Albany, N.Y. (WBEN) - New York Governor Andrew Cuomo revealed Wednesday the Buffalo Bills have submitted a plan to include 6700 fans inside Bills Stadium for upcoming playoff games. The plan is currently being reviewed by the state.
The plan would involve strict enforcement of masking and social distancing guidelines. "The National Football League currently does games without testing. The Buffalo Bills are going to have a playoff game. Could we allow fans to the game with testing and then contact trace after the game? That's what the Department of Health has been working on. The Buffalo Bills proposed 6,700 fans. Department of Health is working on a model where you would test the fans before they go in. If they are negative, they go in and then contact trace afterwards to see what the effect was," says Cuomo.
State Health Commissioner Dr. howard Zucker says the plan would be the first of its kind and also raised concerns about the potential spread that could occur at tailgating events surrounding the game. "The parties are where this can spread," says Zucker in referencing tailgating at the stadium. Cuomo says tailgating will be banned under the plan.
The Bills have submitted a plan that the state is reviewing. The plan includes masking, social distancing and strict enforcement. "This would be a demonstration project. It's a public health model that hasn't been done anywhere in the country before," says Zucker. "We will work with the team to get all the fans tested beforehand. We'll have proof (of a negative test) prior to entering. We'll do contact tracing afterward."
"We would like to do it," said Cuomo but the plan is not approved or finalized.
The Bills say in a statement, “We are continuing to work with the Governor’s office regarding the details of a plan to possibly host a limited amount of spectators at our home playoff game. Nothing has been finalized at this point.”
Erie County Executive Mark Poloncarz says neither he nor the health department have been involved in any talks regarding this demonstration project.