HERMOSA BEACH, Calif. — It was easy to spot members of the Bills Mafia in Southern California ahead of the Bills versus Rams game this week.
You didn’t have to walk very far along Hermosa Beach before you would see the familiar blue and red logo or hear someone shout “Go Bills!” Among those in the crowd were Western New Yorkers who made the trek to see the NFL season opener at SoFi Stadium. There were also several Buffalo natives who now call Los Angeles home — but they still root for their beloved hometown team.
Bills fan Jill Kelechi is originally from West Seneca but now lives in Cincinnati. She travels to a few Bills away games each year, but she said being in L.A. is big.
“You’ve got to support the opener. You have to be there at the beginning. These guys have worked so hard, and our fans are so passionate. I’m here with a bunch of the original Bills Mafia members. It’s like a big reunion. This is what I do,” said Kelechi.
Kelechi packed 26 different Bills t-shirts and jerseys to wear over the next several days. A lot of fans were spotted in Bills tank tops, because unlike in Orchard Park during football season, temperatures in Los Angeles are soaring into the 90s this week!
Cary O’Donoghue is a Bills fan from Niagara Falls. He made the trip to visit family and see his favorite team play.
“Well my three brothers live out here. My brother has season tickets for the Rams, but we are all true blue Buffalo Bills fans, so they’re first and the Rams are second. Go Bills!” said O’Donoghue. “This [trip] was already planned the second the season schedule came out."
Amanda Lacy travelled from Lewiston to Los Angeles with her boyfriend for the game. While she’s not originally from Western New York, she’s fully embraced Bills Mafia since moving.
“My suitcase is packed with Bills gear, so I am ready to represent the fans from Western New York,” Lacy said.
Originally from Germany, Christian Schaefer who now lives in East Aurora was drawn to Buffalo’s passion early on and made the trip out west this year thinking the Bills’ Super Bowl chances are good.
“The way that the team has developed over the past couple years I think we really have the team it takes to get to the championship so that’s why we’re here,” Schaefer said.
“LA is made up of people from all over the country, in fact all over the world, and Buffalo is a very close-knit community so with the invasion of Buffalo this is going to be a beautiful scene especially here in a beach community,” said Jim Hoppe a Kenmore native who has lived in LA for many years now.
There’s an official #BillsMafia welcome party happening Wednesday afternoon in Hermosa Beach, about seven miles from the stadium.
Hundreds of fans are expected. Two charter busloads of Bills fans are traveling up to Hermosa Beach from San Diego, and a chartered plane from the Queen City is landing at LAX Wednesday morning. Those fans will then make their way to the welcome party.
2 On Your Side’s Rob Hackford and Heather Ly will be live from the party Wednesday afternoon. Look for their reports beginning at 4 p.m. ET on Most Buffalo.