Buffalo, N.Y. (WBEN) - "Bills Mafia" heading to Kansas City for a playoff rematch between the Buffalo Bills and Chiefs can find a safe haven at a local watering hole just south of the Kansas City International Airport.
"We're an official Bills Backer bar," said Al Burns, a native Buffalonian, who owns Al's Bar and Grill in Parkville, Missouri.
"I spent 42 years there (in South Buffalo and Hamburg). People love coming here. We've got great chicken wings. It's just like being back home," said Burns.
What is he expecting this weekend?
"There are going to be thousands of Buffalonians coming in," Burns said. "Last year, we were at a disadvantage because of COVID. We were facing restrictions on occupancy, social distancing and masks. Letting loose was a little more difficult."
This year, Burns says there are no restrictions.
"We're in Platte County. There are no mask rules. No social distancing. We can pack 'em in as best we can," he said. "I think it's going to be a freer atmosphere this time around, than it was for last year's championship game."
It is expected that Bills fans will start drifting in to town on Friday.
"All day Saturday will be fun," added Burns. "But the big party is Saturday night. We're raffling off a Micah Hyde autographed jersey."
He's already getting a lot of calls, and Facebook messages from "Bills Mafia".
Related
Burns has no worries about not having enough chicken wings for the influx of Bills fans.
"I've had no issues at all with my food supplier. I'm one of their biggest customers for wings. My order is guaranteed," he said.
The secret to good wings, he said, is trying not to reinvent the wheel.
"It's simple. It's a deep fried, naked wing with a hot sauce base using Frank's Red Hot and butter," Burns explained. "Other places try to go crazy. We have four or five restaurants here that serve the whole wing. Nobody wants to eat a wing where you're eating one end and the other end is poking you in the ear."
"Just leave it alone and serve it the way it was meant to be."
Al's Bar and Grill is located Northwest of Arrowhead Stadium and South of the airport on Highway 45.
As for Al's prediction for Sunday's game, he believes it's going to be close.
"Bills win by a field goal."
You can listen to our entire conversation with Burns below:
