I attended the all-day tailgate party and Buffalo Bills’ opening home game on September 16. It was an amazing media studies experience.

We parked in the field beside the main stadium parking lot with several hundred other people and I think I was the only one among them that was not wearing a Buffalo Bills jersey, cialis hat, generic shoes, no rx bandana, pants, etc.

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It was a party atmosphere with lots of food and drink. The weather was perfect. People set up tables, coolers, stoves, kegs, chairs, smokers, barbecues, games, deep-fat fryers, beer bongs and rotisserie chicken. Even the propane tanks had Buffalo Bills sleeves on them. There were at least 20 footballs being tossed back and forth.

And this went on for several hours before the game. These people seemed very familiar with the drill: for them it was an essential part of of Buffalo Bill fandom.

 

Then we went to the game. And what a construction it was! A high school marching band had traveled from the Carolinas to provide pregame and halftime entertainment.

And three paratroopers landed in the stadium.

The first carried a prisoner of war/missing in action flag.

 

 

The second jumper, a Navy seal, carried a Buffalo Bills flag. The crowd went wild.

 

 

The third jumper— a Navy paratrooper who descended and landed during the singing of the American National anthem—was carrying the American flag.

 

 

Just when I thought it was over and couldn’t cheer any more, a bomber flew over the stadium.

And it was not a jet bomber, which would have passed over in seconds, but a prop bomber, which took at least a minute.

 

It was interesting to see the relaxed mixture of patriotism, militarism, and sports.

Bills paraphernalia was for sale everywhere. The cheerleaders were hot. The team was introduced with fireworks and great fanfare.

The Bills won 35 to 17. It was a great game, a great day, and very noisy.

 

 

 

 

Afterwards we trekked back to the tailgate field.

The party was over and I was disappointed to see what had been left behind.

 

 

 

 

 

It was great to be a part of the rituals, but unsettling being a Canadian in an intensely American environment.

I felt like a cultural tourist.