Perhaps Buffalo Bills head coach Sean McDermott had some insight into the announcement we got from the team on Tuesday when he got a little candid a day prior.
On Monday, McDermott was none-too-happy when the Miami Dolphins announced it would sell 13,000 tickets to their home opener in Week 2 against the Bills. McDermott said it was “ridiculous” that some teams will have fans while others will not. About 24 hours later, the Bills have responded with an update in regard to their own fan situation at home games: There won’t be any for at least the first two games of the season.
The Bills, referencing work being conducted with New York State, released this statement on Tuesday:
“We hope you and your family and friends are staying safe and healthy.
In June New York State issued COVID-19 guidance to allow professional sports to be played without spectators. After much discussion and collaboration with the State and Erie County, those guidelines will remain unchanged for at least our first two home games in 2020.
We fully support New York State’s efforts to keep New Yorkers safe and will continue working together, along with the NFL, to establish policies and procedures that hopefully permit fans later this season.
We appreciate your patience and continued support of the Bills. We are working hard to be ready when we can welcome you back to Bills Stadium.
Go Bills!”
Buffalo’s first two games at Bills Stadium in Orchard Park sandwich that Dolphins game. On Sept. 13, the Bills open the regular season, hosting the Jets. After heading to South Beach for the Miami meeting, the Bills host the Rams in Week 3 on Sept. 27, so essentially the guidelines issued in June will remain until the end of September.
From there, the Bills won’t play at home again until Week 6, which is the team’s first primetime game of the season on Thursday Night Football against the Chiefs, on Oct. 15.
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