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Democrat & Chronicle: Bills

Tom Furtner let out a sarcastic chuckle when informed that his beloved Buffalo Bills were raising parking prices for the upcoming season.

The spot in the stadium lot that cost Furtner and his friends $15 the past several years has increased to $25.

"Everything in general is going up, and they're pricing the average, middle-class fan out of being able to go to games," said Furtner, 44, a Hilton resident and former season-ticket holder.

"It might only be a $10 increase, but it makes it harder because now you have to start choosing what events and what games you go to. It makes you think twice about how you're spending your money."

Prices for campers ($25 to $50) and limousines and buses ($40 to $60) are also increasing. The new prices were first seen on the Bills' Web site.

"We continually study and evaluate our parking policy each year as we do all phases of our game-day experience," Scott Berchtold, the Bills vice president of communications, said Monday. "We are currently putting the final touches on some changes and will reach out to our fans through the media in the upcoming weeks regarding our policy for the 2007 season."

Furtner and his friends parked in the stadium lot the past 12 years, the first 11 when they were season-ticket holders. They switched to individual game tickets for the 2006 season and have tickets for the Denver, Dallas and New York Jets games this season.

While Furtner said the increase won't leave him selling his tickets, it makes it more difficult to enjoy his favorite Bills pregame activity: tailgating.

"This makes it harder to go to games ... and in the parking lot, there was an atmosphere you get that's like a village/city all its own," said Furtner, who was gathering with fellow Bills fans when informed of the latest increase.

"You lose that atmosphere and fun when people are driven away from parking in the lot."

Price above NFL average

In 2005, when Team Marketing Report, a national sports marketing publisher, released parking information for all 30 of the NFL's teams, the league average was $16.31 and 20 teams had parking prices equal to or higher than Buffalo's $15. Fans are not obligated to park in stadium lots. Several neighboring businesses and homeowners offer satellite parking near Ralph Wilson Stadium in Orchard Park, about 10 miles southeast of Buffalo. Prices had been running about $10 for game-day parking in satellite lots. It will be up to the individual lot owners whether the Bills' increase will have a trickle-down effect.

Kristin Luconte learned that several years ago. Luconte, a 41-year-old Webster resident, used to enjoy parking in the stadium lots for the pregame atmosphere before realizing there were cheaper parking alternatives.

"It's disappointing but it's the way of the world," Luconte said. "Every year, prices increase on everything, and the Bills are trying to keep up with their costs, so they pass it on to us. As long as people are willing to pay, they're going to get away with the raises. If you're a true, blue fan, there are ways around this."

The parking increase only slightly affects longtime season ticket-holder Bill Burnett. The Irondequoit resident, who has attended every Bills home game for the past seven years, has made a habit of parking at the same private business on game day and walking a half-mile to the stadium. He paid $90 for this season after paying $75 for the past couple of seasons.

"As loyal Bills fans, we're going to have to bite the bullet with some of these increases," said Burnett, 45. "Especially with the rumors going around about the future of the Bills in Buffalo, you don't want to take the team for granted. It might hurt to pay more, but we all need to enjoy the time we have with the team right now."

Other changes afoot

The Buffalo News reported earlier this week that a new three-ringed security barrier would be in place this season.

The barriers, which will be placed around the stadium's perimeter fence, will be staggered to allow people to pass, but not vehicles.

The Bills will install a new main scoreboard and ribbon board.

Individual game tickets go on sale to the general public on Saturday.

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