Saying Goodbye to an Old Friend
By Mark Nagi
Two weekends ago was the last time I’ll ever set foot in Highmark Stadium, the artist formerly known as Rich Stadium, home of the Buffalo Bills in Orchard Park, NY.
That stadium opened back in 1973 and has seen its share of Hall of Fame players like Jim Kelly, Bruce Smith, Andre Reed and Thurman Thomas. (We will just ignore the whole O.J. Simpson part.)
Yes, the Bills have yet to win a Super Bowl during their time in the National Football League, but they did win the 1964 and 1965 American Football League titles. It’s strange to me why people forget much of professional football’s history before the NFL/AFL merger, but that’s another story for another day.
The Bills are the fabric of that community. Drive across western NY and you will see Bills gear on backyard fences, store windows, car fenders… those fans support the team win or lose. It reminds me so much of East Tennessee and its support of the Vols.
Back in the 2000s, team ownership was so chaotic that the franchise nearly relocated multiple times, to the point where they had to endure the indignity of losing a few home games to nearby Toronto.
But local ownership was eventually secured, and today that franchise is among the most solid in the league. Drafting QB Josh Allen from Wyoming helped turn the fortunes of that team around. They continue to knock on the Super Bowl door and just might break through one of these days.
Next season, the Bills will move across the street to the new Highmark Stadium, which will feature all the bells and whistles, as befits its $1.4 billion price tag. That’s now the cost of doing business in big-time athletics. In March 2027, the old barn will begin to be torn down, paving paradise and putting up a parking lot.
So that brings me back to my experience in that place. I’m originally from upstate NY. I grew up a few hours from the Buffalo area, on the other side of the state in Albany. When I got to college at SUNY Geneseo, I was about 90 minutes from Orchard Park. I went to the AFC title game in January 1994, and over the years, I have been there many times. In fact, it has become an annual trip for my girlfriend and me.
We are all so busy now. Family and work consume a significant portion of our time. So, I value every minute that I get to spend with old college friends, and trips to Bills games afford me that opportunity. Typically, those trips coincide with quick stops at my alma mater and visits to Niagara Falls (The Canadian side is so much better, don’t hate me). But the best part is catching up with old friends at the tailgate, located a short walk from Highmark Stadium.
This time around, it was windy and cold, which is not a surprise at all at this time of year. We even got some snow flurries. The Bills beat Tampa Bay 44-32 in one of the best games of the year.
When it was time to leave, I took one final look around the place. It was probably time for the team to move, but it still hurts a bit. I remember when the NY Yankees moved across the street after the 2008 season. I loved the old place and had been going there since I was 8 years old.
But this stadium closing hits a bit more… and I’m not even a Bills fan. In 2008, I was 35. Today… I’m 52. As you get older, you realize increasingly that you need to make as many memories as possible, but you won’t be around forever.
Next fall or winter, I’ll be back in Western NY to watch a Bills game. I’m sure the new place will be a delight.
But it’ll be… different.
Will miss you, Highmark Stadium. (She’ll always be Rich Stadium to me.)
