Buffalo, N.Y. (WBEN) - Football is back this week and Buffalo Bills fans couldn't be more excited for the season to kick off this Thursday in Los Angeles, and the Buffalo Block Parties on Chippewa are back for the occasion.
Chris Ring, co-owner of the Rec Room 79 West Chippewa Street, couldn't be more excited to announce the 3rd season of this event.
"It's super exciting. I think everybody in the city is pretty excited to see what the Bills can do this year. Last year, I think we all have the same kind of hopes and dreams, but I think we're all banking on this year. To have it kickoff Thursday Night Football, on national TV, I think is a special way to open the season and we're really excited to be a part of it having the big block party for the kickoff game this Thursday," said Ring.
Ring says the crowds are expected to be a little larger than last year and the atmosphere is sure to be electric, "The atmosphere is wild. I mean, it's as close to a game day stadium experiences you're gonna get. It's probably one of the larger viewing parties that the city has. Last year for the Chiefs game, we had just over 1000 people this year, we're expecting a little bit more."
The event starts three hours and a half hours before kickoff at 5 p.m. for the pre-game festivities, which include Happy Hour food and drink specials, live music from 80s tribute act Invisible Touch, a Kan Jam tournament and a cornhole tournament.
Things to look for this Thursday are the raffles, where they will be raffling off tickets to the Bills-Titans game in Week 2, autographed Bills memorabilia in addition to their 50/50 raffle, which they will donate to the 5/14 Survivors Fund, which was a fund set up to help the families of those impacted by the mass shooting at Tops on Jefferson.
Ring says that having the origins of the block party starting during the pandemic was a good stepping stone for the event to reach full potential, "We're a sports-loving town. People love the Bills. When the Bills do well, it doesn't hurt, it only helps. I think it was a great introduction. When we did these things with the playoffs in the patio, it also allowed us to kind of crawl before we run with a limited capacity and then as things slowly reopened out we were able to generate more and more income and have more people come down. From where it started to how it's grown, it's perfect."
Thursday is not the only day to get out to Chippewa to watch the Bills, Ring says the will hold a block party for the Bills-Chiefs game on October 16th and potentially the Ravens game on October 2nd.
Tickets are available at ticketweb.com.