Joe Ferguson forever Posted October 2, 2023 Share Posted October 2, 2023 (edited) The announcers mentioned the 50 year anniversary of the stadium.. Who here went to that game. I can't remember details but it was a beautiful fall day, if memory serves... Edited October 2, 2023 by Joe Ferguson forever 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
haroldwaide Posted October 2, 2023 Share Posted October 2, 2023 I wasn't there, but I recall hearing that many people never made it to their seats because traffic was an absolute nightmare. On a side note, I miss the old, 80,000 seat configuration. I used to sit in the upper deck and be able to go to the bathroom AND grab an (actually hot) hot dog with time to spare during halftime.. try doing that now after all the "improvements over the years... 6 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
QLBillsFan Posted October 2, 2023 Share Posted October 2, 2023 The first game played was a preseason game against the Redskins.. Herb Mul Key returned the opening kick off for a TD! 7 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
K-9 Posted October 2, 2023 Share Posted October 2, 2023 I was there and remember it like yesterday. Got to our seats just in time to see Herb Mul-Key of the Redskins christen the new stadium with an opening kickoff return for a TD. 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chongli Posted October 2, 2023 Share Posted October 2, 2023 Well, the regular season home opener was September 1, 1973, Jets at Bills. I found this: 2 2 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joe Ferguson forever Posted October 2, 2023 Author Share Posted October 2, 2023 (edited) 20 minutes ago, haroldwaide said: I wasn't there, but I recall hearing that many people never made it to their seats because traffic was an absolute nightmare. On a side note, I miss the old, 80,000 seat configuration. I used to sit in the upper deck and be able to go to the bathroom AND grab an (actually hot) hot dog with time to spare during halftime.. try doing that now after all the "improvements over the years... We couldn't leave to go home after the game due to traffic I remember a touch football game in the parking lot with people playing and watching. i played, my dad watched. took hours to get home. they fixed it the next week. Edited October 2, 2023 by Joe Ferguson forever 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SoMAn Posted October 2, 2023 Share Posted October 2, 2023 18 minutes ago, chongli said: Well, the regular season home opener was September 1, 1973, Jets at Bills. I found this: This game against the Jets was the first regular season game played in the stadium. It was Sept 30 1973. 50 years ago this weekend. I was at the 4th game there- the Bills first Monday night game. In club seats directly a few rows in front of the booth where Cosell, Gifford, and Meredith were doing the game. Game 7, OJ went over 1000 yards, a milestone usually reserved for playing the entire 14 game schedule. Going to miss the troughs. 3 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Punching Bag Posted October 2, 2023 Share Posted October 2, 2023 My grandmother lived on California Road. I watched building of stadium from her property and wandered on site when being built. I watched game from grandmother's. 2 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SoMAn Posted October 2, 2023 Share Posted October 2, 2023 35 minutes ago, Limeaid said: My grandmother lived on California Road. I watched building of stadium from her property and wandered on site when being built. I watched game from grandmother's. I vaguely remember riding in the car with my dad and driving by it when it was little more than a hole in the ground, or possibly the beginnings of construction. I’ve always been fascinated by large building projects and watching early stages progress into a finished edifice that will stand and service people for decades. Can anyone here tell me if there’s a static ‘stadium cam’ to follow the progress of Highmark Jr. ? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dan Darragh Posted October 2, 2023 Share Posted October 2, 2023 2 hours ago, QLBillsFan said: The first game played was a preseason game against the Redskins.. Herb Mul Key returned the opening kick off for a TD! I was there. At the time, as bad as the Bills were, it seemed a fitting way to christen the stadium. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tuco Posted October 2, 2023 Share Posted October 2, 2023 I wasn't at the first game but did go to one that season against the Bengals. I was only 10 years old. Mostly I remember all the OJ hype as he was pushing for his 2,000 yard season. It was cold. The Bills had a chance to win at the end but missed a FG. Oh, and traffic leaving took, quite literally, forever. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Xwnyer Posted October 2, 2023 Share Posted October 2, 2023 5 hours ago, Joe Ferguson forever said: The announcers mentioned the 50 year anniversary of the stadium.. Who here went to that game. I can't remember details but it was a beautiful fall day, if memory serves... When Rich Stadium opened we purchased season tickets. Didn’t miss a home game until 1981 when I went to NC. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ProcessTruster Posted October 2, 2023 Share Posted October 2, 2023 43 minutes ago, Xwnyer said: When Rich Stadium opened we purchased season tickets. Didn’t miss a home game until 1981 when I went to NC. yeah the late 70s / early 80s was the mass exodus for sure Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
\GoBillsInDallas/ Posted October 2, 2023 Share Posted October 2, 2023 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete Posted October 2, 2023 Share Posted October 2, 2023 August 12, 1973 against washington. I have the coin Bills gave to ticket holders celebrating our new Bills stadium 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SoCal Deek Posted October 2, 2023 Share Posted October 2, 2023 I was there. And, for those who don’t recall, the Bills were NOT terrible in 1973. There was incredible optimism and national focus with OJ going off for 250 yards in the season opener against the Patriots in Foxboro. A few weeks later, Monday Night Football came to Buffalo for the first time and it felt like we’d made the big time! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marcus Aurelius Posted October 2, 2023 Share Posted October 2, 2023 8 hours ago, QLBillsFan said: The first game played was a preseason game against the Redskins.. Herb Mul Key returned the opening kick off for a TD! I was there. We were given some kind of coin to commemorate the event. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Terry Tate Posted October 2, 2023 Share Posted October 2, 2023 7 hours ago, chongli said: Well, the regular season home opener was September 1, 1973, Jets at Bills. I found this: I attended this game, end zone seats. Seemed like every time any team crossed mid field it was in the other direction. 11 year old me didn't see very much of the actual game. 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oldmanfan Posted October 2, 2023 Share Posted October 2, 2023 8 hours ago, Joe Ferguson forever said: The announcers mentioned the 50 year anniversary of the stadium.. Who here went to that game. I can't remember details but it was a beautiful fall day, if memory serves... I was at the first ever game. a preseason game against the Redskins. First ever play at the RIch Herb MulKey returns the opening kickoff for a TD. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PromoTheRobot Posted October 2, 2023 Share Posted October 2, 2023 8 hours ago, Joe Ferguson forever said: The announcers mentioned the 50 year anniversary of the stadium.. Who here went to that game. I can't remember details but it was a beautiful fall day, if memory serves... I was 14 and my parents couldn't afford tickets to such a frivolity. But I did ride my banana bike from the east side to Orchard Park to see the stadium for myself. It would be a few more years before I got inside to see a game. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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