Holy crap, I'm finally coming to Buffalo! 53 years in the making

[Hellcamino]

13 minutes ago, behind a post WMS69 said:

Nobody ever suggests it, but if you're up for some real history and you're downtown, it's a short trip down Best st. to whats left of the original home of the Bills, War Memorial Stadium, where I  saw my first game, literally sitting behind a post. The field is now used for local schools sports.

We went there today!  Most of the structure is gone but it was still cool to see!

Edited September 18 by Hellcamino

[BillsPride12]

Sounds like your having a blast!  Let's hear a quick little summary of how today went and all the spots you got to check out....

[SageAgainstTheMachine]

2 hours ago, SoCal Deek said:

Funny you bring that up. When I was there in August I walked out of the tunnel to experience it for the first time in many many years. Then…I went back up the tunnel and filmed the same thing from my phone. Had to capture it for the rest of the gang back home.

 

And FYI, the architectural term for those tunnels is “vomitory”….honestly. 

 

Pedantry about architectural semantics does make me feel kinda vomitory.

[BillsFan619]

On 9/15/2025 at 6:58 PM, Mark Vader said:

I'm born and raised in California and have been a Bills fan since Jim Kelly joined the team. Zero ties to Buffalo or New York.

 

The first time I went to Buffalo was in 2018 for the home opener against the Chargers. It was Josh Allen's first start and Vontae Davis retired at halftime. I had a blast at the Pinto Tailgate, and had a great time in general. I've made so many friends from going to many road games for the Bills, so I knew what to look for when I visited for the first time.

 

I'll be at the Dolphins game too! Hope I see you there, somewhere. I'll be sitting in the upper bowl, but it'll be a great time.

 

Have a great time, my friend. You won't forget it. I love your screen name. GO BILLS!!!

Cool, bro!

 

We live in SoCal and we’ll be at the game as well in the upper bowl, on the Bills’ side.

 

Go Bills!

 

 

6 hours ago, machine gun kelly said:

Have a blast bud.  Theres a chance my wife and i might after 35 years may move back.  It’s wrapped around career stuff, but she gave me the green light.  Have a blast tomorrow night.  Youll have a ball.

@machine gun kelly MGK Dan, do you want to move back?

Edited September 18 by BillsFan619

[Hellcamino]

1 hour ago, BillsPride12 said:

Sounds like your having a blast!  Let's hear a quick little summary of how today went and all the spots you got to check out....

Yes we are!  
we got a late start today, that time change coming east sucks!

we drove all over town today. We saw Canalside, Delaware Park, War Memorial Stadium, Allentown, Elmwood Village (although we got there a little too late. Most shops were closing)

we hit Wegmans for some Josh MVP cereal and the new Little People set. 
Went to Schwabls for Lunch. Amazing Beef on Weck!  And we had dinner at Gabriels Gate. Wings were awesome. 
Would have loved to have gone bar hopping tonight but my kid is only 19. 
we will come back to see the new stadium when hes 21. Lol

trying to control myself because I don’t have a lot money to spend but my collection is growing. Lol

 

 

 

Edited September 18 by Hellcamino

[Hellcamino]

Looking for a little guidance for tomorrow. Whats my best path for parking tomorrow for tailgaiting. The parking looks very confusing.  I am coming from near the airport. I don’t care at all about traffic getting out. I wanna stay and soak it in as long as possible. Most concerned with cheap and close as possible. Whats the move?

[Draconator]

26 minutes ago, Hellcamino said:

Looking for a little guidance for tomorrow. Whats my best path for parking tomorrow for tailgaiting. The parking looks very confusing.  I am coming from near the airport. I don’t care at all about traffic getting out. I wanna stay and soak it in as long as possible. Most concerned with cheap and close as possible. Whats the move?

You'll have to get to the stadium about 6 hours early, but for the true Bills tailgating experience, you can't beat Hammers Lot. It's basically across the street from the stadium, right next to the new stadium. I think it's $60 to park. Pinto Ron has his ketchup and mustard ceremony there. Bowling ball shots. (I won't tell if you let your 19 yr old have a bowling ball shot.) That would be my suggestion. You would have to take the 219 to 20A, head west towards the stadium, then make a right on Abbott and Hammers Lot will be on your left. 

[Hellcamino]

9 minutes ago, Draconator said:

You'll have to get to the stadium about 6 hours early, but for the true Bills tailgating experience, you can't beat Hammers Lot. It's basically across the street from the stadium, right next to the new stadium. I think it's $60 to park. Pinto Ron has his ketchup and mustard ceremony there. Bowling ball shots. (I won't tell if you let your 19 yr old have a bowling ball shot.) That would be my suggestion. You would have to take the 219 to 20A, head west towards the stadium, then make a right on Abbott and Hammers Lot will be on your left. 

