Road Game Travel Tips: Upgrade the fun in Upstate New York
Jun 22, 2020, 11:18 AM | Updated: Jul 9, 2020, 3:40 pm
Seattle at Buffalo, Sunday November 8, 10 a.m. Pacific
SPONSORED – Nine years after Russell Wilson’s pro-football career, the Chief Football Officer at Alaska Airlines is scheduled to touch down in Buffalo, the only city in this league he has yet to play in.
Now, Seattle’s quarterback has faced Buffalo before. Twice in fact. But the first time was in Toronto back in December 2012, Russell’s rookie season. Buffalo plays one game a year in Canada, and that season, Seattle was the one playing up in Canada. The two teams played in Seattle in 2016, and now in his ninth year, Buffalo is the only NFL city Russell has yet to play in.
And guess what? You’re invited to make the trip to Western New York where you’ll have a chance to see Niagra Falls, taste the chicken wings that are a regional specialty with a national reputation and catch a football game while you’re at it.
Seattle doesn’t get to Buffalo all that often, playing here only three times previously over the first 43 yeas of our franchise’s history. Las Vegas is the only place Seattle has played less often, and that’s not a fair comparison because that city is getting NFL football for the first time in 2020. So get your ticket now, and join Russell as he round’s out his league itinerary.
Stadium: New Era Field opened in 1973 as Rich Stadium, which makes it one of the league’s grand daddies. It’s not as old Soldier Field in Chicago, which opened in 1924 though it underwent a thorough remodel in 2002. And Lambeau Field is the stadium that has hosted an NFL for the most consecutive seasons. But New Era Field is right up there with Pittsburgh’s Three Rivers Stadium and Kansas City’s Arrowhead Stadium as being among the elder statesmen of league facilities.
Last time here: Seattle hasn’t played in Buffalo since Week 1 of 2008 when it lost 34-10 in the season-opener, which was the only time Marshawn Lynch played against Seattle before joining the team two years later. This is only the fourth time Seattle has played in Buffalo, going 1-2 in its previous three trips.
Dining: Where do you find the best Buffalo wings in Buffalo? It’s a trick question. Because you know what they call Buffalo wings in Buffalo? They call them chicken wings, and this specific regional delicacy that has become a national staple was invented at Anchor Bar (1047 Main St., Buffalo, NY). A true Buffalo wing is not breaded, but seasoned with a spice-blend that includes cayenne, and after being cooked, coated in a hot sauce. While those wings started at Anchor Bar, Duff’s (3090 Orchard Park Rd, Buffalo, NY 14224) is the longest family-owned wing shop in town and Gabriel’s Gate (145 Allen St, Buffalo, NY 14201) is another well-regarded spot.
