I’m sitting here watching the Buffalo Bills against the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday Night Football and wondering why in the world did the Bills decide to not put a roof on their new stadium that is currently under construction?

It had been snowing in the Buffalo area for three days but stopped before game time. From Friday through Sunday, between three and four feet of lake effect snow fell on Western New York.

The Bills play in Orchard Park, about 15 miles south of the center of Buffalo, and that area, known as the “south towns” got pummeled with snow. I grew up in Jamestown, N.Y., about 65 miles further south of Orchard Park. Jamestown also received about three feet of snow over the weekend.

Lake effect snow is different than the type of snowstorms we’re used to here in Oklahoma. According to The Weather Channel:

• Lake-effect snow commonly falls around the Great Lakes from late-fall into winter.
• It can deliver extreme snow totals in hours or over multiple days when atmospheric conditions are optimal.
• Lake-effect snow can also develop on some other lakes in the U.S.

The key to these snowstorms is the massive amount of snow that falls in one concentrated area, how quickly it accumulates, and the duration of these storms could last for several days. That’s what makes them so dangerous.

During the infamous Blizzard of ’77, people in the Buffalo area were forced off the roadways and had to take shelter, as the snow began in the afternoon and by the time people were getting out of work, the roads were covered and impassable. My cousin Gene attempted to leave his office in Buffalo early and head home to the suburb of Cheektowaga, but the roads were so bad he pulled into a parking lot and spent the night with many others in a department store.

Stories like this are not uncommon.

So, this takes me back to the Bills-49ers game, being played in the snow and with snow falling throughout the game. In order to get Highmark Stadium open and to make the concourse and aisles accessible, the Bills paid “volunteers” $20 per hour to shovel the snow in the seating bowl. This is the second season in a row this had to be done to make the stadium accessible for fans to attend a game.

Thus, back to my original statement, why in the world did the Bills decide to not put a roof on their new stadium?

I realize they like to play outdoors and with the natural weather, and that’s fine and dandy in September, October or November. But, there’s just no sense to playing in weather like they did Sunday night.

There were down linemen slipping and falling on their faces just trying to get out of their crouch. The wet snow was sticking in the players’ cleats causing all kinds of problems with their footing. And the fans, although they think they’re tough enough to enjoy the game in these elements, must suffer extremely cold temperatures and wet clothing.

The Bills are in the middle of building a new Highmark Stadium next door to their current home. It is reported the new stadium will cost $1.7 billion. Which begs the question, couldn’t they spend just a little bit more and put a retractable roof on the new stadium?

This is a subject that has been debated by Bills fans on both sides of the issue. Some purists think football should be played outdoors, regardless of the weather. Others look at it more pragmatically, with fan comfort and fairness of play as the main argument for a roof.

I’ve sat through a few games in Orchard Park when the weather was not ideal. The first game I went to was in November 1977, and it was 32-degrees with snow flurries throughout the game. My dad swore he would never go to a Bills game again, after that. He kept his word.

Another game I attended as a member of the Jamestown High School marching band. We got to march on the field during pregame and halftime. It was very cold with light flurries that day, but we were seated in a new building that was under construction behind the end zone. Although we were indoors, there was no heat in the building, and we were bundled up in parkas and gloves.

My senior year in high school, the band was invited to march at a Thursday night game against the N.Y. Jets. That night it snowed. We marched in the snow at halftime and froze in our seats.

I am a diehard Bills fan, but when it comes to sitting outside to watch a game, I’m a fair-weather fan.

TULSA BEACON RADIO

Tune in to “Tulsa Beacon Weekend” radio show every week, featuring interviews with local and national level guests, talking about everything from politics to family issues. My guest this week will be legendary big band gospel singer Dave Boyer. He’ll discuss his career from his days at the 500 Club in Atlantic City, performing at the White House, to ministering in churches across the country. The show airs on Saturday at 12:00 p.m. CST on 970am KCFO.