How Bills Mafia went Viral on Social Media
The group was created in 2011 for all fans of the Buffalo Bills…they are called Bills Mafia. This is group of die hard Buffalo Bills fans that tailgate in the “Grass Lot” next to New Era Field in Buffalo, New York where the Bills play their home games. They come in hundreds and throw a huge party before every Buffalo home game and whether the Bills are good or bad (most of the time bad), they show up and support their team.
Bills Mafia is not an ordinary tailgate group, they take tailgating to the extreme. Once Bills Mafia was featured on social media, they became a social media favorite every Sunday morning and or afternoon during a Bills home game. There are pictures, videos, and even articles that feature intoxicated fans being thrown through tables (sometimes tables that are on fire), fans playing drinking games, fans impersonating wrestling moves, etc. These fans make it look like you are watching the World Wrestling Entertainment Royal Rumble for free.
Below are some examples of what Bills Mafia is all about.
What we normally see with topics that trend is they normally begin with a top down effect and then it generates a bottom up effect. But this trend is different, as it generated the bottom up effect first. Bills Mafia was not created by the ownership, the head coach, or anybody involved with the organization. Bills Mafia was created by the biggest Bills fans in the world who wanted to have a good time before the game and show their loyalty to the fan base.
The people of Bills Mafia are also represented as the gatekeepers as well. Not only do these fans come out and party every Sunday, but they know that every time the Bills play at home, they know that they will be trending on social media with whatever they post. Even though the meme started out as a bottom up effect, a top down effect eventually did come into play.
Earlier this year, Barstool Sports released a mini documentary on Bills Mafia and how it was came about, when they started, and how far they have come. The documentary features interviews from loyal Bills fans, the creators of Bills Mafia and all the videos and pictures that made Bills Mafia famous. While Bills Mafia was already famous and a favorite to many social media viewers, Barstool Sports helped put the group on the map to people who may not know who the fanbase is.
Bills Mafia is one of the craziest tailgate groups in the history of football. I have been to a few tailgates in my young life, but nothing compares to the lengths that Bills Mafia will go just to become a story on social media. They are and for a very long time will be the craziest group of tailgaters in the league and they will be until the next fan base has the guts to do what they do.
