In a way to help commemorate the Buffalo Bills' 50th season and to provide a little something extra to their loyal season ticket holders, the Buffalo Bills opened up Ralph Wilson Stadium to the fans during Day 1 of the draft. More than 5000 season ticket holders showed up for the event, some traveling several hours to get there. As should be no surprise, many fans tailgated before they opened the gates while music was heard from inside the stadium to which many of the Buffalo Jills dancers made sure their dance moves were polished before the crowds came inside.
When the gates opened, fans got to meet and pose with several members of the Jills Ambassador Squad before heading down to the field, the stands, and into the Jim Kelly Club. On the field, concessions were set up at reduced prices and many of the set ups that are normally inside the Fieldhouse on gamedays were spread around the field for fans to test out their football skills, including a few drills from the NFL Scouting Combine. On a stage in front of the scoreboard endzone, the 50th Anniversary Bills team was announced and those vaunted players had their jerseys on display. Out on the field in front of the stage, fans mingled with friends they haven't seen since the end of the football season and many posed for photos with the Buffalo Jills who were out and about. On the stadium's HD scoreboard, the Bills ran ESPN's live coverage of the draft with the volume shut off on only 2 occasions. About a half hour into the draft, the Jills took the stage to put on 4 rousing dance performances, including a couple that were part of the tryout process. After the Bills made their first pick of the draft, the Jills returned to the stage to repeat their earlier performances for the benefit of those who might've missed the first time...or for those who just wanted to see Buffalo's beauties perform on stage again.
Another part of the draft day celebration was an exclusive tour of the Bills locker room. Fans got to go through where the Bills get dressed for gamedays and see the lockers of players like Donte Whitner, Lee Evans, Terrell Owens, and Marshawn Lynch among others. At the end of the tour, fans went through the room where the Bills players and coaches answer questions from the media after every game. Obviously it wasn't in use for that on this day but it was still getting use as fans got to pose for pictures with a pair of Buffalo Jills...no better way to end the tour.
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