Buffalo, N.Y. (WBEN/WGR 550) - The excitement continues to augment in Western New York as the big playoff football rematch nears for the Buffalo Bills and the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC Divisional Round this Sunday at Highmark Stadium.
While some Chiefs fans may be taking the long journey from Missouri to Orchard Park to see their crew, some Chiefs fans reside right here in Buffalo.
Vinnie Garofalo is the owner of Casey's Black Rock Sports Bar on Amherst Street in Buffalo, the only Chiefs backers bar in Western New York. He's excited that Patrick Mahomes is finally going to be playing a playoff game in his neck of the woods.
"We're pretty excited. We're happy to have the Chiefs finally come to town to take on the Bills in the playoffs. It's long overdue," said Garofalo in an interview with WBEN on Thursday.
While Garofalo would probably be at Highmark Stadium or at his bar to cheer them on, he will be watching the game from an unexpected location this year.
"I will be out of town, prior commitments with with my family have taken me to Puerto Rico this weekend for an anniversary trip," Garofalo said. "I will not be at the bar, but you best believe I've already researched which place I'll be watching the game at, for sure."
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Garofalo, who has been operating the bar since 2019, says it's been fun to watch the Bills and Chiefs rivalry grow to what it is today.
"It's funny because when we first opened, Bills fans would come in and you know, generally not have a problem with all the Chiefs stuff on the walls. But as time has progressed, they come in and they're a little confused at times," Garofalo admitted. "But then they see Bill stuff up on the wall too, and it's always it's always good banter. We like to have fun with it."
Garofalo mentions that although the bar is more of a Chiefs-first bar, they will always cheer on the Bills second.
"We always support the home team," he said. "We'd like to think of ourselves as a two-team bar. We just never thought when we open that they would be rivals for the past five seasons."
The bar will be open for Sunday's game.
"I'm happy the Chiefs are finally here in the playoffs. I think the narrative has been that the Bills having to travel to Arrowhead so often that it's nice to see a change of pace. It's nice to see them in the white jerseys," Garofalo said. "This is Patrick's road playoff game, so I think it's going to be a good game. I think we got two killers behind center ready to take their team to the next round of the playoffs. If I had to give you a prediction, I would I would say Chiefs 27 - Bills 23."
Kickoff in Orchard Park this Sunday is set for 6:30 p.m. EST.