Orchard Park, N.Y. (WBEN) - Ask the Bills Mafia to turn out for the Buffalo Bills and consider the job done.
After a snowy week in Bills country, team management put out the all-call to fans late Thursday to solicit shovelers to remove the snow from the stands inside Highmark Stadium.
Those who showed up Friday morning were paid $15 per hour and also received $20 or $50 gift cards from Wegmans and a hot lunch or dinner.
By mid-afternoon Friday, the Bills tweeted out they had enough workers and the shoveling effort continued late into the day.
"I just want to see a good game, get the field ready for the guys," one shoveler told WBEN as he carried a giant plastic chute used to remove snow from the seating area and channel it to the sidelines for removal.
So, how much snow did these excited fans need to remove from the stadium? "There's not much anymore," he said. "We got it all shoveled out by now."
The band of fans showed up with shovels in hand and moved section by section, methodically removing the snow from the stands and walkways.
Stadium workers were also busy Friday using power equipent to clear the snow from the concourses and ramps.
It was bitter cold work with temperatures in the teens and wind whipping the lake effect snow around the stadium.
Come Sunday afternoon and game time, temperatures will actually be above freezing and perhaps some rain will be falling, making the lake effect snow storm just a memory.
And with all the talk about a new stadium for the Bills, these shovelers were a great group to ask if they would prefer a domed stadium in a new deal with the team.
"You kidding me? Now way," exclaimed one fan with a shovel in hand.
