ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. — The Buffalo Bills home opener is upon us and 2 On Your Side has compiled all the need-to-know information.
Ticketing:
While your phone is still the preferred method to show your ticket, you won't be able to get in with a screenshot or photo of the e-ticket. That's because the barcode will change every 15 seconds inside the app to help avoid fraud.
The apps to download are either the One Buffalo app—different from the the "My One Buffalo" app you may still have on your phone from last year, there's a new version to download—or the Bills Mobile app. Your barcode will also change on the Stub-Hub app if that's where you purchased your tickets.
Paper tickets will additionally be accepted.
Traffic:
- Abbott Road will close in front of the stadium at 8 a.m.
- New Era Field lots open at 9 a.m.
- Gates open at 11:30 a.m. (for 1 p.m. kickoff)
- Big Tree Road will close westbound after the game, all traffic leaving the area on that road will have to head east.
Tailgating:
The biggest change is one we've heard about for a while now: no more tailgating by your vehicle in the bus and limo lot. Instead, you'll have to head to the specially-marked tailgate village, as a response to the unruly behavior the Bills say they've seen before games.
Many viewers are wondering about parking a bus in a lot that's not operated by the stadium. Orchard Park Police Chief Joseph Wehrfritz recommends doing some research beforehand.
"We would recommend that you reach out ahead of time and figure out which lot you want to go to and make sure they will actually accept the buses," Wehrfritz said. "Some lots will, some won't. So I would just recommend everybody check to make sure of where you're going if you're not going to park in the stadium."
Remembering Pancho:
Ezra "Pancho Billa" Castro will be honored in a video montage prior to kickoff Sunday where his family will also be in attendance. Make sure to clean up your tailgate in a timely manner and get to your seats early to enjoy the tribute. This honoring follows the memorial event happening in Hammer's Lot on Saturday.
