packfntk Posted December 16, 2014 Share Posted December 16, 2014 Ok, so I made the trek back to Green Bay yesterday and am trying to dig myself out of work while being exhausted from the trip, but as promised I would break down my true, honest opinion from our visit. Here we go: Buffalo the City- I was told Buffalo was a bigger Green Bay. That kind of lived up to the billing in ways. We stayed on Deleware at the Embassy. We covered a good area around town. Some cool older buildings, and some good food places. We actually spent a good amount of time in OP, but we pretty much barred it up most of our trip. A big-small blue collar town that loves to drink and loves their football team. Bars and Food- Ahhh, one of my favorites on these trips is experiencing what they have for eats and hitting up the bars. We went to a ton of bars as usual. Lots of tiny bars, good times. Pretty sure we hit every bar on Chippewa. Drank from about 1PM on Thursday night until about 2AM. Friday we started at 1130AM and went until bar close. We were stoked about Buffalo because of wings. We had Duffs, Anchor, Sidelines (Because it was right across the street), and Big Tree Inn. My personal favorite were Duffs wings. Cooked to perfection, but not as hot as I thought they would be. I had hot, Carolina Char BBQ, and Medium-Hot. All super good flavors. Went to Pearl Steet Brewery and had beers and food one night. Really cool atmosphere. Had some beer aged in Bourbon Barrels, and tasted several others. We ordered La Nova Sunday night as we were sulking in our hotel room from the loss. We all thought it was super good! Stadium- We knew the Ralph was older going in. We walked around and checked it out, but were shocked on how "old" it was. They have just done some renovations, but they badly need a facelift. Concessions were alright, beer was a little pricier than GB ($9.50). They have individual seats everywhere but the endzones, and they were the smallest seats we have seen at any of our 11 stadiums so far. People stood the whole game anyway, which I was glad about. The scoreboards were smaller than they should be, except for the one in the North Endzone. We walked around the entire concession area before the game, and they were pretty good and roomy. Like the trophs (No idea how to spell that) in the bathroom, limits lines. Fans- I totally did not expect there to be a lot of Packer fans there, considering the more attractive destinations we had on our schedule (New Orleans, Miami, Tampa, etc), but we had a pretty decent showing. Being from GB, every time we see our own fans on our away trips we ask them where they were from. Found some Wisconsinites, but tons of Canadian's and east coasters. Some who were loyal, some who didn't know the team well, and that is what kills us. HATE uneducated fans as that is what we pride ourselves on. Your fans were decent to us. Everyone praised Rodgers over and over again before the game, which is ironic on how terrible of a game he had. There were a few isolated incidents where I saw bad fans but you get that at every stadium. One guy was screaming at a 10 year old kid Packer fan telling him to get the "right" jersey on, he wasn't kidding. In our section (140) there were a few of your fans that gave us a hard time, one guy who literally just stared at us all game. Fans were pretty quiet the first half. Like really quiet, but in the second half when they got drunker (HAHA, it happens everywhere) and it was apparent the Bills had a good chance of winning, it got pretty loud. I would say overall it was in the middle of loudness of the stadiums we have attended. After every Bills FG you guys sing the shout song, Where in lambeau for a FG you get a golf clap because we wanted a TD. Just shows we are spoiled. Friday we went to go take pictures of the stadium and walk around. We went into the famous "Big Tree Inn". We walked in to a course of boo's, loud boo's. Thought it was going to get really bad. We ordered a beer and they started buying us drinks. At one time I was drinking beer fast and had 5 free drink tokens in front of me. The people there were most of the regulars and couldn't have been more awesome. One of my favorite bars I have ever been to. I am actually writing a letter to Danny the owner, thanking him for the time. The people made it a pleasure to drink there, just great. Tailgating- This was one of the reasons we wanted to come to Buffalo. You have always been neck and neck with us on tailgating rankings. It was just a little different world. In Lambeau we have our stadium lot which is good size around the entire stadium. We then have businesses that park, and neighborhood houses that do the same. We saw that in Buffalo as well, but we have nothing like the mud lot. Just nuts. Had to take some pics there for sure. Hooked up with Hammer, which I can't thank him enough for his hospitality. He met us a Big Tree Inn for a couple, and then when we came to tailgate he got us some beers even though we were pretty hung over. Met Captain Buffalo, Pinto, and were treated really well around the lots. People were very generous and offered up their food and beers all over, just wanting to talk football. Just like GB. Overall, besides the terrible game it was a great time. Just interesting to see what other stadium experiences have to offer. Your fans definitely party and love their Bills that is for sure. I would totally go back some day, and I want to thank you guys for being great fans, treating us well, and being what it seems like the NFL has gotten away from, good people, all football, tailgating, and just a good time. I hope you don't mind if I pop in from time to time. Again, thank you for everything Bills Fans. -packfntk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark80 Posted December 16, 2014 Share Posted December 16, 2014 Nice post, glad you had fun. At Duffs if you would have ordered wings Superhot, Death, or Armageddon I don't think you would have said that they weren't that hot! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
