Goodbye to Rich Stadium

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As a young man, I spent a lot of time at Rich Stadium. 

The last game of the season might be the final event there, and it got me thinking about the times I had there.

1). 1973 - We begged Dad to take us. It was the opening season, and OJ was on the team. We loved OJ.

My Dad hated football. He never enjoyed it, even when they were going to the super bowls in the 90’s, but he loved what we loved. So, he took my brother John and me. It snowed all game long. The final score was 6 to 3 or something like that. On the way home, Dad said two words about 100 times:

“Never Again.”

It was also the time he said, a couple days later, “I had more fun at my grandfather’s funeral.”

2). September 1981.

If I concentrate hard enough I can see Mick Jagger sing the opening line to “Under My Thumb”. I remember a lot from that concert. “Tumbling Dice” was an encore. 

One of my favorite memories.

3). Super Bowl Years.

I have no idea how many games I attended during the Jim Kelly era, but it has to be about 20.

I will never forget what it felt like to realize they were going to the Super Bowl as they thumped the Raiders 51-3 - and when it started snowing - the crowd went wild.

The building was shaking.

4). Rehab Work

I spent every day at the stadium in 1997 as we were the main safety guys on the job.

That’s what turned me off on everything doing with the Bills and the NFL.

It’s a long story, but I couldn’t wait for that job to end.

They did allow us to all try to kick a 35-yard field goal - more than 100 guys tried - one guy made it.

Wasn’t me.

My attempt went about six yards.

I told the construction crew that I would never set foot in that place again.

I went 4 times in the last 30 years:

Saw U2

Went to two Bills games - the last being in 2002.

And saw the Stones there again in 2014.

They were amazing again.

But, there were a lot of great moments there, and the stadium served Buffalo well.

The new place looks great.

I visit it for construction - kinda sick of it already -

- but I’ll be there -

- if the Stones come back.

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