A recent editorial in a Western New York newspaper argued that Bills fans should sit rather than stand at games, noting that, unlike fans at other stadiums, standing throughout the game is unique to Buffalo.
I don’t know if it’s a Buffalo thing or not, but I do know that the Bills’ fan code of conduct states. “Excessive standing or behavior detracting from the enjoyment of fellow guests. Spontaneous reactions to plays within the game are expected and encouraged, but your continued standing when most other guests are sitting is not permitted.”
Based on my experience as a season-ticket holder during the Josh Allen era, the rule against excessive standing is rarely enforced, leading to ongoing frustration and inconsistent experiences for many fans.
This standing-versus-sitting debate isn’t confined to Western New York sports; similar tensions arise at concerts, too.
Just for some perspective, I am 5-feet-5, or at least I was the last time I measured my height. That makes me one inch taller than the average female and about four inches shorter than the average male. Based on the law of averages, if a woman is standing in front of me, I have around a 50% chance they will be slightly shorter than me, and if it’s a male, I have a less than 5% chance of being lucky enough to see over them.
Overall, there is a 59% chance the person in front of me is taller. For fans like me, this height disparity, intensified by frequent standing, continually obstructs our views, underscoring why this issue is more than just a minor inconvenience.
Maybe this isn’t an issue for everyone, but it has significantly affected my concert experiences and illustrates why seating policies matter. Designated standing areas at venues like Artpark offer alternatives, but in reserved seating, standing can ruin the experience.
While I am definitely not opposed to people who may feel moved to dance or pump an occasional fist in the air, there always seems to be a drunken crew of revelers who think they are at a social gathering rather than a concert.
In a hockey arena, the answer would be simple: remove the chairs, make the floor a standing area, and monitor the seated areas with an excessive-standing rule in place.
The problem is that the first three rows are usually reserved for the ultra-wealthy “VIPs” who are willing to shell out thousands of dollars per seat. I miss the days when they were relegated to luxury boxes.
When I have politely asked patrons in front of me to sit down, I am usually met with resistance and have to relocate, highlighting the lack of enforceable norms and the ongoing conflict between those who stand and those who sit.
My mother had an expression that summed up this type of frustration: “You make a better door than you do a window.” So don’t be a door.