Thanks! Just what was looking for. We of course were planning on seeing the whole Pinto Ron experience! I just didn’t know if I could park in Hammers lot or if it was always sold out. If we get to Hammers by 2pm I should get a spot? 

[Draconator]

1 minute ago, Hellcamino said:

 If we get to Hammers by 2pm I should get a spot? 

The lot opens at 2 pm per their Official Facebook Group, so that would do. 

[Hellcamino]

3 hours ago, Draconator said:

The lot opens at 2 pm per their Official Facebook Group, so that would do. 

Great, thanks!

[machine gun kelly]

6 hours ago, BillsFan619 said:

Cool, bro!

 

We live in SoCal and we’ll be at the game as well in the upper bowl, on the Bills’ side.

 

Go Bills!

 

 

@machine gun kelly MGK Dan, do you want to move back?

Im evaluating some business opportunities.  We’ll see.  My wife misses the four seasons.  I’ll admit it’s an outside chance.  I do y want to bore you guys with details.

[SoCal Deek]

9 hours ago, Hellcamino said:

Looking for a little guidance for tomorrow. Whats my best path for parking tomorrow for tailgaiting. The parking looks very confusing.  I am coming from near the airport. I don’t care at all about traffic getting out. I wanna stay and soak it in as long as possible. Most concerned with cheap and close as possible. Whats the move?

It might not be what you want but when I was there last month I stayed near the airport and took the NFTA bus to and from the game. It was great! Just $10.00 per rider roundtrip. It gets you there about 90 minutes before the game (which was plenty of time) and leaves about 30 to 45 minutes afterwards. No hassling with parking, etc.  I picked it up at Eastern Hills Mall on Transit Road near the airport. Everyone on the bus had a great time. 

[Hellcamino]

42 minutes ago, SoCal Deek said:

It might not be what you want but when I was there last month I stayed near the airport and took the NFTA bus to and from the game. It was great! Just $10.00 per rider roundtrip. It gets you there about 90 minutes before the game (which was plenty of time) and leaves about 30 to 45 minutes afterwards. No hassling with parking, etc.  I picked it up at Eastern Hills Mall on Transit Road near the airport. Everyone on the bus had a great time. 

That is a great option. But being our first time here, I don’t think 90 minutes will be enough tailgaiting time. we want to see the new stadium and the Pinto Ron spectacle and just soak every bit of it in that we can.  Lol

Edited September 18 by Hellcamino

[Augie]

15 minutes ago, Hellcamino said:

That is a great option. But being our first time here, I don’t think 90 minutes will be enough tailgaiting time. we want to see the new stadium and the Pinto Ron spectacle and just soak every bit of it in that we can.  Lol

 

The condiment ceremony is typically about 90 minutes before kickoff, so yes, you’d need to get there a bit sooner just for that. Being your first time there is a whole lot more to soak up and enjoy. You came all this way, make the most of it and enjoy! 

[henry jones]

23 hours ago, Hellcamino said:

Thanks! We were looking for a good beef on Weck place! 
we got in last night and plan on eating all day today!!

If you're looking for beef on weck, Charlie the Butcher is the only place you need to go!!!

[henry jones]

Moved away from WNY over 20 years ago and haven't been to many games since.  It will always be remembered as Rich Stadium to me!  I've been to many venues, different sports, different cities over the years, but nothing is the same as being in Orchard Park for a Bills game.  The sights, the sounds, the smells, the atmosphere... even all the years when we sucked miserably!!  Take it all in and enjoy!!  

[Hellcamino]

1 minute ago, henry jones said:

If you're looking for beef on weck, Charlie the Butcher is the only place you need to go!!!

Great, Thanks!

Schwabls was amazing but we will try to hit Charlies on Friday for lunch before our flight home. 

[Hellcamino]

https://share.icloud.com/photos/07dWxBkRDX7JG9aEzkiE08Bhg

[Heathcliff]

My boys and I are in town for our first game at Rich/The Ralph/Highmark. I was raised in Clarence and moved to Dallas area after college in ‘77. Raised my boys (now 42 & 40) as Bills fans. Grandkids are all also Bills fans. When I asked my youngest what he wanted for his 40th, he replied go to a Bills game. So here we are!  Lots of relatives to tailgate with. It’s going to be epic!
 

What a beautiful day/night for a game. 
 

GO BILLS!!

[Buffalo716]

1 hour ago, Heathcliff said:

My boys and I are in town for our first game at Rich/The Ralph/Highmark. I was raised in Clarence and moved to Dallas area after college in ‘77. Raised my boys (now 42 & 40) as Bills fans. Grandkids are all also Bills fans. When I asked my youngest what he wanted for his 40th, he replied go to a Bills game. So here we are!  Lots of relatives to tailgate with. It’s going to be epic!
 

What a beautiful day/night for a game. 
 

GO BILLS!!

You never made the trip when you lived in clearance?