We got a full winter weather display this week at Highmark Stadium in Buffalo, with a picturesque snow game for the Buffalo Bills. One player who has played in his fair share of snow is Andre Reed. The Hall of Famer sat down with me this week to discuss snow and a new opportunity for Bills fans seeking a way to get one more taste of the stadium before the team moves across the street.
Reed was in the stadium Sunday when the Cincinnati Bengals came to town for a snow game, and was eager to chat about
it with me.
“That was a blizzard game. Buffalo is obviously synonymous with weather. When people say ’Hey you’re from Buffalo’ or ‘you played in Buffalo’, they say ‘the weather’s crazy.‘”
Well, he added they tell him there is “nothing to do” in Buffalo, as well.
Reed, who now resides in South California but is from Pennsylvania, remembers cloud cover in Western New York more than snow games.
“I know one year the sun didn’t even come out the whole week. That’s pretty bad when you come into the stadium every day and you get ten minutes the whole week.”
“We played in a playoff game against Miami. It was a divisional game and it was like the game Sunday [against the Bengals], but maybe just a little more snow. It was against Marino — it was always Marino against Kelly there — when Miami was really good. And we won the game.”
You can watch that game here. It’s interesting to see the differences in how they handle the snow now vs then. No clearing the 5-yard markers or hashes. Reed caught four passes for 122 yards and two touchdowns as the Bills won 44-34. They ultimately went to their first Super Bowl later that year.
Bud Light is taking advantage of the snow in Western New York for their latest product, and hooked up the conversation with Reed.
“I am excited to be a partner with the Bills. They asked me to be a partner with Bud Light and the ‘Blizzard Brew’ coming out to celebrate the Highmark Stadium/Rich Stadium for the fans there until they move across the street next year. Sixty years of memories there and I’ve had 16 years of memories there and this is really for the fans, to show their loyalty to [the fans] because they are the best fans in sports. There’s no doubt about it.”
Reed is going to be in town along with a bunch of Bills alumni for the final regular season game at Highmark Stadium. The team moves into their new stadium next year. In January, there is definitely a chance of snow.
“Blizzard Brew” isn’t just a fun new name, though. A piece of Western New York is in every pour.
Following the first snowfall at Highmark Stadium earlier this season, Bud Light and the Bills joined forces to collect the snow and transport it to Anheuser-Busch’s brewery in Baldwinsville, NY. There, the snow was integrated in the brewing process to create a limited-edition brew that will be included in custom 16 oz. cans and packaging.
Todd Allen, SVP of Marketing for Bud Light at Anheuser-Busch, said: “It’s no secret Bills Mafia is one of the most passionate fanbases in sports, with fans in Buffalo and beyond who will do anything for their team. That dedication is on full display when they show up to Highmark Stadium with shovels in hand, and we couldn’t be more honored to show up for Bills fans by creating a brew that both showcases and celebrates their years of commitment to the team.”
The “Blizzard Brew” will be available at participating retailers in the Buffalo area and wherever Bills Mafia
enjoys the final regular season home game.To learn more about “Blizzard Brew” visit BudLight.com, follow Bud Light on Facebook at Facebook.com/BudLight, on Twitter at @BudLight and Instagram @BudLight.
“I just want people to realize how important it is to me but important it is to those fans, because it could be anywhere in the league to have this,” said Reed. “To have Bud Light partner with the Bills to get this out there and celebrate the Bills there at Highmark and old Rich Stadium is a big win-win for all of us.”
