(Brett Carlsen/Getty Images)
By Anthony Payero
(BUFFALO, N.Y.) The Buffalo Bills announced Wednesday they earned permission to host a limited number of fans for their first playoff home game in 25 years.
Through New York State, the National Football League (NFL) franchise has been granted permission to host 6,772 fans at their home Wild Card game tentatively scheduled for Jan. 9 or 10. All fans must obtain a negative COVID-19 test result through the NFL's testing partner, Bioreference Laboratories in order to attend the game, according to the team's website. Bioreference Laboratories will provide each test for fans at a reduced cost of $63.
Gov. Andrew Cuomo joined the team in sharing the announcement via his Twitter, advising fans to be responsible at the game.
Due to certain NFL rules and other commitments, about 6,200 tickets will be available for purchase on New Year's Eve to Bills season ticket members that chose to purchase tickets earlier this year. Season ticket members will be notified based on seniority, according to the team website.
As a result of the limited capacity, tickets will only be made available in certain sections of Bills Stadium, including the Sideline Club Seat sections, and the 100 and 200 level of Bills Stadium.
Tickets are not expected to be available for all season ticket members, nor are they expected to be available for general public sale.
Fans will be able to sit in pods of two or four people. One pod will be available for each season ticket member account.
If the Bills advance and host a Divisional Playoff round game and New York State permits fans to future games, those fans who attend the Wild Card playoff game will not be eligible to purchase tickets for the Divisional round.