Orchard Park, N.Y. (WBEN) - In the several hours before kickoff to the Buffalo Bills' home opener at the new Highmark Stadium, fans from near-and-far arrived to local lots around the stadium to get in some early tailgating and celebrate the start of another football season in Western New York.
For some Bills fans, the festivities started around 10 a.m., but some got the party started even earlier at around 7:30 a.m. Even a few fans camped overnight in lots like Hammer's Lot along Abbott Road, and were up at the crack of dawn ready for another season.
"We always come out this early," said Tony from Petawawa, Ontario. "We've been coming for about 25 years, and we get in anywhere between 7 and 7:30 a.m. We are at this lot, just having a good time. We're not going to break tradition for anything. Doesn't matter what time the game's at, we're here at the same time."
"I wanted to make sure I had a spot for all the events for the home opener for the new stadium, to make it something special," said Brandon from Syracuse, who arrived at around 8:30 a.m. on Thursday.
While the Bills get ready to open the new Highmark Stadium for the first regular season game in Orchard Park, the tailgating environment is certainly a special one for many fans to share with others.
"It's just spending time with friends and family that you haven't seen in a while," said Brandon from Concord, N.C. "Some of these people you haven't seen since last year at a tailgate, so it's cool. The guys parked next to me right now are the same guys that parked next to me for the Tampa [Bay Buccaneers] game, so it's cool to kind of talk about those memories and make new ones, and talk about the future."
While fans are certainly eager to kick off another season of football, fans are ready to check out the new $2.2 billion, state-of-the-art stadium and what it's all about.
"Everything you look at, it has a meaning to you as a Bills fan," said Matt from Bethlehem, Pa. "Just the little things, as far as the names of the food courts are all [neighborhoods] in the [city]. Just so much of the little details, they didn't leave out anything."
"They have the broken table. The entrances are way faster than they used to be. The seats, they're amazing. There's railing for the stands. They have a stage at the one end of the stadium for music. It's just amazing. It's beautiful," said Shelly from Massena, N.Y.
"Growing up, I got to hear about the opening of Rich Stadium and the old stadium, and now I get to be the one to tell the story about being there for the opening of the new Highmark Stadium, which is really cool," added Brandon. "I can't wait to pass that message along to my kids and family."
