NY May Allow Fans At Buffalo Bills Games After Coronavirus Tests

LONG ISLAND, NY — With the coronavirus vaccine still months away from being distributed to most New Yorkers, Gov. Andrew Cuomo and state health officials are considering a plan to allow fans back at Bills Stadium for Buffalo Bills playoff games in January.

The plan would allow 6,700 fans to attend playoff games if they test negative for the coronavirus. Once inside Bills Stadium, fans will be required to wear masks, practice social distancing and provide contact tracing information, or they will be asked to leave, officials said. Fans have been banned from Bills Stadium this season due to coronavirus concerns.

Cuomo stressed the plan is still in development.

"Nothing is final," he said.

He said it could be a way to keep the economy open while vaccinations are rolled out, Cuomo said. The vaccine isn't expected to reach most Americans until September or longer, he said.

"The alternative of waiting until you hit critical mass for the vaccine is not enough," he said. "We have to come up with a smarter way to do this."