Orchard Park, N.Y. (WBEN) - A prime time Sunday Night Football showdown will mean tens of thousands of football fans will be heading to Highmark Stadium to watch the Buffalo Bills take on the New York Giants. Here are a few helpful tips and reminders to help you optimize your experience and reduce the traffic and parking headaches.
When do the stadium lots and gates open?
• All stadium lots open at *4:20 p.m. ET and drivers are asked NOT to park on the shoulder of the roadways for pedestrian safety;
• Lots open to fans will be 1, 2-Preferred, 2-ADA, 3, 4, 6-Preferred, 6-ADA and Lot 7;
• The Bus and Limo Lot is moved to the stadium's northside along Route 20.
"The gates are gonna open at 6:20 p.m. ET and the weather looks to be very favorable," notes Sgt. Jeremy Lehning, PIO for the Erie County Sheriff's office.
What has the Erie County Sheriff's office seen during the two previous home games this season, traffic-wise?
"People tend to arrive fairly early and they have a tendency to line up outside of the stadium lots and gates, that is actually problematic," said Sgt. Jeremy Lehning. "They can arrive early, but we'd prefer that they not arrive hours upon hours early. I understand the whole tailgating situation and so on, but when they show up too early, it causes major traffic congestion problems."
ABBOTT ROAD
• The section of Abbott Road in front of the stadium closes to north and southbound traffic at 3:20pm.;
• This section of Abbott Road will remain closed until after the game;
• Lots 2-Preferred, 2-ADA and 3 are accessible from Route 20A;
• Lot 6-Preferred and Lot 6-ADA are accessible from Route 20.
ROUTE 20A (BIG TREE ROAD)
• Prior to the conclusion of the game, Route 20A from Fieldhouse Drive will be two-lanes, one-way traffic headed eastbound away from the stadium. Any vehicles parked west of Fieldhouse Drive must travel westbound.
What time should you get to the game?
Sgt. Lehning advises to not get to the game before 2 o'clock. Hammer's Lot owner Eric Matwijow predicts that 4 p.m. ET might be the busiest time since the stadium lots are opening 20 minutes prior.
"Around four o'clock I think might be the crunch time," Eric "Hammer' Matwijow, owner of 'Hammer's Lot', notes. "I think also people got to be worried about the amount of rain that we have on Saturday, because a lot of the lawns are going to be soft. And that might put a little crunch on the availability for hard surface parking."
An hour after 4 p.m. ET or maybe between 2 p.m. ET and 4 o'clock may be the sweet spots if you're looking for ample time to grab something to eat and hang out before the game.
Other Information:
Kickoff is at 8:20 p.m. ET Erie County Sheriff John Garcia recommends all guests review Highmark Stadium maps to locate the best lot in which to park and gate at which to enter. Additionally, all fans are reminded to familiarize themselves with the list of prohibited items at Highmark Stadium, in order to avoid delays at the gates.
For a map of the stadium and parking lots, visit: https://www.buffalobills.com/stadium/
