Play off Games
 

So they cancelled the Steels and Buffalo playoff game until Monday because of
the weather, which makes since.

They have a open stadium which put players and fans in
dangerous conditions, even on Monday's forecast.

So I'm asking....if some teams are fortunate enough to have closed stadiums and the
other half have open stadiums, shouldn't they ALL have enclosed stadiums or
all have open stadiums?

BTW, I'm from Wisconsin, and if that game was scheduled up there with the same
weather conditions, they would play that game on Sunday regardless.

If both teams are playing under the same conditions, it's all good.

If you read the NFL statement, they were more worried about the fans traveling to and from the stadium than the playability of the field.

Understand what they are doing but so much fun watching a game during a blizzard

It is more about the safety of the fans traveling to the stadium than the players. On a normal day it is a traffic nightmare getting to and from the game. Blizzard of 77 Buffalo NY my father spent 3 days in the Top's supermarket warehouse when the roads were impassable and stranded on his way home from work. That was less than 5 miles from the Bill's stadium. Expectant Mom's were being transmitted to hospitals by snowmobiles (another first hand experience). The city has not forgot that lesson.

They must be anticipating a very short three days this time - the game was rescheduled to Monday.

Most of Western New York is under a full travel ban starting at 9pm Saturday night. Even if the stadium was domed, people aren't allowed to go on public roads until they are deemed safe which won't be until at least Sunday afternoon. It was going to be impossible to host the game at 1pm Sunday as originally scheduled.

Highly doubtful that they would still have the game in Wisconsin if none of the public roads were drivable. Sounds like total nonsense to me. Has Green Bay had 3 feet of snow the day before a game and then still hosted the game? You sound like you're unfamiliar with lake effect snow especially from Lake Erie and how it can cripple a metro area. This has happened in Buffalo multiple times.

One day at a time

Born and raised in the south towns of Buffalo. Can't tell those, who haven't experienced 2-3 feet of snow overnight, how it paralyzes a city. If it is wet snow, it's even worse. I believe I've shoveled more snow than some of the responders on this forum may have seen. It's beautiful to see but an absolute b***h to dig out of.

It’s just a game. Blizzard conditions, along with potential power outages, blocked roads — not worth it. This game is accessible to both Bills & Steeler fans. I have a home in Rochester - believe me, you don’t want to be in a 2’ of snow on I90!

Buffalo must fear the Steelers. The Steelers have an open stadium and we have no problem with cold, snow, ice or rain. Bundle up Bunnies.

Teams that have open stadiums are not unfortunate, it is their preference. They think that it gives them an advantage over visiting teams.

Baltimore, December 2009, held a 1:00 game after a record 18" snowfall Saturday night. Many roads were impassible but the stadium parking lots and the city streets around the stadium were cleared to wet, black pavement. It can be done.

Absolutely would have been a different story if the storm had still been dumping snow Sunday morning.

The reason the game was postponed had nothing to do with the teams playing in that weather, but for the safety of the fans traveling in that weather. With expected 1-2 feet of blowing, drifting snow it would make driving hazardous. Traffic and accidents would be a nightmare. Buffalo fans are tough, but why risk getting stuck in the snow or possibly being injured in an accident. It was the right call.

Has Pittsburg ever played in drifting, blowing snow at home? With 1-2 feet of snow on the ground, you'd be lucky to even get to the stadium with your lousy road system. It would be total gridlock. People wouldn't know how to handle it. GO BILLS

I've heard natural grass is much easier on the players. Stadium roofs are extremely expensive - especially those that need to support three feet of snow. Stadiums are used for more than football games, which affects the decision to enclose as well.

Really? Endangering the lives of all the fans traveling to the game and "living" through the experience. "Smart"! They should have cancelled the Miami-Kansas City game as well.

the players would still go without sleeves.....

Playoff Games
 

Agree with Mr Chip 72. We are from western NY. The guy from Wisconsin doesn’t understand that the Governer has issued a travel ban for Western NY. There will be NO ONE out on the roads except snow plows and emergency vehicles. Maybe they don’t issue travel bans in Wisconsin as the weather doesn’t get like it does in Western NY.

Regarding the uncovered stadium, I never did understand why they have not covered it. Maybe some die-hard Bills fans will know the answer.

