Jim Kelly is looking forward to seeing the Bills in new home

Orchard, NY (WGR 550) – Former Buffalo Bills Hall-of-Fame quarterbqack Jim Kelly was in attendance on Tuesday for the ribbon cutting at the new Highmark Stadium. Jim played a lot of great football in the old place across the street, but he loves the new stadium from what he's seen,

“It's amazing, this is something that, my daughters would not allow me to move away from Buffalo, but having my kids here and now my grandson, I pray I just get some extra years where I'll be able to enjoy a football game right here with my grandson.”

Kelly added,

It's awesome, I've been in there three or four times and I got to walk into the locker-room and it's amazing, I've been where rehab or the guys go when they have little bumps and bruises, but the thing is it's amazing and I can't wait for opneing day.”

One of the features in the new stadium is it's built so the wind no longer swirls down to the field. Kelly of course played in some really bad conditions and he said there are pros and cons to that,

“Of course, who wouldn't want to do that (play in no wind), but when I walked down on the field, it was pretty windy outside, and I felt nothing, so that's awesome, but it's also good for the opponents too.”

Fans will get their first look into the Stadium Aug. 8 for the “Return of the Blue and Red” practice and on Aug. 15 for the first preseason game. Kelly can't wait for Bills Mafia to get in there,

“It should be special not only for the players, but imagine the fans in there how crazy and loud they''re going to be, that's what I'm looking forward to, I want to see how loud this stadium can get and from what I've been told, it's going to be unbelievable, but I don't expect anything less.”

I wondered if it has been sad to Kelly watching as they rip down the old stadium because he has so many memories in there. He said,

“Those are memories that I'll cherish and take with me forever, but they've got to do what they've got to do and I understand that, but those memories will last forever.”

Kelly is still an ambassador for the Bills as he said he's signed a three-year contract,

“I've been with the Bills since 1986 and they still think I'm important enough to be here this long, but I'm blessed, where else would you rather be than right here, right now? Nowhere.”

Kelly said he's feeling great, but he did have a scare not too long ago,

“I had a little setback about a month in a half ago and had a stroke, but I spent a few days in the hospital and right now I feel really good.”

Kelly said his cancer scans are all good right now too.