Pittsford, N.Y. (WBEN/WGR 550) - Another training camp for the Buffalo Bills is set to wrap up on Thursday with one final practice in front of the "Bills Mafia" faithful at St. John Fisher University.
This year marked the 22nd time training camp was held in the Rochester area on the campus of St. John Fisher since the year 2000. This after spending 19 years prior practicing at Fredonia State University.
The only two seasons the Bills practiced anywhere else but in Pittsford since 2000 were in 2020 and 2021 due to the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.
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Over the course of three weeks, several Bills fans from across the region, and even some from across the nation, flocked to Rochester to take in their favorite team practicing and to preparing for the upcoming season.
"There's such excitement in the community when the Bills come, especially now with them being a Super Bowl contender," said Bills fan Sean from Fairport visiting training camp with his wife and daughter. "I lived through a lot of lean years with the Bills, so the level of excitement that we have now is great."
"Obviously the way that last season ended, really hopeful for what's to come this year. Hopefully the boys turn it around, and reach where they're destined to be. Looking forward to it," added Bills fan Nick from Amherst.
Whether it'd be Bills fans from closer-to-home in the Buffalo region, those in the Rochester area, or others near and far, many feel just comfortable with training camp remaining in Pittsford at the friendly confines of St. John Fisher University.
"I think both the Rochester and the Buffalo community love this team. Huge fan base here in Rochester, so for them to be here is a nice treat for us, because we aren't close enough to Buffalo to enjoy them as much," said Bills fan Dave from Rochester, decked out head-to-toe in Bills-related appearal.
For Bills fan Nico from Fairport, he says the atmosphere at training camp is completely different than the game day experience because the players are right up close and personal. It's something that has him hopeful the team sticks around for a long while.
"I don't want it to be anywhere else," said Nico while at training camp. "It's so close, and it's easy to get to. I think if they put it anywhere else, it'll be a little bit more challenging to try to attend."
Just before the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, the training camp agreement between the Bills and St. John Fisher University was set to expire, raising concerns about the future of the annual camp in the Rochester area. However, in the two years since, both parties have agreed to training camp on a year-by-year basis.
Members of the Bills and the campus feel the relationship between the team and university is just as strong as it was before the pandemic, and are comfortable continuing with their current year-over-year iterations if necessary.
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While many fans are comfortable with the approach the Bills and campus are taking in the coming years, they'd also be comfortable locking up a longer-term agreement to hold training camp in Rochester for the foreseeable future.
"Lock it up! 10 years, 20 years, I think that's going to be best if they put a contract together," Nico said with excitement.
"I'd love to see them here every year. I think it's such an uplifting thing for the community," Sean added. "I mean, money aside, I think just from an excitement standpoint and the vibe, it's just so real. Everyone is happy to be here, we love having the Bills here. We hope they're here for many more years to come."
For Dave, he feels having training camp in Pittsford for as long as it has, fans have started to really feel out a regular routine every year. He says why change a good thing that's already in place?
"You get the lay of the land, you develop a strategy for when you get here, you know where you're gonna go, what you're gonna do, where you're gonna park. Once you have that continuity, it kind of makes it exciting, whereas if you were to go somewhere else or bounce around, it would be a little chaotic," Dave said.
So if not Rochester for Bills training camp, where would fans prefer for it to be held?
For Nick, he'd be fine if training camp returns to Orchard Park and is held at the team facilities.
"I don't have a place in particular, but if it's at a smaller venue, it's better for the fans to get closer access to the players a little bit more so than if you were at the stadium in Buffalo," he said.
While Sean may not want to see them anywhere else, he'd be fine if the team wanted to return closer to home in Buffalo.
"I mean, they've been here so long, I feel like it's tradition. It's kind of become such an important part to the community. I'm kind of hoping they're here for the foreseeable future," Sean said. "If not and they're in Buffalo, then we're going to Buffalo to see them."
If the Bills happen to move training camp in the coming years, Dave is just hoping the team won't be too far away from Rochester.
"I would say as long as it's somewhere around halfway between Buffalo and Rochester, I'm willing to drive a little bit, but I don't know. If it's close to Rochester, I would like that. It doesn't necessarily matter where, I'll still show up," Dave said.
The final training camp practice of 2023 on Thursday is set for 9:45 a.m. ET.
More from Bills fans at training camp is available in the player below:
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