The highly anticipated playoff game between the Buffalo Bills and the Pittsburgh Steelers at Highmark Stadium has been rescheduled to 4:30 p.m. on Monday, a change from its original 1 p.m. Sunday slot. This decision was made in response to the expected severe winter storm that is forecasted to hit Western New York over the weekend.
The area is bracing for near-whiteout conditions, high winds, frigid wind chills, and blowing lake-effect snow. As a result, States of Emergency have been declared in Western New York and Erie County.
Governor Kathy Hochul emphasized the importance of prioritizing safety in the face of this unpredictable storm. In a statement on Friday, she stated, “It’s all part of our critical efforts to keep New Yorkers, motorists, and fans safe from this wildly unpredictable storm.”
Hochul also consulted with NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell, who expressed shared concern about the safety of all individuals involved. Erie County Executive Mark Poloncarz echoed this sentiment, emphasizing the need to ensure that law enforcement officials are available to assist those in need during the storm, rather than being tied up directing traffic at a football stadium.
“We want our Bills to win, but we don’t want 60 to 70 thousand people traveling to the football game in what is going to be horrible conditions,” Poloncarz said.
The game is rescheduled by safety reasons
This decision reflects a consensus among all parties involved that safety should take precedence over the excitement of the game. The rescheduling of the game is a proactive measure to avoid subjecting fans and personnel to hazardous travel conditions and ensure that emergency resources can be allocated where they are most needed.
This is not the first time that severe weather has impacted a game for the Bills. In previous seasons, significant snowfall in Orchard Park resulted in a home game against the Cleveland Browns being played in Detroit. A similar situation occurred in 2014 when a game against the New York Jets was also moved to Detroit due to snow.
Severe weather has also affected playoff games in the past, as evidenced by a 2017 Divisional matchup between the Chiefs and the Steelers. In that instance, an ice storm in Kansas City led to a change in the kickoff time from 1 p.m. to 8:20 p.m.
The decision to reschedule the Bills-Steelers game underscores the impact that weather can have on sporting events and serves as a reminder of the importance of prioritizing safety in such circumstances.
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