packfntk Posted December 16, 2014 Author Share Posted December 16, 2014 Nice post, glad you had fun. At Duffs if you would have ordered wings Superhot, Death, or Armageddon I don't think you would have said that they weren't that hot! HAHA! I have balls, but not that big of balls. I was told that their hot was way hotter than anyone's I have had before so I was a little nervous. Still had some bite, and really good flavor. Don't get me wrong, they are hot. Just not what I was expecting. I want more right now. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pine Barrens Mafia Posted December 16, 2014 Share Posted December 16, 2014 Did you make it to bozannas? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Canadian Bills Fan Posted December 16, 2014 Share Posted December 16, 2014 Thanks for the great review!!! CBF Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
YoloinOhio Posted December 16, 2014 Share Posted December 16, 2014 Fantastic review. I feel like I was there! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Captain Hindsight Posted December 16, 2014 Share Posted December 16, 2014 glad you had a good trip! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kelly the Dog Posted December 16, 2014 Share Posted December 16, 2014 Great write up, sir. Glad you had a great time and lost the game. Ha. I have a ton of respect for Green Bay fans. Really good to hear a fair, unbiased review of the stadium and game and tailgating experience. Thanks again. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
May Day 10 Posted December 16, 2014 Share Posted December 16, 2014 troughs? is that it? Thanks for the kind words. I think if it was an early-season game (or if the Bills were established better in the playoff/division chase), the noise would have been much more impressive. 1st Half Im sure everyone was like me and waiting for the Packers to kick the Bills' teeth in. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BillnutinHouston Posted December 16, 2014 Share Posted December 16, 2014 Did you make it to bozannas? I actually was wanting a pizza from Bo's, but after googling it, it appears they closed the Hamburg location also. Don't tell me google was wrong? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
filthymcnasty08 Posted December 16, 2014 Share Posted December 16, 2014 Ahhh - the model for NFL "community"....GB! If they ever had lifted the law....we would be right there under you as the #2 team to be owned by it's fans. Many, many similarities between us but you are indeed the original. Thanks for the kind words and best of luck the rest of the way! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MarkAF43 Posted December 16, 2014 Share Posted December 16, 2014 What a great review from an unbiased outsider. Glad to hear you guys had a good time, not speaking for everyone (not my place), but I'd say you are welcome back anytime! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pine Barrens Mafia Posted December 16, 2014 Share Posted December 16, 2014 I actually was wanting a pizza from Bo's, but after googling it, it appears they closed the Hamburg location also. Don't tell me google was wrong? If so, that's terrible. Last time i was there was two years ago, it's the best pizza anywhere. Or it was. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alaska Darin Posted December 16, 2014 Share Posted December 16, 2014 hope you don't mind if I pop in from time to time. Again, thank you for everything Bills Fans. -packfntk Good people, regardless of team loyalty, are always welcome here. We even have a Fish fan or two that have been around here for awhile. I was disappointed at the noise level for this game as it was obviously less than "normal". Not sure what the deal was there. Probably a variety of factors (weather, opponent, expectation...). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eball Posted December 16, 2014 Share Posted December 16, 2014 Nice write up, glad you enjoyed your trip. You think the Ralph looks old now, you should have seen it last year. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
YoloinOhio Posted December 16, 2014 Share Posted December 16, 2014 troughs? is that it? Thanks for the kind words. I think if it was an early-season game (or if the Bills were established better in the playoff/division chase), the noise would have been much more impressive. 1st Half Im sure everyone was like me and waiting for the Packers to kick the Bills' teeth in. This. Everyone was holding their breath at the end, too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fan in San Diego Posted December 16, 2014 Share Posted December 16, 2014 (edited) Nice write up, thanks for posting. Just one comment, maybe it wasn't so much Rodgers having a bad game as much as the defense was causing him to have a bad day. Something to think about. Edited December 16, 2014 by Fan in San Diego Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
packfntk Posted December 16, 2014 Author Share Posted December 16, 2014 Nice write up, thanks for posting. Just one comment, maybe it wasn't so much Rodgers having a bad game as much as the defense was causing him to have a bad day. Something to think about. Oh I know your defense gave him all he can handle, but he was just off. Maybe it was miscommunications with his WR's, but he rarely misses those back shoulder throws. He wasn't even close and I have never seen him make bad throws like that, even without pressure at times. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Big C Posted December 16, 2014 Share Posted December 16, 2014 Did you make it to bozannas? Man I miss that pizza. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eball Posted December 16, 2014 Share Posted December 16, 2014 Oh I know your defense gave him all he can handle, but he was just off. Maybe it was miscommunications with his WR's, but he rarely misses those back shoulder throws. He wasn't even close and I have never seen him make bad throws like that, even without pressure at times. Just my take, but I thought right from the get-go Rodgers was throwing the ball too early...as if he anticipated the heat from the Bills' DL and wanted to be sure he got rid of the ball. Early throws combined with tight, physical coverage = bad things for the offense. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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