The Bills organization is less than a year away from completing a new $2.1 billion stadium in Orchard Park outside Buffalo.
The current Highmark Stadium (aka in old days as Rich Stadium) across the road will be demolished when the Bills move into their new home.
Former Bills teammates Don Beebe and Steve Tasker were together last month in Buffalo to play in Hall of Famer Jim Kelly’s charity golf tourney. Beebe now lives in his native Illinois and is in his seventh season as head coach of Aurora University in that state. Tasker and his wife Sarah continued to live in Western New York after his playing days ended in 1997. He now is a CBS Sports broadcaster and also does TV work covering the Bills.
Beebe suggested on his recent trip that he and Tasker visit their old locker room in the stadium one last time before the building is torn down.
“I’m not sure I’ll get back before the stadium is gone,” Beebe recently told the Buffalo News. “I told Steve ‘Lets go get a picture in front of our lockers there for old times’ sake’.”
Although Tasker is broadcasting about the Bills during the week, he seldom gets to the locker room on game days.
“It’s like 38,39 years that I’ve been around that venue,” says Tasker. “I don’t think I’ve ever spent so much time in one building, ever. Back when Don and I were players in the ‘90s, the locker room at Rich Stadium was a second home.”
When the two Bills alums slipped back to their old “second home”, the nostalgia of winning celebrations, halftime talks and pregame rah-rah speeches came back for both men.
“To go back in there brought back a lot of memories,” recalls Beebe. “Being able to share that with one of my really good friends was a special moment. Although it was 31 years ago since the two of us sat in front of those lockers, it felt like yesterday with all the memories pouring back. Rich Stadium always will be home to me. Thanks for all the great memories, Buffalo.”
The Bills alumni and the fans have shared many moments of winning football over these last 65 years since the late owner Ralph Wilson founded the AFL team. It was fitting that two of the team’s most recognizable alums were able to experience their “second home” together one final time.
