I live in Webster, New York, about 15 minutes from the campus of St. John Fisher University. I graduated from the University in March 2020 with a bachelor’s degree in Media and Communication.
I’ve been a Buffalo Bills fan for 19 years now and have gone to every single camp prior to COVID-19.
I support my team by going to at least one home game a year in Buffalo, as I already have my tickets to the Dallas Cowboys vs. the Bills on December 17th.
As a sports journalist, I have to express my obvious frustrations as this is the 2nd year in a row that I am missing my favorite team’s training camp.
Buffalo Bills Training Camp QB Josh Allen (17) – Gregory Fisher/Getty Images
Lack of Information
As an avid sports fan and journalist, I watch the local sports news on TV every night and noticed the coverage on how to get the Bills Training Camp tickets were very hush/hush this year.
When it was time to actually go and order my tickets, I went to call the Bills Training Camp hotline at 1:00 PM, just like I did last year.
And when I did, the kind gentleman on the other end of the line told me that I had to go on the Buffalo Bills website to get my tickets. It was kind of funny that the local sports stations didn’t relate that information to us.
Now I wasted 10 minutes of my time waiting for him to answer and tell me that. So obviously, by the time I went and did all that and checked out all the dates and times of course they were all sold out!
Bills GM Brandon Beane and HC Sean McDermott – Jeff Zelevansky/Getty Images
Should be Catering to Rochester/Surrounding Areas
General Manager Brandon Beane and Head Coach Sean McDermott have said on many occasions how much they enjoy bringing their team to Fisher. They really like the camaraderie and the teambuilding experience the campus brings them.
And so do the many fans from the Rochester area. Many people from across the region get up early on Sunday mornings to make the 1 hour and 30-minute trip out to Orchard Park to tailgate prior to kickoff, just like their counterpart Buffalo fans do.
It would be nice for the area fans here to have one special day to see their favorite team practice and hear DJ Milk and maybe even bring their kids without having to drive all that way; just saying.
High Mark Stadium – Rory Jones/sportspromedia.com
Recommendations
Since I have missed training camp at Fisher two years in a row now, I feel that they should be targeting the Rochester fans and the surrounding areas.
One way to do that would be to have at least half of the training camp days open to non-season ticket holders, as people are already selling them online.
As the team already holds their Red, White, and Blue Scrimmage at Highmark Stadium in Orchard Park, that should accommodate most of the season ticket holders and all of the fans in Buffalo and nearby regions.
Conclusion
I wonder if there are other Rochester area Buffalo Bills fans out there that are as frustrated and disappointed as I am? And if the Bills Organization really even cares about their Rochester fan base?
This is the 2nd year in a row that many Rochester fans won’t be seeing their favorite team AGAIN!
I wonder if there will be a big debate amongst the fans and the organization in the next few years about reconsidering holding training camp in Rochester at St. John Fisher University.
