BUFFALO, N.Y. — The fates and fortunes of the Buffalo Bills and Buffalo Sabres have definitely been up and down lately. 2 On Your Side is trying to gauge public sentiment for our Buffalo teams during this holiday season.
On Sunday, we saw the sideline Santa bringing glad tidings for the Bills in that big win over the Dallas Cowboys. But on Tuesday evening we also heard a chorus of boos for the Sabres that only a Grinch could love in that 9-4 home loss to the Columbus Blue Jackets.
As our friend at WGRZ Paul Hamilton asked, "What the heck happened out there?"
Sabres captain Kyle Okposo replied, "Not a lot of good."
So start with the tickets and start with the surging Bills. They have one final home game on New Year's Eve with the downtrodden New England Patriots
Nick Giammusso of VIP Tix told 2 On Your side that "tickets have gone up probably 100 percent since the win against Dallas, so ticket prices (for the Bills) are probably $300 and up for that game."
Just to get in?
"Just to get in," Giammusso said.
So as for the Sabres right now, Giammusso said, "Definitely after last night's (Tuesday) performance, tickets are trending lower for sure."
2 On Your Side: Give us a ballpark or some of the prices?
Giammusso: "Some of the prices right now, you can get in for $50 or $60 for a Sabres game."
So let's go shopping for the team merch at The Buffalo Store in Amherst. There was definitely more action and focus on red and blue than blue and gold.
We spoke with the Buffalo native, and now Florida-transplanted Hughes family, who are visiting Western New York relatives for the holiday season. We asked, "I just see Bills merchandise. I don't see you looking at Sabres merchandise?"
Their son replied "Sabres? I mean, I love Sabres, but the Bills, Bills, only Bills."
Even a Bills kimono robe and fluffy short shorts register hotter than even black and red Sabres pajamas and fuzzy slippers.
We asked another shopper, "Would you consider going over to the Sabres aisle right now?"
Shopper: Not really.
Reporter: Why not?
"The Bills are doing good, they're winning. The Sabres just aren't yet, you know?" the man said.
But to be balanced and fair with hope, we go back to other shoppers. One told us, "I would possibly purchase something from the Sabres just to show our support."
We also asked the Hughes family agai,n "Do you think you could have a mix on your gift list of Bills and Sabres?
Pamela, the mother, answered : "I would. He won't (referring to son), but I would."
Father Kevin Hughes added, "He's too young to understand the ups and downs of the seasons as they go."