Buffalo Bills Stadium Construction 1972

Brief film showing construction phase of Rich Stadium in 1972. Narrated by Jefferson Kaye.

[@FranBushardt]

What the Video Post Did not tell you is the This Stadium had the Very First Video Board able to show replays and Ads and even tho it was Black & White, it was truly State of the Art!

[@douglasroethlin3839]

Giants Stadium ... opened few years later in 1976 had black & white replay boards in each end zone too.

[@warrenscorner]

I had season tickets right near the tunnel. $70 for 10 games. It was awesome to see OJ run for 2000 yards that year.

[@peterviolas2251]

and I quote, "all luxury suites equipped with carpet and colored tv" I'm in!!

[@bworth69]

Don't forget about the paneling!

[@frankdenardo8684]

@@bworth69 also food warmers, refrigerators, private restroom.

[@brandonh9557]

@@frankdenardo8684 having a private bathroom probably means you don't have to piss in a trough

[@frankdenardo8684]

@@brandonh9557 If you have a luxury box or suite. You use the restroom there rather than the public restroom.

[@longbeachhippy694]

I grew up and lived right next to the stadium. 7/11 was a minute walk from my place. As a kid I would collect cans and get 5 cents for each one. My front yard would have a mountain of cans. I would make nearly 300$ every home game from age of 8 til 13. Along with charging 20$ for parking in my parents yard. Had enough room for 12 vehicles. I started working at the stadium at 16 yrs old just so I could see the football game for free. I got to see all 4 years of playoffs and seasons during the super bowl streak. Kelly, Thomas, metzellars, smith, reed , Beebe. Etc.. so many iconic players during that time. Buffalo was a great place during that time. Memories

[@Davidjon1946]

That had to be awesome!! I could just imagine how much money you could make still to this day collecting cans . We all know our fans love to drunk before and after games. Labatt Molson coors light Miller light seems the be the 716 preference

[@michaelmalley7084]

I was there for the first preseason game against the Redskins on August 17 1973. The Redskins ran the opening kickoff back for a TD. We were all given a gold colored coin to commemorate the event - which I still have.

[@qcrew2938]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/jYXGnoJ_mLyYbqM

[@bozoboy3of12]

I wasn't there, but I know The Story and I also have The Gold Coin.

[@chrispomaylivewithcdpsport5517]

Cool 👍

[@bozoboy3of12]

Same here.

[@davidmccann9811]

So you guys watched them play at the Rock Pile too?

[@paulrath7764]

The music sounds like it came from a Bruce Lee movie. Love it!

[@terrybrown9206]

It was nice, back in the 70,s and 80,s We went to several games at the old stadium. Back then it was Rich Stadium

[@bufnyfan1]

I grew up listening to Jeff Kaye on WBEN radio in Buffalo--fantastic voice and fantastic man--When John Facenda passed away NFL films hired Mr. Kaye to complement the great Harry Kalas--R.I.P Mr. Kaye--you were one of a kind

[@bufnyfan1]

***** Yes--this is Jeff Kaye--listen to some of his narrations of NFL film games/stories---very distinct gifted voice-at one point for a short time he was in the broadcast team that carried Buffalo Bills games on radio as well-he was one of the true pioneers in Buffalo radio

[@frankdenardo8684]

John facenda was a legendary newscaster in Philadelphia before joining NFL films.

[@Davidjon1946]

I miss talking radio even howard stern who now is a joke and a liar

[@BrianHughes1]

"contending New York Jets" LOL

[@DNSKansas]

Brian Hughes Jets WERE 7-7 in '72 and Namath was mostly healthy, so that qualified as contending

[@ziggymorris8760]

Brian Hughes Jets still had a good team, they fell apart in '73

[@richardlorith8256]

Better yet Super Bowl Champions Miami Dolphins? Tells you how long ago it was constructed

[@frankdenardo8684]

Brian Hughes they mentioned AFC eastern division teams.

