snacks/beverages?

 

[upstater1]

Thanks for all the tips guys! Very helpful.

Do you guys know if there's an NFL/Stadium policy on bringing DSLR's?

Also, is it possible to sneak in snacks/beverages?

They check bags for beverages. Don't know about cameras but I imagine it might not be a problem.

A ham sandwich stuffed into a pocket is likely to go unnoticed.

You will be patted down.

 

[baxter1]

They check bags for beverages. Don't know about cameras but I imagine it might not be a problem.

A ham sandwich stuffed into a pocket is likely to go unnoticed.

You will be patted down.

But, you can drink a beer in line right up till the time you are patted down.

BTW, if you want to see a true Buffal legend tailgate, go to Lot 1, Pole 5 and go to Pinto Kennys tailgate. Legend, and welcomes all fans as long as they are not knuckleheads.

YouTube - Buffalo Bills vs. Jacksonville Tailgate 2010 (feat. Pinto Ron)

 

[Patriot_in_NY]

Bills fan here..being your first NFL game, let me give you some quick pointers.

1) Okay to wear your Patriot gear, but if the Pats go up by 21, don't start talking trash in the stands or after the game..that goes for any fan in an away stadium.

2) Say hello and be pleasant to the folks around you in the lots and in the seats close to you from the get go...then you can start to talk a little trash as you establish you are a normal person who realizes this is a football game , and not some ascertion that you are somehow superior as a person cause the team you root for is so damn good.

3)If a drunk chucklehead comes up and starts talking trash..walk away..again happens in every stadium, not worth a fight( and yes this hapens to me in Foxboro as well..very rarely but it happens).

4) root like hell for your team, just don't talk chit on the Bills while doing that.

5) keeping warm..the old addage on layers is always spot on. The person who recommended NON-Cotton..perfect advice, especially if there is any chance of precipitation. Just remember,once you get cold, very hard to get warm again. If you have plenty of layers on, make sure you take some off as you walk from the tailgate to the staduim..if not you can begin to sweat, which is not a great thing when are going right back to being stationary for the next 3 hours.

6) Do not time your use of the facilities and concessions to end of quarter, half, after punts etc. You have to gamble soetimes on missing two plays or so during a drive, but trust me after a punt you will miss the whole next series unless you are first in line.Get two beers everytime..and make sure you get all the beer you want in the 3rd qtr.

Not bad advice. I live squarely in Bills Country and go to every Patriot game at the Ralph. I am always decked out in my Patriot finest and it's almost NEVER an issue.

.... and yes, I almost always talk sh!t to all the folks around me. It's always good natured and you must be prepared to take as much as you dish. Deep down, most reasonable Bills fans expect to lose to the Patriots every time they play, so long as the Bills play competitively, most seem happy with the typical back and forth good natured ribbing that goes on.

However, as the score goes up, so does all the frustrations of years and years of suckage for the fan ban. If the Patriots drop a 50 spot on them like they did several years ago. Best to mosey on out a wee bit early, or just quietly enjoy the game without the crap talk with those around you that are pissed at another non-competitive effort by their team. Most reasonable fans will leave by then, leaving only the drunkards and those likely to cause problems.

In the end though, you will be surprised at the level of Patriot support at the Ralph. It is a very friendly Patriot stadium.

Be nice, have fun...... and you'll get a lot of the same in return.

I'll be in Section 130, row 30 with about 6-7 other in Patriot gear.

 

[drew4008]

You just don't know what you're talking about. Seriously. What parts of the city have you driven through.

Allentown, Elmwood Village, Delaware Park, Hertel, are all areas with really nice homes, and there are more. Hell, try Google Street View and you can drive 5 miles and see nothing but beautiful homes and neighborhoods. Even some of the sketchier areas have absolutely gorgeous homes.

I clearly didn't mean any of the nicer suburbs around it that you're mentioning. The CORE of Buffalo is what I'm talking about. And it's flat-out gross. Get over your bias and admit it, jesus...

 

[upstater1]

I clearly didn't mean any of the nicer suburbs around it that you're mentioning. The CORE of Buffalo is what I'm talking about. And it's flat-out gross. Get over your bias and admit it, jesus...

Again, you're speaking out of ignorance. The places listed above are not suburbs. They are the heart of Buffalo. Directly in the middle.

It shows that you have very little knowledge of the place. Clearly you haven't been to any of these places in the city.

Just for kicks, I'll google map a neighborhood near Delaware Park, but I could do the same for Elmwood Village or Allentown as well.

15 Lincoln Parkway, Buffalo, NY - Google Maps

 

[JSn]

Can't we all just get along?

 

[upstater1]

Can't we all just get along?

 

[stoinkythepig]

There will be a tailgate which is open to all Pats fans taking place on the Route 20 side of the stadium. Join Patriots Tailgate for more info. We want to get this going as an annual tailgate that gets bigger and bigger every year.

From what I've heard, the Rochester Club isn't planning anything again this year (it's been two years since they last organized a tailgate in Buffalo).

Need tickets? Just $22 for $68 value tickets.

Buffalo Bills vs. New England Patriots tickets Ralph Wilson Stadium Orchard Park, NY, Directions, seating chart. Official Ticketmaster site.

Use code: UBALUMNI

or....

Make a $20 donation to the Make a Wish Foundation

Make-A-Wish Foundation of Western New York The Buffalo Bills Season of Wishes Week

Thanks for posting that. I just bought 4 tickets and I'm taking the family to the game.

 

[The_Riddler]

LOL, I forgot about our good buddy from 3 years ago, I wonder he exchanged Holiday cards with BB this year ?

 

[PATSNUTme]

I clearly didn't mean any of the nicer suburbs around it that you're mentioning. The CORE of Buffalo is what I'm talking about. And it's flat-out gross. Get over your bias and admit it, jesus...

Let's stop the city bashing. We are not going there to rule the city. We are going there for a football game.

I know several people who have lived in the area and loved it, one was on the Bills coaching staff.

Next poster who makes comments bashing buffalo will be kicked off the thread. For Gods Sake, if you are going to bash a city there is always Brooklyn.

 

[drew4008]

Can't we all just get along?

lol kinda hard when somebody is trying to say one of the armpits of the country is nice. I'm not even ripping the city or its people apart, I just don't see the point in continuing to defend the aesthetics of run-down abandoned factory buildings and ghettos.

 

[terabthia2]

lol kinda hard when somebody is trying to say one of the armpits of the country is nice. I'm not even ripping the city or its people apart, I just don't see the point in continuing to defend the aesthetics of run-down abandoned factory buildings and ghettos.

If you're into architecture and Frank Lloyd Wright in particular, Buffalo is a VERY cool city. You can focus on the typical stuff, or you can look closer and find diamonds in the rough. Every place has its good and bad.

The NPS also runs the Theodore Roosevelt Inaugural NHS there too. Great stuff if you're a history buff like me...

And, yeah, the Anchor Bar is pretty damn fun. I went there with my Dad as well as the game back in '02 for the first BUF/NE game after Bledsoe was traded. Great fun! He never told me how much he paid for the tickets and I didn't ask. :singing:

 

[italian pat patriot]

The dynamic in Buffalo is simple: cheap tickets tend to attract a lot of men in the 20-30 age range.

The old Foxboro was similar.

i always had this impression too
and...i would love to see a Pats game in BUF

waiting from the reports from who will be there sunday