Are The Bills Mafia’s Tailgate Antics An Embarrassment?

[BuffaloRush]

Just came across this article that flew under the radar from a small newspaper near me.  The writer is somewhat critical of The Bills Mafia stadium antics which have gone viral.

 

Ironically he says something I never thought of.  He mentions that the Bills org is not happy about these viral videos.  When the built a new stadium is built downtown, the high ticket prices will keep this kind of “riff raff” (his words) out of the stadium.  

 

https://waynetimes.com/columns/worst-bills-mafia/

 

 

[4_kidd_4]

*yawn*

[Magox]

Depends on who you are.  

[Cornette's Commentary]

2 minutes ago, BuffaloRush said:

Just came across this article that flew under the radar from a small newspaper near me.  The writer is somewhat critical of The Bills Mafia stadium antics which have gone viral.

 

Ironically he says something I never thought of.  He mentions that the Bills org is not happy about these viral videos.  When the built a new stadium is built downtown, the high ticket prices will keep this kind of “riff raff” (his words) out of the stadium.  

 

https://waynetimes.com/columns/worst-bills-mafia/

 

 

It's definitely an embarrassment, for sure.

[May Day 10]

Its not an embarrassment. 

 

For my work, I speak to and deal with people from everywhere.  Often, football/the Bills come up.  Not one person has indicated that they are disgusted by it and said anything to shame me.  In fact, most think its funny and they usually mutter something about how they NEED to come up for a game.

 

 

And overall, it is a very small amount of people who do this.  I have tailgated for several hundreds of hours in various hot-button lots, and have seen 1 table get jumped through.

 

If it is me who does this and it goes viral, or drinking out of someone's tush, or what have you, I would be embarrassed for myself.  

 

 

Edited August 7, 2018 by May Day 10

[Bleeding Bills Blue]

I've been to a bunch of games in the last several years in a bunch of different lots - and i have never seen anyone jump on a table.  Everyone gets hammered at football games, its not really limited to buffalo.

[teef]

no.  they don't reflect on me as an individual, so it doesn't embarrass me.

4 minutes ago, dneveu said:

I've been to a bunch of games in the last several years in a bunch of different lots - and i have never seen anyone jump on a table.  Everyone gets hammered at football games, its not really limited to buffalo.

i've never actually seen it happen either.

[BuffaloRush]

3 minutes ago, May Day 10 said:

Its not an embarrassment. 

 

For my work, I speak to and deal with people from everywhere.  Often, football/the Bills come up.  Not one person has indicated that they are disgusted by it and said anything to shame me.  In fact, most think its funny and they usually mutter something about how they NEED to come up for a game.

 

 

And overall, it is a very small amount of people who do this.  I have tailgated for several hundreds of hours in various hot-button lots, and have seen 1 table get jumped through.

 

You’re right.  It is a very small amount of fans that do.  I go to 1-3 games per year and while I’m not a huge tailgater, I do hang in the lots beforehand.  I’ve seen a lot of drinking for sure, but I’ve really never seen anything like table smashing or anything you’d see in these videos.  

 

I think the embarrassing part is when the “BillsMafia” goes down to Jacksonville, trashes their stadium and lights a big bonfire in the parking lot!  LOL.  I remember Timmy Graham coming down on fans for this

[Juice_32]

It's not my cup of tea (may have been 15 years ago) but it doesn't bother me. Let them have fun.

[SCBills]

I live in the south and NFL fans I've met from Florida to Georgia to the Carolinas all love the Bills Mafia.  It's pretty much iconic with our team, and one of the first things they mention when I tell them I'm a Bills fan.

[RiotAct]

No.

[jimmy10]

An embarrassment? Kinda, sorta. What embarrasses me is the perception that ALL Bills fans behave that way, when in reality you have to really go searching for these antics. I've been a season ticket holder for years, and have partied in a number of private lots. Only once did I ever see a guy climb up on top of a vehicle like he was going to jump off of it, only to have the private lot owners come sprinting over and yell at him to get down. 

 

What also embarrasses me is how these kids are just manufacturing these incidents to go for the viral videos. I guess that stems from my age, and the fact that I was one of the very last generations to come up before digital photography, smart phones and social media were the norm. I'm not saying I was a saint when I was in my 20s, but I am glad no digital recordings from that time exist. I question the incessant need to record and document these things online forevermore. 

Edited August 7, 2018 by jimmy10

[greeneblitz]

i think its fine

[Punching Bag]

Embarrassment yes but most pushing this are also advocate of downtown stadium with wine & cheese bars and PSLs.  IMO the BillsMafia is just the one getting attention get praise often on issues where they do not deserve credit.

