Pain over parking lot rules at Ralph

ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. (WIVB) - Tailgaters got a taste of new rules around the Ralph as the Bills wrapped up their preseason at home Thursday night.

It was a game night in Orchard Park, and while the Bills fine tune, new stadium rules are getting a workout.

Jim Stewart said, "You got to make sacrifices for something in your life. You can't have everything the same way. So they're doing the right thing."

It's now one car, one space in lots 2 & 3. No empty spaces in between.

Kathy Brooks said, "If you want to save a spot next to your friend, you should be able to do that. They might lose a lot of people coming because of it."

There's another change. Prior to the game, a portion of Abbott Road will be closed to vehicles.  You can get the full details on parking lot rules changes here.

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The parking lot rules aren't the only changes at the Ralph:

>> Fans can no longer smoke at the stadium

>> The Bills unveiled new uniforms this season

>> Fresh turf was laid down on the field

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Erie County Sheriff's office Chief Scott Joslyn explained, "The overall goal here is one, allow pedestrians to cross back and forth, and two, to help facilitate everybody leaving."

Is the road closure having an impact on satellite parking around the stadium?

Parking vendor Mark Lester said, "I believe it is, yes. It's not as good as the years before."

Some fans see it as a good thing.

Bob Fildes said, "I like it better this way. I like that Abbott Road's blocked off. I think it's more fan friendly."

For others, it'll take some time.

Dave Lehmann said, "It's a little bit of an inconvenience for looping around especially if you're a premium seat holders and you have the parking."

Paul Spelman added, "If it gets too wild and out of control nobody wants to bring their children here anymore. And that's not what we want."

What's more, the offseason NFL labor dispute had many parking vendors holding their breath, wondering whether there would be football this year.

Parking vendor Gerald Daugherty said, "A large part of our income comes from parking. It would have killed us. That's how we pay our taxes, come from parking."