BADOLBILZ Posted December 14, 2013 Share Posted December 14, 2013 Right but the post I replied to was about this guy getting invited into a tailgate as being something unique.... It's not particularly. Especially given his circumstances. Heck, I'm a season ticket holder here in New Orleans, and I know its a bit different than most places but honestly nothing you just described struck me as noteworthy compared to my experiences here. I've also been warmly welcomed at other stadiums, but as a road fan there's a certain comradery that you kind of expect to see. Not trying to bash the Ralph or bills fans - the community factor is great but I don't think its as lacking around the league as you do. I think part of what your describing is the fact that there are fewer substitutes in buffalo. The mets suck and there's the Knicks, Yankees, Broadway, concerts, and on and on- in buffalo there's the 8 big Sundays for a lot more people. I disagree with your take that you can just walk into any old tailgate with a case of beer and join into the party around the NFL but that's not the point. I'm also not one of those people that believes the cliche about having the greatest fans. Fans may be more or less hospitable in other places but they are pretty much the same everywhere. My point is that the author spins a whole lot of friendly, hospitable treatment into a grim horror show.......like the idea is inherently wrong. People have been gathering to eat and drink as a matter of celebration since the beginning of civilization. The author had a narrative.......he came there to write a story about how partying before NFL games is killing people. He picked a bad day......unfortunately for him nobody got killed. Maybe he should troll some weddings or other dangerous celebrations with his case of beer. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SWATeam Posted December 14, 2013 Share Posted December 14, 2013 (edited) changed to show that this stuff can happen anywhere in america, whenever alcohol is involved. your story isn't unique, it's boring. lol. there is no "solution". congratulations--you're growing up, we all are. go to a bar at 2am, look around, and then come post on here that bars should be cleaned up. or concerts. or anything else where young people gather, drink, and get rowdy. people complaining don't need to look at how to fix the ralph, they need to look in the mirror and figure out how to age gracefully. stop trying to chide the 22 year olds for having too much fun at the house party that you're not really invited to anymore. or, accept that that's pretty much the environment you're walking into. you go to the stadium for the experience, not for an amazing view. hell, why WOULDN"T you want to watch from your warm house, on your flatscreen tv, as the bills get pounded by the dolphins in 20 degree, snowy weather. guess who goes to a game like that? drunk kids looking to party and have a good time. and im in my 30s and don't drink, so i'm not trying to to defend the hedonism of the stadium for me and my group of friends. the people in the stadium don't need to "grow up", the grown ups need to get over the fact that they have grown up. Ha, I can assure you the NFL is looking for a "solution." The bar at 2am is not a multi-billion dollar industry looking to protect it's interests from possible litigation. Regardless of how you feel about the situation- change is coming as the NFL, and the world as a whole, becomes more corporate. Edited December 14, 2013 by Bel9777 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dayman Posted December 14, 2013 Share Posted December 14, 2013 (edited) Though I have to admit, being able to sit on my warm living room sofa with a Ninkasi oatmeal stout watching the game on my 52" TV is mighty tempting as opposed to fighting traffic, paying for parking, and getting stuck with drinking an $8 Bud Light makes the decision to buy a ticket to the game seem foolish. The NFL has almost done too good of a job at refining their TV product that their in-stadium product has almost no hope of beating it. I could not agree more. I now go to only 2 or 3 games a year (college and pro combined) and just make sure to pay what it takes to have awesome seats/experience when I go. I mean when I'm at home I've got the food ready, the cold beer, the giant tv w/ NFL ticket, a second TV for the redzone to track fantasy, my computer is up for NFL chat/boards and fantasy, and there are great seats everywhere. Going to games doesn't compete with that unless you have amazing seats. Edited December 14, 2013 by SameOldBills Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bbb Posted December 14, 2013 Share Posted December 14, 2013 The communal experience trumps all that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BADOLBILZ Posted December 14, 2013 Share Posted December 14, 2013 (edited) I could not agree more. I now go to only 2 or 3 games a year (college and pro combined) and just make sure to pay what it takes to have awesome seats/experience when I go. I mean when I'm at home I've got the food ready, the cold beer, the giant tv w/ NFL ticket, a second TV for the redzone to track fantasy, my computer is up for NFL chat/boards and fantasy, and there are great seats everywhere. Going to games doesn't compete with that unless you have amazing seats. That's kind of like saying I'd rather buy my meat at the butcher shop than be a hunter or raise my own livestock. That's OK for you but: A) Some people really enjoy it and wouldn't have it any other way and B) Without those people in group A there is no meat (or football for you to enjoy from your living room). Edited December 14, 2013 by BADOLBEELZ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bbb Posted December 14, 2013 Share Posted December 14, 2013 Exactly! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThurmasThoman Posted December 14, 2013 Share Posted December 14, 2013 Ha, I can assure you the NFL is looking for a "solution." The bar at 2am is not a multi-billion dollar industry looking to protect it's interests from possible litigation. Regardless of how you feel about the situation- change is coming as the NFL, and the world as a whole, becomes more corporate. they will pay lip service to saying they want "change", but nothing will be done--watch a commercial for a football game. Beer. That's where money comes from. Ad partners. Us 30-40-50 year olds are the demo that they're targeting on our couch. 18-34 year old males are who they want in the stadium. If you're out of that demo, don't complain about the stadium. you're not "supposed" to be there. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SWATeam Posted December 14, 2013 Share Posted December 14, 2013 they will pay lip service to saying they want "change", but nothing will be done--watch a commercial for a football game. Beer. That's where money comes from. Ad partners. Us 30-40-50 year olds are the demo that they're targeting on our couch. 18-34 year old males are who they want in the stadium. If you're out of that demo, don't complain about the stadium. you're not "supposed" to be there. Interesting... I wonder why all these new stadiums are being filled up with luxury boxes Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BADOLBILZ Posted December 14, 2013 Share Posted December 14, 2013 Interesting... I wonder why all these new stadiums are being filled up with luxury boxes That's the third aspect. The wealthy that like to look on at the gladiators as well as the antics of the lower class fans. Without the crazies, there is no atmosphere. None of the major american sports rely on atmosphere like the NFL. They can only play 16 games per season......each game needs to be something of an event. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mead107 Posted December 14, 2013 Share Posted December 14, 2013 they will pay lip service to saying they want "change", but nothing will be done--watch a commercial for a football game. Beer. That's where money comes from. Ad partners. Us 30-40-50 year olds are the demo that they're targeting on our couch. 18-34 year old males are who they want in the stadium. If you're out of that demo, don't complain about the stadium. you're not "supposed" to be there. next year I will be 60, I better not go to any more games. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SWATeam Posted December 14, 2013 Share Posted December 14, 2013 That's the third aspect. The wealthy that like to look on at the gladiators as well as the antics of the lower class fans. Without the crazies, there is no atmosphere. None of the major american sports rely on atmosphere like the NFL. They can only play 16 games per season......each game needs to be something of an event. I don't disagree but do you think the NFL looks at the crazies as a positive part of the atmosphere, of as something they just have to deal with? I think if the NFL could make more money by priceing out that fan, with more luxury boxes or PSC licenses, they would be all for it. Unfortunately, that model would not work in buffalo and makes me scared for the future of the team. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bbb Posted December 14, 2013 Share Posted December 14, 2013 Interesting... I wonder why all these new stadiums are being filled up with luxury boxes Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mead107 Posted December 14, 2013 Share Posted December 14, 2013 (edited) 4 stabbed after broncos game in parking lot. Near fender bender. http://www.thedenverchannel.com/news/local-news/stabbing-outside-sports-authority-field-blamed-on-traffic-incident-not-broncos-chargers-game Edited December 14, 2013 by mead107 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bill from NYC Posted December 14, 2013 Share Posted December 14, 2013 next year I will be 60, I better not go to any more games. Yeah but you look like you are 25 so keep going! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Al Cowlings Posted December 16, 2013 Share Posted December 16, 2013 I remember when I decided to not go to a home game again. It was the Houston Comeback game, and I have a ticket stub to prove it. Three idiots showed up in the same lot I parked in. They were obviously losers, they arrived in a light blue Ford Escort wagon, I'm sure they all lived with their parents in a basement apartment. They looked to be in their early 20s, and they were drinking like it was the last day beer was on the planet. One of them was drinking a low-level whiskey. He was a particular idiot, adorned in a yellow rain slicker that had Lackawanna Police on the back of it. This clown threw a cheap whiskey and ice drink at a visiting fan wearing a Warren Moon jersey. The other two were equally offensive. One had a welding hat that had a snap on clip that he tried to display like a helmet chin guard. We all laughed at them. The irony is that they ended up in our section when the game started. The guy with the welder's hat was particularly obnoxious, and stood in front of us for kickoff. We asked him to leave and he shouted a bunch of obscenities. The other two clowns were also obviously inebriated and behaved poorly though the first half. They were all escorted out of the stadium at halftime, shouting that they thought the Bills sucked and they would cheer for Cleveland after this. They ended up missing the greatest playoff game ever, and I decided to never expose my son, who has Tourette's syndrome, to such behavior again. The funny thing is those idiots mentioned that they were going to the the Sabres game that night. No chance they made it there. Go Bills-nice game v Jax today!! Playoffs in 2014!!!!!!!!!!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bbb Posted December 17, 2013 Share Posted December 17, 2013 They were kicked out. What else do you want? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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