Cheers and jeers started to flow as soon as Erie County Executive Mark Poloncarz announced that proof of vaccination would be required for all future Buffalo Bills and Buffalo Sabres games. Some said the decision should have been made even sooner, and others likened the new policy to fascism.
Representatives for both the Bills and the county did not say whether anyone attempted to enforce mask-wearing rules for the roughly 70,000 fans at Sunday's game against the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Erie County Executive Mark C. Poloncarz announces the new health and safety protocols for Highmark Stadium and KeyBank Center during a news conference at Highmark Stadium in Orchard Park Tuesday, Sept. 14, 2021.
As the NFL's opening weekend approaches, in Orchard Park and across most of the league, tens of thousands of fans in soaring stadiums will cheer on the home team without knowing the vaccination status of many of the people sitting around them.
Erie County Executive Mark C. Poloncarz listens to Pegula Sports & Entertainment Executive Vice President Ron Raccuia express support for the new health and safety protocols for Highmark Stadium and Key Bank Arena during a press conference at Highmark Stadium in Orchard Park Tuesday, September 14, 2021.Â
Erie County Executive Mark C. Poloncarz announces the new health and safety protocols for Highmark Stadium and KeyBank Center during a news conference at Highmark Stadium in Orchard Park Tuesday, Sept. 14, 2021.
Erie County Executive Mark C. Poloncarz listens to Pegula Sports & Entertainment Executive Vice President Ron Raccuia express support for the new health and safety protocols for Highmark Stadium and Key Bank Arena during a press conference at Highmark Stadium in Orchard Park Tuesday, September 14, 2021.Â