In the 1990’s there was one thing for sure: the Buffalo Bills would do well in the playoffs. In fact, they went to the Superbowl four years in a row, though winning it was another thing.
After subsequent years of grid iron disappointments, one group of Bills fans took it on their own to enjoy the big game as fans of the winning team while partying in the winning City.
Craig Avery, a resident of Niagara Falls, NY, Buffalo’s world famous “suburb,” explains: “We were throwing out an old TV and my son commented that the set had never played a Bills’ playoff game. (Last one was a loss to Tennessee in 1999). He asked what it was like when the Bills’ post season created a frenzy in the City of good neighbors. I described the playoff tailgating and the ‘Go Bills’ attitude everyone from the postman to the toll collectors had for the entire season.” After Buffalo’s fourth Superbowl loss, Avery and a group of fathers, sons, college buddies, and neighbors would travel somewhere to watch the game. “We did a few three day cruises, Vegas, even landed at Disney one year. Each city and venue was a new experience.” Avery’s son Scott and other sons coming of age to enjoy the festivities soon became part of the travel team. “We were on Sanibel Island, FL in 2010 and we saw TV coverage of the Colts fans back home going nuts,” Avery said, “That’s when Scott came up with his idea. He looked up and said, ‘Hey! Next year, let’s go to one of the cities that is in the Superbowl. We’ll be their fans, and party like rock stars!”
The rest is history, and mystery. The group is four for four in selecting and traveling to the winning Superbowl team’s city. Donning cheese heads, they went to Green Bay in 2011 to hug chilled Packers’ fans as Green Bay beat Pittsburgh. They went on to New York to watch the Giants beat the Patriots in 2012, flew to Baltimore to hobnob with the Ravens as they took the trophy from San Fran in 2013, and were in the only place on earth to enjoy last year’s trouncing of Denver; they were in Seattle, where every play was like winning the lottery. “Even if you went to the actual game, you couldn’t have had the fun we had in Seattle,” Avery boasts. “Our friend Jack Armstrong is the color commentator for the Toronto Raptors. He was in Portland on Saturday night and flew to Seattle to join us for the game, cigars in hand. It’s last minute plans like that that make it even better.”
How do they pick the winner? The chatter amongst the group increases as the playoffs proceed. They consider travel time, weather, activities, and football preferences. “We could never go to Boston, that’s just not an option. We have to be in a place where we could clap and scream spontaneously when their team scored. It would be just too difficult for us to high-five a Brady TD. Sorry. Green Bay was so cold, we had a driver waiting for us at one sports bar to drive us to the next one that was about 500 feet down the road. Brett Farve’s Steakhouse was a hit, and the tour of Lambeau field was amazing. After the win, they closed off the streets of downtown for a hug fest. The people in Green Bay are big, but with five layers of winter clothing it was like bouncing around in those padded sumo wrestling outfits with a bunch of drunk, cold people. They were the best.
In New York, we were hosted by Double Cross Vodka and celebrated in their corporate headquarters in Union Square. After the Giants won, the city came alive in Times Square. Lights, action, honking, and more hugging with life size Elmo’s, street vendors, and foreigners who had no idea what was happening.
Baltimore was truly behind its team. The place was decked out in purple and all the businesses had some kind of special deal going on to share the joy. After the game, the streets rocked for hours with extra lighting provided by police helicopters and cell phones.”
This year? Well, its between New England, Green Bay, Seattle, or Indy and they have to consider all options for a quick decision next week. New England made their task easier, according to Avery because, “Now we really only have three choices. We’ll check hotel deals, flight schedules, and area attractions and attributes. Then when the conference championships are over we just book it.”
Other factors influencing a decision could include putting their record up for sale. A company or entity in one of the Superbowl teams’ hometown could decide to sponsor travel, lodging, or beer for the Buffalo boys. A firm could use this philanthropic move to show their community they are reaching out for reliable solutions to assure their team takes the Lombardi trophy home. “That’s all part of the fate, the destiny of winning,” Avery says. “What happens, happens. Who knows, maybe somebody reading this article will send their Lear jet for us to determine the fate of this year’s Superbowl. You won’t find a better group of guys to lead the cheers, drink the beers, and turn the gears. And then we’ll be five for five.”
Do you have any ideas for these super fans? Send them a message through Niagara’s information source, at theniagarahub@gmail.com
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Not p*ssies, they just don’t want to cheer for cheating douchebags.
F*** the pats. Go packers! And nobody has ever done 4 consecutive besides the bills! Go Bills!
Cant go to boston huh ? P**sies GO PATS