Orchard Park, NY (WBEN) There's reaction from those near Bills Stadium after hearing Governor Cuomo's announcement the Bills have proposed a plan to bring fans into the stadium for next month's playoff game.
Under the plan submitted by the Bills to the state, team staff will control all exit and entry points to the stadium and only fans with a documented negative COVID-19 test would be allowed inside. To facilitate testing prior to the game, the State Department of Health would facilitate the deployment of rapid testing resources. If implemented, this would be the first stadium reopening plan in the nation to require testing and contact tracing.
Orchard Park Town Board Member Conor Flynn says he has not had a chance to review the plan. "I'm not a doctor or a public health expert. Whatever law the state puts forward, I can assure you the Town of Orchard Park will follow," says Flynn.
Flynn says business owners around the stadium have gone through a tough time not having revenue they can normally count on because of the pandemic. "6,700 fans at games, I don't know if that's going to make a significant impact on Orchard Park business, especially with many closed under the orange and yellow zone restrictions," notes Flynn.
As far as tailgating, Eric Matwijow of Hammer's Lot says it sounds like a good thing. "It's a long time coming. What they could've done was had 2,000, check it out, then 3,000, see if anything had to be adjusted. 6,700's a good number, and it's highly doable with the open air stadium we have," says Matwijow.
Matwijow says don't count on tailgating. "I think the chance of tailgating is zero. I believe the other cities have had the same policy. You basically come in, park, and walk into the stadium at the designated time. With 6,700 people, you have to park in the stadium property, so I don't see a chance for tailgating," says Matwijow, who says he would walk right in himself if he had a ticket.
Matwjow says he doesn't anticipate fans parking in his lot. "I have to get a permit through the town of Orchard Park, but they're not giving any permits out," says Matwijow, who predicts with the time frame that won't be possible because of the paperwork. "It would be nice to park some cars, and have some cash in the pocket, but I don't think that will happen," notes Matwijow.
The Bills by virtue of winning the AFC East are assured of hosting a wild card game the weekend of January 9th.