[@frankdenardo8684]

ziggy morris 1973 Weeb Ewbank retired.

[@payless1981]

Luv that 70's beat in the back ground, lol

[@Davidjon1946]

If will always be rich stadium to us buffaloians

[@jimogrady1131]

Job for a Buffalo N.y Cowboy How come know talks about those 10 years of concerts at Bills Stadium. They got some big bands Rolling Stones, Led Zeppelin, Aerosmith, Alice Cooper, Bob Seger, Doobie Brothers, Journey

[@Davidjon1946]

@@jimogrady1131 never saw a concert there i always figured the sound from the poor acoustics that would make up inside would sound terrible inside a outdoor stadium built in 1973??. But yes I'm aware of the concert history of rich stadium. The grateful dead performing those July 4th shows. The who the rolling stones the monsters of rock shows metallica & guns and roses etc etc

[@lsmftymf]

The design for this stadium came straight out of the Sears catalog.

[@davidlafleche1142]

This looked awesome compared to old Schaefer Stadium. Stanley Morgan and his wife drove to Massachusetts to check it out. She said, "That's a High School field." Morgan replied, "No, that's the place!"

[@lsmftymf]

The only good thing about Foxboro Stadium must've been the sightlines from both side grandstands. 4.bp.blogspot.com/-9Uv6MnH19Q0/UaaaZps-HWI/AAAAAAAAEdo/oOfrIIbztLg/s1600/foxboro100.jpg

[@davidlafleche1142]

That was its best advantage. Every seat in the place had an excellent view. Also, because it had only one deck, you could go from the top to field-level, and nothing stopped you..

[@DNSKansas]

To be fair, Foxboro had to be constructed as quickly as possible for the Pats to have a place to play in 1971. The thought was they were headed to Seattle or Tampa if a stadium wasn't built. Harvard didn't want the Pats after '70, and BC and Fenway were far too small for the NFL's liking.

[@frankdenardo8684]

David Lafleche that's Foxxborough.

[@JMacD813]

I was there for that 1st game. Traffic was terrible. My dad and i got there just before halftime. No one was at the gate handing out the little gold coins to commemorate the first game so my dad grabbed a handful of the little packets. I still have them. Great memories. It will always be Rich Stadium to me!

[@54GARYBOY]

A shot of the lonely and neglected old Rockpile that served Buffalo so well for so long would have been appreciated.

[@bufnyfan1]

Otis Taylor (of the KC Chiefs) once said that when the Chiefs played at War Memorial Stadium they would literally race off the field when the game was over because if they didn't the hot water in the dressing room would run out---if you ask any of the players of the old AFL what stadium they hated playing in the most--War Memorial was number 1!!!

[@54GARYBOY]

david graham Been there enough to know that would be a fact!

[@davidlafleche1142]

One critic said that War Memorial Stadium was such a dump that "...it looked as if whatever war it had been a memorial to had been fought within its confines."

[@frankdenardo8684]

Gary Boyce reminds me of the old foxxborough stadium which opened in 1971 and used until the late 1990's.

[@DaBeastGamesYT]

Like the music

[@everettquinn977]

Drove through orchard park a couple weeks ago, and construction on the new stadium is really moving along. Gonna be sad to see the Ralph go

[@joedimaggio3687]

What's more sad is that the taxpayers are paying for the new stadium.

[@Davidjon1946]

Still in fantastic shape and near the top for capacity keep updated yearly we don't need a new stadium why????? It's just fine and so much history inside this place

[@rtpgunner2979]

And were still here in 2021... Crazy

[@richardfoley1290]

Can't wait to see the upgrades this season. Bills forever

[@zachsiwiec2951]

Yo who’s watching this in 2021

[@dailygoodvibes997]

Wow there was nothing around there back then. It was cool to see the original construction

[@currypablo]

W Westbrook that place is still a shit hole.

