No dome for Buffalo Bills: Weather is just part of the game (Your Letters)

To the Editor:

In the letter “New Buffalo Bills stadium ought to have a dome” (Jan. 15, 2024), the writer takes the Buffalo Bills to task for not putting a dome on their new stadium. One reason given is that it is not fair to the players.

Should the stadiums in Miami and Arizona be air conditioned? When the teams from the north visit Miami in September, it can be sweltering hot. Is that fair? Perhaps all NFL franchises should be required to have domed stadiums.

Football is a sport played by high-priced athletes and should be played in any weather, obviously with the exception of life-threatening conditions.

As a fan born and raised in Buffalo and a season ticket holder for many of my adult years, I’ve sat through many frigid games at Rich Stadium and then Ralph Wilson Stadium. When the Bills won, the weather didn’t matter. I have to admit, it was a little more painful sitting at a game in subzero wind chills when they were losing. But when they were winning, you didn’t mind that you couldn’t feel your toes at halftime.

There’s been a lot of debate, to dome or not to dome. One thing for sure: As the playoff game against the Pittsburgh Steelers proved, the fans will show up and the players will play, even without long sleeves.

Michael P. Russo

Syracuse