Bills fans can relax about one of the most touchy subjects in western New York: tailgating is not being stripped out of the game-day experience at the new Highmark Stadium.
Pete Guelli, the Bills’ president of business operations, said the team is not looking to reinvent the parking-lot scene or clamp down on the traditions that define it.
"Nothing has really changed significantly," Guelli told the Democrat and Chronicle. "We're just reminding people about the rules around tailgating.
"We want people to tailgate. It's part of the experience of attending a game."
The concern surfaced after the Bills released parking and tailgating policies for the new stadium. One line in particular drew attention: fans may bring and prepare food for consumption by "friends and family only."
That wording sparked plenty of questions, but the policy seems aimed at commercial activity rather than deciding who gets a bite of the wings next to the bus.
The team’s rules prohibit food and beverage sales in official Bills parking lots, along with private catering, commercial activity and unauthorized solicitation. Tailgating also has to wrap up at kickoff. Fans cannot use megaphones, airhorns or other noise-making devices, though personal speakers are allowed as long as they stay within volume and content restrictions.
Guelli stressed that the Bills are not trying to take the fun out of the lot scene.
"Tailgating will always be part of Bills culture," Guelli said. "We still encourage people to do it."
If anything changes, it may be that fans are tempted to leave the parking lot sooner and get inside.
Guelli said the new stadium offers far more to see and do before kickoff than the old one. Fans will have more places to explore and more food and beverage options to check out once they’re through the gates.
"Early on everyone is going to want to get to the new stadium," Guelli said. "It's completely different.
You can go into the building and enjoy yourself more than the old building. There are so many more places to explore and food and beverage options to check out when you're there."
Buffalo will get four chances in August to get its first look at the building: the Blue & Red practice on Aug. 8, another open practice on Aug. 18 and two preseason games.
And Guelli thinks the details inside and outside the stadium will keep revealing themselves long after that. He pointed to the giant bison statues, the interactive walking trail, a 20-foot broken folding table and a replica of the Peace Bridge among the Buffalo touches built into the stadium.
"This is one of the best facilities in the world. You walk in and almost can't believe what you're seeing," Guelli said. "All these discoverable aspects of the stadium, it will probably take people an entire year to see the thought and detail that went into building this facility."
He called new Highmark Stadium the "football stadium version of the Ritz-Carlton."
For the Bills, that’s the real hope: give fans enough reason to show up early and wander inside before kickoff. But the message from the team is clear - the pregame party is still welcome.
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