[@gaberrs2331]

There still isn’t anything 🤣😂

[@christopherg7098]

​@gaberrs2331 that's what I was thinking too 😂

[@antoniomier5389]

I love this. Stadium love

[@Fireyninjadog]

It's still here

[@joedunleavy7066]

My father was the general foreman on pouring all the concrete and asphalt. The players tried to buy the naming rights and name it for the area. Great bunch of guys to bad we had OJ

[@snakeknife7518]

Why too bad, he was great and did nothing wrong when he played there.

[@BruhMoment-oj8tn]

Joe Dunleavy he’s a hall of famer nigga

[@bufnyfan1]

the stadium when built was the first stadium to ever be named after a corporate sponsor--Rich Foods

[@Kreutz]

I don't know why I am watching this, but it's cool.

[@DNSKansas]

When Jefferson Kaye mentions the opponents coming to Buffalo in 1973, he could have mentioned all of them, since at the time, teams knew years in advance who they would play every year home and away. For the record the other teams which came to Buffalo in '73 were Philadelphia, Kansas City and Cincinnati.

[@stealthbombsmith7770]

Been to that stadium many times with the last one being that 42-17 win over the Phins. It's amazing that it is sill where they are 47 years later

[@jimogrady1131]

Stealthbomb Smith How come know one talks about those 10 years of concerts at Bills Stadium. Rolling Stones liked Buffalo played here 6 times. 1969, 1972, 1975, 1978, 1981, 2015. Bummer Led Zeppelin cancelled 1977. Some concerts were crazy because of very little Security

[@Stationjoke]

It took until now for them to finally replace it

[@MStafford-lr9le]

Hardly anyone remembers this, but it was originally supposed to be a domed stadium.

[@DNSKansas]

I remember. So was Arrowhead, which would have shared a rolling roof with Royals/Kauffman.

[@bobh1296]

That was the one to be built in Lancaster

[@ziggymorris8760]

RIP left earphone?

[@terrybrown9206]

And for 4 years were very good

[@dfk4500]

Boy we've came along way!!!

[@JamesSmith-fd9gc]

Ohhh color tv! Has to be below ground because above ground in the winter you'll freeze your ass off!!! 😂😂🤣🤣

[@casper7784]

GO BILLS !!!

[@snakeknife7518]

To bad Abbott road has become like the moon surface.

[@DNSKansas]

If there aren't buffalo wings at the concession stands, then what good are the concession stands?

[@maxguod]

They are good for a 9 dollar 22oz beer -

[@BenBGolf]

Cool, but I wish we had a dome now that we have a passing offense! :)

[@bufnyfan1]

One of the major problems with New Era Field (formerly called Ralph Wilson Stadium and before that Rich Stadium) is that its far from downtown Buffalo--Terry and Kim Pegula (new owners of the Bills) are saying that the Bills do need a new stadium and when it is built it will definitely be in downtown (likely near the Lake Erie waterfront---somewhat like the Cleveland Browns Stadium)

[@southtext3400]

They don't need a new stadium. Like the guy said in the video there are plenty of access roads and more than enough parking.

[@nathanventura548]

@@southtext3400 Those access roads become so congested during any sort of event, especially today since that area around it now has been developed since then, so local traffic gets shafted by event traffic, it's a bad deal for everyone. The needs of 1972 aren't the same of today.

[@RobertBernstein310]

Who is going to be on the hook for stadium costs? I do hope the Pegulas do not expect that public funds be spent for a playground for their team. I lived in Buffalo during the OJ years and the trip to Rich was terrible but then you cannot have everything.

[@nathanventura548]

@@RobertBernstein310 The NFL, the team, the county, state, taxpayers, and numerous private backers. It's a group effort, no single entity is ever soley responsible for the funding of such large projects.

[@bufnyfan1]

@@RobertBernstein310 as of November 2021--there are intense negotiations going on with Erie County/the government of New York/Pegulas--there will also be a public consultation about the ultimate stadium plan. I'm happy about this because it means "something" is going to be built and the fear of moving the Bills is essentially over. Appears a downtown stadium is still on the table but it will be the most expensive of the three options (ie. renovate New Era Field vs build a new stadium across the street from New Era Field vs new downtown stadium)

[@bozoboy3of12]

2027 New Stadium opening up right across Abbott road.

[@ThatBuffaloFan]

Wow. The Ralph.

