Sarah Bennett
Executives from Erie County and Pegula Sports and Entertainment announced new vaccine requirements for fans attending Bills and Sabres games. Fans 12 and older must have at least one vaccine dose to enter the stadiums. Fans can show their physical vaccination card or use approved vaccine passport apps such as New York State's Excelsior Pass or the CLEAR app. Photocopies of vaccination cards are not accepted, and using a fake vaccine card is a Class D felony.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Age requirement | Fans 12 and older need at least one vaccine dose to enter |
| Accepted vaccines | Johnson & Johnson, Moderna, Pfizer |
| Accepted proof of vaccination | Physical vaccination card, approved "vaccine passport" apps (e.g., New York's Excelsior Pass, CLEAR app) |
| Negative test policy | Negative tests are not accepted as an alternative to vaccination |
| Mask policy | Masks are not required but are strongly encouraged, especially in indoor areas. Fans under 12 must wear a mask at all times. |
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What You'll Learn
Fans 12 and older need at least one vaccine shot
Fans 12 years old and above who want to attend Bills games will need to have received at least one shot of a vaccine to enter the stadiums. This was announced by executives from Erie County and Pegula Sports and Entertainment, who stated that this requirement will be in place starting from September.
To enter the stadium, fans can show their physical vaccination card at the gate or use approved "vaccine passport" apps such as New York State's Excelsior Pass or the CLEAR app. Photocopies of the vaccination card will not be accepted. It is important to note that using a fake vaccine card is considered a Class D felony.
For those receiving the Johnson & Johnson vaccine, only one shot is required. Hence, fans can get vaccinated as late as October 17 to be fully vaccinated by October 31. However, for events in September, such as the Bills game against Washington on September 26, fans will need to have received at least one shot. It is strongly advised not to wait until the last day possible.
Fans under 12 years of age are not yet eligible for vaccination and must wear masks at all times during the games. While vaccination requirements mean that fans 12 and older are not mandated to wear masks, it is strongly encouraged, particularly in indoor areas.
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Approved vaccine passport apps include CLEAR and New York's Excelsior Pass
Fans aged 12 and older must be fully vaccinated to attend Bills games. They can show their physical vaccination card at the gate or use approved "vaccine passport" apps. Approved vaccine passport apps include CLEAR and New York's Excelsior Pass.
CLEAR is a well-known airport security app that has been adopted by over 60 US stadiums and venues to verify people's COVID-19 status. The app is partnered with United Airlines and the Venetian Resort in Las Vegas, and has been endorsed by Major League Baseball's San Francisco Giants and New York Mets. CLEAR users upload a driver's license or other identity document and take a selfie, which the system checks to ensure they match before connecting to COVID-19 test results or proof of vaccination. However, privacy groups have expressed concerns that the app will hold data indefinitely and become a consumer tracker.
New York's Excelsior Pass is another approved vaccine passport app. It is funded by the state of New York and supports the verification of tests and vaccinations within the state. Excelsior Pass developer IBM Corp is in discussions with additional states. However, the Excelsior Pass app has been criticized for allowing users to create and store fake vaccine credentials by scanning a phony document.
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Photocopies of vaccine cards are not accepted
Fans 12 years and older are required to be fully vaccinated to attend Bills games. If you get the Johnson & Johnson vaccine, you only need one shot, so you can get vaccinated as late as October 17 to be fully vaccinated by October 31. However, fans will need at least one shot to attend events in September.
To enter the stadium, you can show your physical vaccination card at the gate, or use approved “vaccine passport” apps such as New York state’s Excelsior Pass or the CLEAR app. Photocopies of vaccine cards are not accepted. This means that you must present your original, physical vaccination card. It is important to note that using a fake vaccine card is a Class D felony.
The Las Vegas Raiders, Seattle Seahawks, and New Orleans Saints also have vaccine requirements. The Seahawks and Saints are accepting proof of a negative test within 72 hours of the game, but the Raiders and Bills are not. Due to the vaccination requirements, fans 12 and older will not be required to wear a mask, although it is strongly encouraged, especially in indoor areas. Fans under 12 years of age must wear a mask at all times as they are not yet eligible for vaccination.
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Masks are not required for vaccinated fans over 12
Fans attending Bills games who are vaccinated and over the age of 12 are not required to wear masks. This is due to the vaccination requirements put in place by the executives from Erie County and Pegula Sports and Entertainment. Fans can show their physical vaccination card at the gate, or use approved “vaccine passport” apps such as New York state’s Excelsior Pass or the CLEAR app. Photocopies of vaccination cards will not be accepted, and using a fake vaccine card is a Class D felony.
Fans under 12 years of age are not yet eligible for vaccination and must wear a mask at all times. Masks are strongly encouraged for vaccinated fans over 12, especially in indoor areas.
It is important to note that some Bills food vendors have been cited for a lack of mask compliance, but fans are mostly going mask-free. For those looking to get vaccinated, many pharmacies in Western New York offer walk-in vaccinations, and Erie County residents can sign up for a “Vax Visit” where someone from the health department will come to their house to provide the vaccine.
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Vaccination sites in Western New York include walk-in pharmacies
Fans aged 12 and older need to be vaccinated to attend Buffalo Bills games. They can show their physical vaccination card at the stadium entrance or use approved "vaccine passport" apps such as New York State's Excelsior Pass or the CLEAR app. Photocopies of vaccine cards are not accepted, and using a fake vaccine card is a Class D felony.
Other options for vaccination sites in Western New York include clinics, doctor's offices, and health care providers. People can search for vaccination sites near them by using the federal government's website, Vaccines.gov, and searching by ZIP code. This website also provides information via text or phone call.
New York City residents can also obtain vaccinations at NYC Health+ Hospitals facilities and local pharmacies. The city launched a campaign to emphasize the importance of staying current with booster shots to protect against COVID-19.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, fans 12 and older will need to have received at least one shot of a vaccine to enter the stadium.
You can show your physical vaccination card at the gate, or use approved “vaccine passport” apps such as New York state’s Excelsior Pass or the CLEAR app. Photocopies of your card will not be accepted.
You will not be allowed to enter the stadium. It is strongly recommended that you get vaccinated as soon as possible.
No, all fans 12 and older must be vaccinated to enter the stadium. Those under 12 who are not yet eligible for vaccination must wear a mask at all times.
Vaccinated fans 12 and older will not be required to wear a mask, although it is strongly encouraged in indoor areas.
