Bills fans are expected to be out in full force on Sunday after the team's 2-0 start to the seasonGETTY IMAGES
The Bills are implementing some "changes in stadium policy" at New Era Field ahead of Sunday's home opener against the Bengals, as team and local officials are "concerned about fan behavior" before and during games, according to Jane Kwiatkowski Radlich of the BUFFALO NEWS. The Bills are 2-0 and anticipation is "high for the season." Erie County Sheriff Timothy Howard said that fans can expect a "heavy police presence with 300 law enforcement personnel and another 300 private security personnel assigned" to the New Era Field grounds. Orchard Park also will "increase its game day patrols on roads surrounding the stadium." The biggest concern for team officials was to "address unruly behavior in the bus parking lot, where fans were known to dive from school bus roofs onto tables that had been set on fire." The designated parking lot is "called Tailgate Village with service provided by Tailgate Guys." Bills VP/Operations & Guest Experience Andy Major said, “Not that long ago, we averaged 30 (in-stadium) arrests per game and 140 ejections a game. Last year we averaged three arrests and 46 ejections a game" (BUFFALO NEWS, 9/18).
