From Buffalo Business First:
Ralph Wilson Stadium is one of four NFL stadiums that Sportservice, an affiliate of Buffalo’s Delaware North Cos. Inc., handles. The others are in Cleveland, St. Louis and Chicago.
The “Ralph” is unique because it is the only one of the four that is located in a suburban setting. That opens the door for Sportservice to offer more tailgating-related concession and retail opportunities. It does, for instance, handle corporate catering of pre- and post-game tailgate parties.
“The openness of the stadium does create some unique tailgating situations that you normally don’t see in other cities,” Backus said.
Is it just me, or is the tailgating at the Ralph overrated? I go along with all the sentiments about how great is because, it’s a local pride thing and it sounds cool to say. I’ve had plenty of lame/tame/peaceful tailgates at the Ralph. I’ve also seen plenty of interesting things but many times I’ve seen nothing at all.
I’ve never been to other NFL stadia for tailgating so I can’t compare. It’s hard to believe that the cities mentioned in the article (Cleveland, St. Louis and Chicago) could possibly have less entertaining festivities — those aren’t dud fanbases. I can only say that my Dad and I were in the middle of a fantastic tailgating scene outside of Heinz Field for a Pitt Panthers game we went to last year. A scene that was as warm, friendly and drunk as anything I’ve witnessed at the Ralph.
Before you pronounce me anti-Buffalo and berate me like some hack ESPN.com writer; Consider me spoiled for coming of age in The Ralph parking lots. This is all I know and maybe it’s become old hat.
That’s why I’d would like you to tell me what makes The Ralph party so special. Is it the RV’s who pull in on Thursday’s? Is there something to be said for being in the presence of a stadium that held so many memorable and historic games? Or maybe it’s coming together as a utopian community for a precious few hours before returning to road rage and hating one another the rest of the week?
Whatever it may be, Bill tailgaters, I’d love to hear your perspective.
Tags: Buffalo Bills, Tailgating, The Ralph
September 5, 2008 at 4:27 pm |
For the record, Talkin_Proud and I had a chat about this on Wednesday night where I told him that he was a spoiled brat and nothing beats tailgating at the Ralph.
Be nice to him everyone, he is a nice guy, I swear.
September 6, 2008 at 10:00 am |
Some teams don’t tailgate at all…
September 7, 2008 at 11:54 am |
Didn’t we once tailgate in Cincy where it was mostly Bills fans (including a bus with a life size poster with Bruce in it’s door)? I guess everywhere tailgates pretty strongly…when Bills fans take it on the road.
September 8, 2008 at 12:07 pm |
[...] First Time Caller, Long Time Listener asks, Is He Really Hating On The Tailgating? [...]
September 8, 2008 at 10:34 pm |
St. Louis TOTALLY sux ass for tailgating. Just sayin’
It’s been my experience that stadia in downtowns isn’t as good as those in suburban – out of the way locations. Reason is simple, a downtown has plenty of other options – restaurants, taverns, pubs, etc. etc and that takes some of the steam out of the tailgating.
Also some places have restrictions on what can go on in the parking lots(open flames/open container laws) which impedes the tailgate scenes. The Ralph has none of this.
Just me .02:)