PittsburgH has. And in rain and mud.
Craziest Weather-Related Steeler Games in Pittsburgh History | Pittsburgh Beautiful

People in Wisconsin are very familiar with lake
effect snow, and I agree that the game would have been played in Green Bay. Snow and cold seems to excite the Packer fans who would have found their way there. They are a unique bunch.

Dome Stadiums
 

The NFL had gotten greedy by extending the season so that teams are playing football outside on fields with no domes in weather that football was not meant to be played. Winter weather conditions are not good for the players or the fans. Before they extended the season they should have required all stadiums to have a dome. Domes allow for the play of the game in much favorable conditions which is fair to all. Playing a football game that was designed to be played during the fall months, in a blizzard, - degree temps or highly heated temps is insanity for all!

Winter games in the snow are the best!

When did they extend the season? The Super Bowl has been played in late January or February since 1979.

True That
Finally someone who understands football in Wisconsin.

Dallas might be America's team, but The Green Bay Packers is GOD'S team.

Governor of NY issued a travel ban for Erie County, NY….which is where the Buffalo Bills stadium is located.

Being from Chicago I am no Packer fan (you understand), but I must admit that for a town of 100,000 the team support is amazing. It is to Wisconsin what the Patriots are to New England.

Just another example of the woosification of America. Nasty weather in outdoor stadiums is what separates the men from the boys and has been part of football forever. Buffalo Bills fans are a crazy as it gets and would show up in droves for the game if it was played today. Northern teams, with open stadiums, construct their rosters for this possibility when playoff time comes around in January. Games have been played in the past in similar to worse conditions with no thought of cancellation. The Governor of New York is a total wimp that forced the NFL’s hand. It’s very sad how soft this country has become.

My feelings exactly.

Don’t speak of you do not know!
 

BTW, I'm from Wisconsin, and if that game was scheduled up there with the same
weather conditions, they would play that game on Sunday regardless.[/QUOTE]

Packers finally win a playoff game!

Lake Effect is no joke. If you haven't experienced it, you CAN NOT begin to imagine what the conditions are like.

I agree but Buffalo should have a dome. But fans couldn’t have gotten there anyway.

I challenge the statement people in Wisconsin are VERY FAMILIAR with lake effect snow. Wisconsin is on the westward side of lake Michigan. 99.9% of lake effect snow storms are on the east side of a great lake (Buffalo/lake Erie - Tug Hill /lake Ontario). Besides that fact unless Cheese-heads have x ray vision how do they drive in 3-6 inches per hour snowfall and 60 +mph winds = ZERO visibility.

Bills are building a NEW stadium. NOT a enclosed!

I don't think so...
 

I thought Pittsburgh changed the name of their team to the Pittsburgh Kneelers a few years ago...

I'm familiar with Monday Morning Quarterbacks, but this is my first experience with Monday Morning Weathermen.

Did you see the stadium? How often has this happened in NFL history?

Please sit down and let the professionals do their job.

Orchard Park and the 219 are a different animal. The stadium isn’t actually in Buffalo. It’s more rural with a rural fan base of season ticket holders. Hey, we have traveled from Superior to Green Bay more than once in the snow, but why have fans pay for the game and miss it? If you want real cold, spend a winter in Yellow Knife.

I sat through many snowy freezing cold games in the great outdoors before the Colts left Baltimore. The old Army blanket was our best friend... while parents had hot adult beverages. But we grew up hunting from booby blinds in rivers feeding the Chesapeake, breaking ice so we could stand in the water of wooded ponds duck hunting or freezing in a deer stand 10-15 ft in the air trying not to move at all so as to not be seen during freezing rain, sleet, bitter cold, and snow. Then hop in the ole Jeep, fire up the heater and feel like our hands were burning from it before the Jeep was even warm. Such was life on the Eastern Shore.

But Buffalo is different. Too many have died from these things in the past and no game is worth a single death.

NFL playoff
 

Of the ten NFL stadiums with domes, seven are in warmer climates. Not logical. Places like New England, Green Bay, Buffalo, and New York with snowy, freezing weather should be domed for fan safety.

My Son was born in 1977 Blizzard.

My triplet son's were conceived in a blizzard. :icon_wink:

Buffalo 31 Pittsburgh 6

Fan preference is part of the reason those stadiums are not domed.