Lockport, NY (WBEN) With sports bars forced to close at 10pm, fans going to watch the game would have to head out around halftime of Saturday's playoff game. There's one place you can go to watch the game in its entirety outside of your home: Transit Drive-In in Lockport.
It's nothing new for Rick Cohen. "We've been doing sports events since the first Monday Night Football game in September," says Cohen. "We did hockey, baseball and UB football games, and they were lots of fun." Cohen says it's a good feeling to provide fans an outlet when they normal can't do everything they want to do and be safe. "I have an opportunity to help people celebrate in a social distancing friendly environment," adds Cohen
Cohen says get there early. "It's first come, first served," says Cohen. "It's free admission, so there's no ticket to get, so if you come and there's room, we let you in, if not, we send you home." Cohen says gates will open at 6pm, and projects the lots to be filled by 8pm for the 8:15pm kickoff.
With state regulations still shutting down eateries at 10pm, Cohen doesn't anticipate too much of an inconvenience. "With an 8:15 kickoff, halftime should run around 9:30, 9:45, so we'll close the snack bar at 10.We don't have to close the parking lot at any time, It's not an indoor space," says Cohen.
Should the Bills win Saturday and next week in the AFC Championship game, will Cohen host a Super Bowl viewing party? "It's a night game, it'll be dark enough, why wouldn't we?" says Cohen.