12/27/10 09:28 - ID#53341

Fair-weather vs Masochism

I just couldn't help but notice the stark contrast from two NFL games yesterday. I ended up going to the Tampa Bay/Seattle game which was played in 45 degrees featuring a team that if they won would guarantee themselves a winning record and still keep them in the playoff hunt. As opposed to a game played in below freezing weather with a team that is playing for a higher draft pick.

To be honest from my perspective anyone that went to that Buffalo Bills game and sat there futilely after the first drive which resulted in the Bills only points is just a masochist. Yes the tickets for the game are cheap compared to the rest of the league. The face value on the scalped Club seats that I sat in at Raymond James Stadium yesterday were $200 but for me it would take more than a collective excuse to get hammered drinking to keep me out freezing my ass off watching pathetic football in Orchard Park. Yet it the place had a healthy crowd! Is it that Western New York just goes out there like a victim of systematic abuse just to keep the perception that it is a healthy metropolitan area and an excuse to get bombed every Sunday in the Fall/Winter? I just don't get it.

I understand that Tampa fans are not big on Raheem Morris or the Glazer family. Their financial problems are not popular as well as they appear to be stuck quite a bit of money from Manchester United

It's just to me that it is more than the cold weather that keeps Tampa Fans away. The economy also doesn't seem to be an excuse either as the mall where we parked to go to the game was to capacity. But to me it was just freaky to see a stadium half empty looking like a paper bag scene from the 1980's not a winning team.

Needless to say I had fun for $85 in the club level sitting around a couple of fun lesbian couples and a couple of guys from Chicago who did the game thing we did but paid only $75 for the row behind us. The funny part for me was to notice the "mile" long line that I witnessed for hot chocolate, those people must have waited a quarter to get to order. In my mind I would rationalize, "it's 45 degrees, it's above freezing, this isn't bad at all." Since I was wearing layers it was nice given that I also had a knit cap for when I come back to the BUF. Just watching the Floridians freeze and shiver was kind of hilarious. Some woman told me, "Just keep on telling yourself that you're warm maybe eventually you'll believe it!" Well Lady, I was warm as I spent the entire halftime show outdoors and not hiding in the club. What was scary was it seemed that the crowd didn't return for the second half as when I ventured back in to grab a drink the place was crowded. Also the stadium looked like the dying days of the St. Louis Cardinals in 1987 as it looked like it was at 25% capacity during the 4th quarter.

It is always a refreshing change of pace to be able to go another NFL stadium and enjoy a game in different surroundings. So I hope long term the Buccaneers stick around and don't get moved or anything else along those lines.