ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. (WBEN)......Shannon Sam was a tad melancholy and sentimental and, it had nothing to do with the Buffalo Bills losing to the New England Patriots.
Rather Sam and others who parked their RVs in a private Abbott Road just across from Highmark Stadium were sentimental about the prospect of their lot being shut down.
"I could just cry thinking about it," Sam said.
After years of turning a blind eye to property owners near the stadium who turned their lots and lawns into parking for football fans, at least when it comes RVs, the town is cracking down - forcing many to close or alter their business model.
Letters informing property owners of the enforcement of town code were delivered in late September.
But, Orchard Park Supervisor Joseph Liberti said the letter was not authorized by the town board or any other town department.
"We didn't write it," Liberti said. "We didn't send it."
Yet, a copy of the letter shows it to be written on Orchard Park town letterhead.
"The town didn't authorize it," Liberti said.
In fact, Liberti said it may be time for Orchard Park to revisit and revise the RV parking code.
"It is something we should look at," Liberti said.
The enforcement is serving as a major blow to the Bills Mafia community where tailgating has become as much of the overall experience as the game itself.
In the lot shared by Sam and others, there fans who hail from Florida, New Jersey and South Carolina. Many park their RVs during the preseason and leave them there for the entire football year..
Legally, Orchard Park does have an ordinance limits two RVs per lot and the vehicles can only be parked for 48 hours.
The lot at Fay Street and Abbott Road is the epitome of the Bills Mafia experience. It was very communal with all football fans welcome.
The parkers, many of whom had been longtime - a decade or longer - customers treated each other like family.
Out-of-towners were always welcome.
Sitting in the shadow of old Highmark Stadium and across from the new stadium, the lot was frequented by out-of-town media who wanted to showcase the Bills Mafia experience.
"It was a very blessed experience," said New Jersey resident Tom Mericla "We're ending it with great memories - memories you can never take away."
The RV lot and other issues connected to the area area surrounding Highmark Stadium will be the subject of a 7 p.m., Oct. 7 public hearing in the Orchard Park hall.
Sam hopes there is come clarity and that this is not the end of the RV parking lot experience.
"Everything is very unclear," Sam said. "Nothing is clear>"
Orchard Park - may, or may not - be limiting privately-operated RV lots
Orchard Park - may, or may not - be limiting privately-operated RV lots