[MAJBobby]

Yep it is an embarrassment

[Bob Chandler's Hands]

There are always going to be immature drunk people injuring themselves. So long as they don't get behind the wheel after that, and can pay for the medical care they later require, I don't care what they do. 

[KD in CA]

Obviously.   

 

If you want to get drunk and do stupid things, help yourself, but these idiots have made Bills fans a laughingstock.

[Your Brown Eye]

 

 

 

 

[Captain Hindsight]

I think its stupid but its pretty rare as some others have mentioned. I went looking for it once in the bus lots and saw one guy do it. People laughed and then it was over. 

 

In a few years it wont be fun anymore and you wont see it

[Chandler#81]

Personally, I’m a big fan of riff raff. Helps make the world go ‘round..

Saying this, yes, it is a tad embarrassing. But in context, the rare air of a 1st year coach winning & leading the Bills to the Playoffs means all civility bets are off. Ask yourself, did you absolutely EXPLODE when Dalton threw the TD pass on 4th & 12?

This year, a calmness has fallen on the teams’ fandom. Many believe they won’t win as much, but see a team being built for a long haul of success and are quietly excited. I’d be surprised if #theMafia picks up where it left off in Jacksonville. As for groping/fornication, etc., I think it likely this can be found in every park across the nation, if you’re looking for that sort of thing... jmo

 

[Fr. Jerk]

No. 

 

[ricojes]

1 hour ago, BuffaloRush said:

Just came across this article that flew under the radar from a small newspaper near me.  The writer is somewhat critical of The Bills Mafia stadium antics which have gone viral.

 

Ironically he says something I never thought of.  He mentions that the Bills org is not happy about these viral videos.  When the built a new stadium is built downtown, the high ticket prices will keep this kind of “riff raff” (his words) out of the stadium.  

 

https://waynetimes.com/columns/worst-bills-mafia/

 

 

Is it ironic because you usually think of everything?

Edited August 7, 2018 by ricojes

[ddaryl]

Its an embarrassment. They are becoming nails to the coffin of future tailgating. Some people can't handle their booze.

 

I love a good party but viral videos of people doing stupid **** just won't work for the benfit of all in the long run

 

 

[Ridgewaycynic2013]

43 minutes ago, Cornette's Commentary said:

It's definitely an embarrassment, for sure.

The conduct, or the article?

[BuffaloBillies]

Will likely end soon when someone breaks their neck and sues the Bills.

Honestly can't believe we haven't had a MAJOR injury reported yet (broken back, head, neck, paralysis, etc).

Anyone know of a serious injury yet?

[JoPar_v2]

2 minutes ago, ddaryl said:

Its an embarrassment. They are becoming nails to the coffin of future tailgating. Some people can't handle their booze.

 

I love a good party but viral videos of people doing stupid **** just won't work for the benfit of all in the long run

 

 

Well **** john stuart mill I did not know people getting loose at a tailgate had to contribute to the benefit of all to be a valid way to have fun. Thanks for sharing.

[Irv]

The article is arguably the worst written P.O.S. ever printed.

[26CornerBlitz]

Just now, Irv said:

The article is arguably the worst written P.O.S. ever printed.

 

It might be as bad as your photoshop skills. 

[Lurker]

"The only thing worse than being talked about is not being talked about..." 

 

"There's no such thing as bad publicity except your own obituary...."

 

    - Oscar Wilde

[ddaryl]

3 minutes ago, JoPar_v2 said:

Well **** john stuart mill I did not know people getting loose at a tailgate had to contribute to the benefit of all to be a valid way to have fun. Thanks for sharing.

 

 

think brother.. Getting losse is perfectly fine. Lighting tables on fire acting like an asshat and posting the videos don't go over well with the community as a whole or the Bills organization nor the NFL

 

THINK IT THROUGH.A small group of People can't handle their booze, that will end up making it tougher on the majority who actually can

[apuszczalowski]

Embarrassing to me? No

 

Embarrassing to the Bill's? Yes

Embarrassing to the league? Yes

 

I have said it for years, current tailgating is going to be phased out over time. The teams and league are not going to continue to risk a lawsuit because of drunken idiots and their antics before games as they try to top the last video from the week before

[BillnutinHouston]

As a Dad I'm always reminding my kids (and myself) to stay classy.  So you can predict my view on this.

