Orchard Park, N.Y. (WBEN) - Excitement abounds in Orchard Park, as residents and business owners around Highmark Stadium eagerly anticipate the arrival of NFL Playoff action for the Buffalo Bills.
Buffalo's road to Super Bowl LIX in New Orleans begins on Sunday afternoon when the Bills host the Denver Broncos for a 1 p.m. kickoff.
Despite the expectations for droves of Bills fans to be in-and-around Highmark Stadium come Sunday, it's business as usual when it comes to the game day experience.
"A game like this is an extra bonus game to have for the whole area," said Mark Ebeling, owner of Danny's South at the corner of Big Tree Road and Abbott Road. "We do exactly the same thing we've always done. We're selling our wings, we're selling everything from parking to anything you can imagine is going on. But what happens is the people all come down earlier now. Our lot opens up at 6:30, the game is at 1 o'clock. If it was an 8 o'clock game, people would be down here at 6:30 in the morning anyways, they don't care."
"I think it's pretty much the same for regulars, the excitement, with the regular customers that come in and tailgaters that have been around for a while. I think they're pretty much used to the football atmosphere. Stuff for newbies, people that only gone maybe to one or two games, the atmosphere is special for them, because it's a new experience," added Eric "The Hammer" Matwijow, owner of Hammer's Lot along Abbott Road. "Plus, there's only so many games left, and we're getting to that countdown. So I think there's a little bit more atmosphere and maybe anxiety to the average tailgater stuff."
Others in-and-around the stadium can feel that same change in energy as the days tick away to kickoff on Sunday.
"Everyone's excited, and it's a do-or-die situation. I feel like people feel as if they bring the positive energy, then positive things will happen. So they're more apt to come out, even if they don't have a ticket, just to be a part of the scene and a part of the excitement," said Peggy Cerrone, owner of O'Neill's Stadium Inn at the corner of Abbott Road and Southwestern Boulevard.
The extra game or two for the playoffs in Orchard Park is certainly a nice boost for businesses in the shadow of Highmark Stadium.
"It definitely helps to have a few playoff games - I say a few because I know we're going to push past the first one - in January," said Bernadette Singer, operations manager at Prohibition 2020 right across Abbott Road from O'Neill's. "January tends to be the slowest month in all of the year. People come off New Year's, they're wanting that 'new year, new me', Dry January and stuff. So having this extra business really helps out the restaurants that are surrounding the Bills stadium."
"It's amazing, because January, typically in the bar business, is slow. People are suffering from all of their spending, and then they decide they're going to do Dry January, and then they're going to try to get healthy," echoed Cerrone. "Usually by the end of January, beginning of February, they go back to normal. So these playoff games give us a boost, because it's as if people are like, 'Well, it's Dry January, except for the weekend of the playoff game.' That helps us as bar owners."
One element heading into Sunday that has been a factor in playoff games over the last couple of seasons in Orchard Park is the weather. Especially last season, the region was buried by feet of snow in the days leading up to both games for the Bills in the AFC Wild Card Round and Divisional Round.
"I mean, we have another day or two before the game, we'll see what happens, but we don't have the monster feet of snow. We might get an inch or two, the stadium should be cleaned up very well. I don't think that's going to be a factor at all," Matwijow said. "And I think overall, people are going to come in early, enjoy their day, because it's not going to be in the teens. We're looking at the high 20s, 30s. I think that makes a big difference, the 10 degrees."
"There is always that chance of getting a storm, and then you're having to deal with the extra traffic, and even not having the space in the parking lots to have as big of a tailgate party as we normally can," added Singer. "So far, it's so good. It's cold, but it's at least sunny. I'm hoping it stays that way."
While some fans may leave after the tailgating is done to get home in time for kickoff, some business owners believe others may be more apt to stick around and watch the game from the bar.
"I think you're going to see a lot of people just coming out to watch TV inside the bars too, on top of that," Ebeling said. "We get a lot of people that pull into our lot, they do what they got to do, and when the game starts, they leave. So you're getting more people in the area when it's going on with a playoff game, it's a lot more exciting. It really is. When the Bills win, it's exciting for the whole area."
"I do think that the more we win, the more excited people get. They don't want to miss that experience of being able to say, 'Hey, we were at this game in 2025 when the Bills took it all the way,' or they're so excited about the new stadium being built," Singer said. "So all around, it is a continuing excitement, it's getting more progressive, it's getting louder. The energy is growing so much, and you can feel that miles down the street."
As for Hammer's Lot, Matwijow says the action gets started there when the lot opens for Bills fans at 7 a.m.. He also says if you're planning to arrive early and tailgate before kickoff, be sure you're well prepared.
"Bring warm clothing, make sure you got a full gas tank. You never know if you're going to get stuck in traffic or something happens. And always have a snack also for after the game, even Pop Tarts, water, stuff like that," Matwijow said. "Have a good time, dress for the weather, and go Bills!"