[@patrickliddle1981]

Commenter says 600 men working; I was one, sounds a little high, but not totally unrealistic. Contrast that to predictions that new stadium will involve 10,000 jobs--wildly overstated IMO.

[@neneshubby]

So this is where OJ learned to cut and slice and penetrate.

[@ericstravelchannel]

Then he moved to Los Angeles to take stabs at future endeavors.

[@DNSKansas]

@@ericstravelchannel With a brief return to San Francisco in between

[@frankdenardo8684]

The San Francisco 49ers did not play there until 1983.

[@Gravytrain1996]

Fan comfort top priority but no roof

[@terrybrown9206]

The team was pretty good. Jim Kelly, Thurman Thomas and Bruce Smith. Good QB and Running Back and Defensive End

[@bullmoose6739]

So, why is it so much more difficult to build a stadium today?

[@DNSKansas]

All the bells and whistles take extra time. The Patriots' first stadium in Foxborough was built even faster than this.

[@m64h]

@eddison72: because natural grass has a tendency to die in cold weather, necessitating the addition of green paint on the field to simulate the appearance of grass (as was frequently done at Lambeau Field) .

[@MNsportsnut]

I was there for the Vikings-Bills game in 2006 wearing Purple and I did get a lot of shit for it but at least Bills fans aren't violent like Eagles fans in Philadelphia. Great tailgating but not impressed with the Stadium, Beer sales cut off after Halftime, they served Pepsi products at the Concessions but couldn't get a Mountain Dew and that seemed weird.

[@makeouthill4568]

I wish they would have inside building

[@craigmccann1028]

It is time for an update.

[@hoopaj00]

Lets go Buffalo!!!

[@lonerangerxxx]

I wish they built it in a dome

[@bufnyfan1]

Rich Stadium was only built because the late owner of the Bills (Ralph Wilson) threatened to move the team to Seattle if a new stadium wasn't built

[@ziggymorris8760]

david graham it worked lol

[@DNSKansas]

The Patriots did the same

[@bufnyfan1]

@@DNSKansas I remember that--Robert Kraft even signed some kind of a deal to build a stadium in Hartford, Connecticut-essentially "put a gun to the head" of the city of Foxborough and the government of Massachusetts

[@jerryjanik480]

Seriously people the house OJ built

[@nathanventura548]

Awesome footage. While I appreciate what the Ralph Wilson stadium was, today it's just an antiquated hulking beast too far out in the suburbs that's now just an enormous pain in the ass for us city residents to get to, with or without a car. For god sake the NFTA doesn't even run game day busses out there anymore. We need a new downtown stadium like a normal city. All the city's other teams get the convenience of facilities being downtown, but not the bills.

[@MNsportsnut]

As a Vikings fan, Downtown isn't always the greatest. US Bank Stadium is great but there's not as much Tailgating as there used to be. Don't take that for granted.

[@bufnyfan1]

the Patriots don't play in Boston--but in Foxborough which is about 30 miles outside of downtown Boston

[@DNSKansas]

2:46 "The newest and most modern facility in the National Football League..." FIrst, that was a lie. Arrowhead already had it beat. Second, Rich Stadium opened ahead of the Superdome only because Louisiana waited FIVE YEARS between approving the bonds for the stadium and breaking ground. It should have ready in 1972.

[@vader9721]

Wait, what a mild winter in 1972. Oh no GLOBAL WARMING!!

[@DNSKansas]

That meant the average high was 20 and snow cover was less than three feet.

[@johnsmith-ko8ud]

No no it’s climate change with 12 years before Earth is finished 🤣

[@richardfoley1290]

Can't wait to see the upgrades this season. Bills forever