 

In a way, it doesn't matter if we're personally embarrassed by this. What matters is that the Bills and the NFL decisionmakers are.  And rest assured, they WILL take steps to moderate it while balancing those steps against the resulting impact on their revenue streams.  

 

I suspect Pegula's team has been working this dilemma for a long time now.  

 

 

 

[Fr. Jerk]

If you don't like it, too bad.

 

[leh-nerd skin-erd]

1 hour ago, BuffaloRush said:

Just came across this article that flew under the radar from a small newspaper near me.  The writer is somewhat critical of The Bills Mafia stadium antics which have gone viral.

 

Ironically he says something I never thought of.  He mentions that the Bills org is not happy about these viral videos.  When the built a new stadium is built downtown, the high ticket prices will keep this kind of “riff raff” (his words) out of the stadium.  

 

https://waynetimes.com/columns/worst-bills-mafia/

 

 

My old grandad told me something a long time ago, and its something I'll never forget. 

 

"Son," he said "if you're embarrassed  by something you didn't do, someone will make sure you're always embarrassed by something." 

 

Powerful words. 

[Irv]

18 minutes ago, 26CornerBlitz said:

 

It might be as bad as your photoshop skills. 

 

True.  My graphic arts teach in college said i had a natural gift.  I'm being held back by inadequate software I think.  

[C.Biscuit97]

I see both sides.  Bills Mafia created a buzz around the team.  Fans get a little status.  We have a rep as the craziest fans in sports.  In a way, that’s pretty cool.

 

but a bunch of these people are idiots trying to get their 15 minutes of fame.  I think someone is going to kill them selves trying to go viral.  I’ll be some of my tailgate parties against anyone and I’ve never had to smash a table or get so hammered, I couldn’t behave like a normal human being.

 

so for the most part, it doesn’t bother me, though some of these people are total clowns.  But when it starts messing with your game experience, it’s a problem.  I’ve honestly reached the point that as much as I love tailgating, I’d rather watch the game at home, a bar, or with friends.  Also if I had kids, I would never bring them to a Bills game and I’m sure that’s the least thing the team wants.

[teef]

6 minutes ago, leh-nerd skin-erd said:

My old grandad told me something a long time ago, and its something I'll never forget. 

 

"Son," he said "if you're embarrassed  by something you didn't do, someone will make sure you're always embarrassed by something." 

 

Powerful words. 

this is fantastic.

 

i just don't understand how people would be personally embarrassed by this.  We've all met people from out of the area that know the reputation of bills tailgates, but has anyone acted differently towards you because of it?  never.  i honestly don't think "outsiders" care nearly about this as much as bills fans do. 

[BmarvB]

It's all in fun until somebody gets seriously hurt

[Logic]

First, let me say this: I have participated in many a Bills tailgate and -- other than excessive inebriation, which I suspect is a problem at just about EVERY NFL stadium -- I have not seen much over-the-top rowdiness or table smashing. The vast majority of fans are just grilling brats and burgs and drinking beers. 

That being said, I DO find the over-the-top, table smashing stuff to be embarrassing. I really do. That the national view of Bills fans is one of drunken, setting-themselves-on-fire, jumping through tables nincompoops is disappointing and self inflicted. It's gross. 

The Grateful Dead have a lyric: "It's 1 in 10,000 that comes for the show". I feel that way about football sometimes. If you take away the alcohol and the pre-game excess, how many would still show up? How many are truly there to watch a football game and not just to get hammered with their friends on a Sunday?

[blacklabel]

I'd much rather see a group of wild Bills fans getting nuts with each other, even if they're doing potentially dangerous things like jumping through tables and whatnot, as opposed to sh*tbag Philly fans who were throwing full cans of beer at Minnesota fans (even families with small kids) before the NFC Championship game last year. 

 

Almost every game I've been to, I've seen some drunk idiots cause a ruckus but they get dealt with pretty quickly. And for the most part, other fans will keep the drunk fans in check if they start challenging opposing team fans. I hear, "Let's beat 'em on the field, not in the stands" a lot. 

 

I do think the people who get blackout drunk *before* the game are pretty stupid. I went to the 2013 opener and some idiot in the row behind me went after another dude like, "You lookin' at mah girl, bruh?!" And they got into a tussle and beer ended up all over my then-fiancee and me... that stuff is a little rage-inducing. The guy got ejected before opening kick off. It's like, way to waste your money and your time. You throw down a chunk of change for tickets, then spend time getting to the game, get hammered, get to your seat, get in a fight within five minutes and get ejected within ten. Frickin' morons.