You are currently viewing Bills, Ravens fans traveling to Western N.Y. for playoff game giving economy a big boost – Spectrum News

Bills, Ravens fans traveling to Western N.Y. for playoff game giving economy a big boost – Spectrum News

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CHEEKTOWAGA, N.Y. — The stands will be packed this Sunday for the Buffalo Bills’ playoff game against the Baltimore Ravens, and it’s bringing a lot of money into the region.
Residents, businesses and airlines are showing up and showing out when it comes to supporting the Bills.
“Bills home games have always been money-making weekends,” said Karen Fashana, the vice president of marketing at Visit Buffalo Niagara.
When the Bills win, Buffalo wins. 
“On average, we kind of looked back for the last three years, and playoff weekends have actually generated an increase of 45% in hotel occupancy,” Fashana said.
This weekend, the blue and red of Bills Mafia will be mingling with some purple.
“I am a diehard Baltimore Ravens fan,” said Latawnya Parker-Watts, who flew in from Baltimore.
Highmark Stadium might not exactly be the most embracing place for some of those travelers. 
“Game time, all bets are off," laughed Parker-Watts.
Generally speaking, the region of good neighbors is all smiles.
“From a fan’s perspective, I don’t want to see any Ravens jerseys in the crowd on Sunday," said Fashana. "But from a tourism perspective, we’re ready to welcome them to Buffalo.”
Visit Buffalo Niagara is happy to see this bump during the winter slump. 
They even have tips for out-of-town fans.
“It walks you through kind of meeting all of the Bills super fans like Pinto Ron and the Bills chefs, and where you kind of can find them when you’re tailgating,” she said, scrolling through their website. 
Coming to this game wasn’t exactly a cheap ticket.
“I don’t know if I want to say this because my husband might see how much I actually paid for this, but this trip is actually costing about $2,000,” said Parker-Watts. 
According to Chase Travel numbers, last weekend’s Broncos-Bills game saw a 10% increase in travel when compared to the month prior.
Most was from people traveling from Denver.
While we don’t know how this weekend will go yet, there’s definitely a lot of buzz.
“I truly feel that whoever wins this game is going to win the Super Bowl,” said Parker Watts. 
But no worries Bills Mafia, the cavalry is also coming in.
“We usually hang out like around Eagles fans, so we get the worst of the worst," said Harold Laudien, a Bills fan traveling from New Jersey. "I’m happy to be up here with the Mafia.”
It’s all good for business.
“We’re going to go to the eternal flame,” added Laudien. "We’ll go see the Falls."
“I get a opportunity to see Buffalo and experience those famous Buffalo wings,” added Parker-Watts.
Because money doesn’t care what team you root for.
“Go Bills,” chanted one passerby to Parker-Watts. 
“Go Ravens,” Parker-Watts chanted back.

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