Bills Mafia looking forward to new season, new stadium

BUFFALO, NY — The concept is simple: Sit in a trailer, some stadium seats, and talk about your favorite memory of Highmark Stadium or maybe one of the older stadiums as part of Bills Mafia.

“It’s hard to pinpoint one specific memory,” said Bills Mafia legend and 2022 Buffalo Bills Fan of the Year John Lang (aka “Bills Elvis”).

Lang has a life full of memories that have been broadcast on television before, but that was every time he was in the stadium.

“At the top of section 126, and there’s Bob the usher giving me high fives and the electricity and the noise of it. And it’s just, it’s so overwhelming and so amazing. I, I look forward to it every game day,” he said.

Some people know less about their history with the Bills.

“My story takes place in the 70s. I used to park my cars in Jefferson and Marston’s driveway when they played there,” said Jeanne Legall.

She has supported the team from afar in Charlotte, having seen them at Johnny B. Wiley and recently returned to Western New York.

Together, the Bills and those directly involved with the stadium collect their fondest memories.

“I was in the stadium at Jefferson when OJ broke that great record and that stadium at Jefferson and Marston and those years ago,” she noted. “That was 50 years ago. My son is going to be 50 (years old) this year and for 50 years we’ve been Buffalo Bills number one fans.”

“It was a (New England) Patriots game about two years ago. It was one of the coldest games of the season, if I remember correctly. And he told me that we didn’t have to dress in layers because the heaters get really hot,” said content creator and fellow fan Daisy Tucker. “We ended up having to buy more hoodies because we were so cold and the wind was really getting to us. And that’s one of my favorite memories with my dad.”

“So I’m just here in memory of my brother Derek,” another fan, Taylor Black, said into the booth camera. “He passed away a little over two years ago. He was the biggest Bills fan I’ve ever met, so I miss him so much. I love him so much. And I’m here for him.”

For the generations of fans who came before us, we’ll see what it’s like when the Bills see the final beam in place at the new stadium.

“Well, it’s just nice to keep his memory alive,” Black added. “I like to think he’s always with me, to some extent. One day they’re going to the Super Bowl. I’m just waiting for that.”

“That’s the highlight of our year,” Legall said. “That’s our extended family. It’s like starting over with a new generation, a new stadium.”

The goals remain the same: win the big prize and celebrate with the people closest to us, wherever that may be.

“You feel them, the Bills Mafia is just a big family of people and you really get the camaraderie of coming together on a Sunday, or any game day for that matter. It’s just incredible. It’s like no other,” Lang said.