Orchard Park, N.Y. (WBEN) - It is expected to be an active weekend in Orchard Park with country music superstar Luke Combs set to play back-to-back concerts at Highmark Stadium on Friday and Saturday.
While concerts of this nature may come as a surprise for residents like Eric "Hammer" Matwijow of Hammer's Lot along Abbott Road, being back-to-back in the middle of April, he says the community will take the economic boost with several people flowing in.
"The fans here and the people of Western New York are pretty hardy, obviously. Hopefully nobody's put their winter clothes away, it's gonna be a little chilly, but overall, it looks decent," said Matwijow in an interview with WBEN.
Weather forecasts for Friday and Saturday in Orchard Park show a slight chance of showers come time for the concerts, otherwise it will only be a bit chilly, especially when it gets into the evening hours.
Matwijow feels this weekend could be very similar to an atmosphere that mirrors a Bills game day in Orchard Park.
"Especially on Saturday, they do have a little outdoor concert or whatever at 3 o'clock, a free one. People will be walking around and stuff, getting out of the house. You really can't cut the grass, so why not come out and tailgate, even with all the rain we've had?," he said.
Hammer's Lot right next to the construction site of the new Highmark Stadium will be open for both concerts this weekend, starting at 11 a.m. ET. How might this atmosphere for the Luke Combs concert compare to other concerts at the stadium in recent memory?
"Country and Western music, it's more pop now, is on the upswing. It goes through a cycle, I believe, and right now I think it's getting up towards its peak of popularity. Every band draws a different type of crowd," Matwijow said. "I really have never had any problems in my lot with any of the crowds, obviously because I'm a hands-on person and I walk the lot. ... I think everybody, generally, is just out to have a good time, they don't want any problems. They just want to forget all the worries in the world, and just enjoy, sit back and maybe cook some hot dogs, hamburgers and barbecue or whatever, and just generally have a good time."
With the extra precipitation over the last several days, Matwijow advises anyone likely to park in the private lots around the stadium to be cautious.
"Just be careful where you park with all the rain, the water table is pretty high so make sure you park in a good, firm location," Matwijow said. "Obviously with the stadium construction going on and Lot 3 being shut down, parking might be a little hard to get. I think they're looking at I've heard anywhere from 50,000-to-60,000 people, so carpool, use your brain, get here early, plan, and don't just have a good time."
Orchard Park Police Chief Patrick Fitzgerald also advises any concertgoers this weekend to give yourself time, and have a plan in place before making their way to Highmark Stadium on either day.
"We know Season Ticket holders, they have a routine, they know where they're going, they know what time they're getting there. They're very, very familiar with our traffic patterns and the way that we move vehicles, what's allowed and what's not allowed. Oftentimes, we see concertgoers arrive very unfamiliar with our vicinity, unfamiliar with our traffic patterns, where we're moving cars and how we're moving cars. I would say have a really good idea of where you're looking to go and how you're planning to get there," Chief Fitzgerald said in an interview with WBEN.
Fitzgerald says the biggest traffic concerns often happen before Bills games or concerts at the stadium are when vehicles arrive before parking lots open.
"They start clogging the roads as they sit in traffic waiting for gates to open. So give yourself enough time to make sure you can get to the concert on time, but don't show up so early that you're stuck in the road," he said. "That really hampers our efforts in getting around, and also getting emergency vehicles to calls as incidents occur in-and-around that stadium area."
Erie County Sheriff John Garcia recommends all guests review Highmark Stadium maps to locate the best lot in which to park, and gate at which to enter this weekend.
Additionally, all fans are reminded to familiarize themselves with the list of prohibited items at Highmark Stadium, in order to avoid delays at the gates.
Here is a list of the closures in-and-around Highmark Stadium for both concerts this weekend:
ABBOTT ROAD:
- On April 19, Abbott Raod will close at 2 p.m. ET in front of Highmark Stadium.
- On April 20, Abbott Road will close at 1 p.m. ET in front of Highmark Stadium.
- This section of Abbott Road will remain closed until after the concert both days.
ROUTE 20A (BIG TREE ROAD):
- Prior to the conclusion of the concert, Route 20A from Fieldhouse Drive will be two-lanes, one-way traffic headed Eastbound away from the stadium. Any vehicles parked West of Fieldhouse Drive must travel Westbound.
STADIUM LOTS:
- On April 19, all stadium parking lots will open at 3 p.m. ET
- On April 20, early parking lots open at 2 p.m. ET. The remaining parking lots open at 3 p.m. ET.
- Lots open to fans will be 1, 2-Preferred, 2-ADA, 4, 6-Preferred, 6-ADA and Lot 7.
- Lot 3 is closed .
- The Bus and Limo Lot remains on the stadium’s Northside along Route 20.
- Lots 2-Preferred and 2-ADA are accessible from Route 20A.
- Lot 6-Preferred and Lot 6-ADA are accessible from Route 20.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:
- Intoxicated and unmanageable guests will not be permitted entry into the stadium.
- On April 19, stadium gates will open at 5 p.m. ET.
- On April 20, Gate 3 will open at 3 p.m. ET for Tailgate Party Concert ticketholders. All other gates will open at 5 p.m. ET.
For a map of the stadium and parking lots, visit: https://www.buffalobills.com/stadium/
To help avoid any traffic concerns when it comes to local schools the area, there are scheduled to be half days and/or early dismissal times within the Orchard Park Central School District and Hamburg Central School District.
"I had conversations with both school superintendents once the concert was announced. It is always a concern of theirs when we have a stadium event going on during a school day," Chief Fitzgerald said. "We know traffic is a concern, we know that parking lots, private parking lots in such close proximity to an elementary building is a concern for Orchard Park Schools. But both schools share the concern about afternoon dismissal."
According to Fitzgerald, Hamburg Schools are going to be dismissing a short time earlier than they normally would, about 20 minutes early. That will allow the district to get a jump start with getting kids on the buses and heading home before traffic becomes an issue.
The one school, in particular, that's a concern for the Hamburg district is Armor Elementary School along Abbott Road.
"Buses on Abbott Road coming from the Armor Elementary School will be assisted by our patrol officers getting down the road and on-and-off the side streets if traffic, at that time, is a problem," Fitzgerald said.
Meanwhile, schools across the Orchard Park School District will have a half-day and early dismissal, which is what the district calls a "proactive adjustment" that was recommended to "prioritize the safety of our students and families."
"We have a good number of school buses loaded with students that are trying to drop off those students safely, that are trying to get down side streets and through our main thoroughfares, specifically Abbott Road, Big Tree and Southwestern Boulevard. And depending on when the crowd arrives, we know that getting around near the stadium is extremely difficult as that crowd intensifies and traffic builds on the roads," Chief Fitzgerald noted.
While Fitzgerald is not expecting any problems with concert fans arriving, it's something Orchard Park Police will keep an eye on throughout the day, and be prepared to assist school buses with patrol vehicles, if necessary.
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