Orchard Park, NY—The Buffalo Bills announced two changes to their Fan Behavior policy that they want fans to be aware of heading into the 2011 season.
In order to become more in line with the NFL's recommendation for stadiums opening their parking lots, the Bills lots will now open four hours prior to kickoff. In previous years, the lots opened five hours prior to kickoff.
Last year the organization began closing the lots two hours after the game concluded and that element of the policy will remain intact for 2011.
Additionally, Ralph Wilson Stadium will now be a smoke-free facility. There will no longer be designated smoking areas as in past years. This change will take effect beginning with the new uniform unveiling ceremony later this month.
Bills CEO Russ Brandon said, "We have listened to the vast majority of our fans who want to enjoy the game day experience in a smoke-free facility and we wanted to notify all of our fans well in advance of our first home game of this change in our Fan Behavior Policy. It is important that everyone understands that there will be zero tolerance on this element of our policy."
The Bills Re-Entry Policy states that when a fan leaves the stadium he/she is not permitted back in. In simple terms, if a fan leaves the stadium to smoke, he/she cannot gain entrance back into the facility.
Bills officials are planning for additional signage to the fact that the stadium is now a smoke-free facility.
The Bills organization is also currently working with law enforcement agencies to change some of the game day traffic patterns to improve the egress process for fans leaving the stadium both in terms of pedestrian and vehicular traffic. Bills officials plan to make those announcements at a date closer to the opening of the 2011 season.
