Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Buffalo Bowl? 

A 6 vs. 6 Flag Football Tournament benefitting Special Olympics New York. Each team must raise $1,500 in order to participate.

Where is the event held?

The Buffalo Bowl is played at Highmark Stadium, the home of the AFC East Divisional Champions, Buffalo Bills. 

What are the divisions/leagues?

The seven divisions/leagues in the Buffalo Bowl are: Pro, Amateur, Co-ed, First Responders, Middle School and High School. 

• Pro League - will consist of teams that have played together before. This will be the most competitive league there is. If a team is too competitive in another division, they will be placed in the Pro League prior to the schedule is sent out. Participants must be 18 or older.

• Co-Ed League - teams are required to have at least 2 females participating during play. Participants must be 18 or older. Females need to be targeted 2/4 plays each possession.

• Amateur League - this division is the fun division. Teams are not looking to be competitive. Generally these teams have not played together before. If you are a competitive athlete, please consider going into the Pro League. AMATEUR LEAGUE IS FOR FUN. If your team was too competitive the previous year, you will be asked to move to the Pro Division. Participants must be 18 or older.
  

• Middle and High School League-this division is reserved for middle and high school students. Two coaches will be allowed for these divisions ONLY. 

• First Responders League-this division is reserved for First Responders ONLY. Participants must be 18 or older.

PLEASE BE CONSCIENCE OF WHICH LEAGUE YOU REGISTER FOR.

If you play flag football at all, you SHOULD NOT be registering under Amateur League.

Who can participate in the Buffalo Bowl?
Each division has age requirements. Please check the league you wish to participate with the proper age requirements.

Safety is our biggest concern. Everyone must sign a waiver and give an emergency contact in order to play. Participants under the age of 18 MUST HAVE PARENTAL CONCENT. Click here to download the waiver.

What is the minimum amount to fundraise for each team?

All teams are required to raise a minimum of $1,500 to participate in the Buffalo Bowl whether they have 6 participants or 12 participants. The $20 registration fee DOES count towards your team total. The more funds raised, the more incentives a team can win. The top fundraising team in EACH division will win a suite to use for the tournament. More incentives will be announced leading up to the tournament.

All funds raised will benefit athletes of Special Olympics New York.

Can participants tailgate during the event? Yes! However you must follow official Buffalo Bills Tailgating rules.

Will concession stands be open? Yes!

Is the $20 registration fee an actual fee or does it go towards our team total? It will go towards your team total. This is non-refundable. If your team is no longer able to participate, the registration fee is a donation towards Special Olympics NY.

If I have a company that is going to sponsor me, do I need to pay the $20 registration fee? No, if you have a company that is sponsoring you, please notify Erica Raepple immediately (eraepple@nyso.org or 716-909-6444). You will receive a code to register your team and guarantee you a spot in the tournament.

I don't have a team, can I just register under any team? No, you must have your own team. We do not provide teams for you.

What should I wear? Make sure you dress weather appropriate. We do not provide jerseys for the teams. We suggest that everyone on your team wears the same color shirt or create your own jerseys! We DO provide the belts for the games. Metal cleats ARE PROHIBITED.

Can I bring my own ball to play with? You may bring your own football to practice with BUT footballs for the games will be provided. 

Are spectators free? YES! Make sure you encourage your friends and family to come out and support you! Parking is also free.

How many games are played at once? Highmark Stadium is divided up into 4 different fields with 4 games playing simultaneously.

If I don't raise the $1,500 are the funds refunded? No, all the funds raised will go to support Special Olympics and our programs.

Who should checks be made out to? Special Olympics New York, thanks!

I am trying to make an online donation but it doesn't seem to be going through. What can I do? Call or email us and we can help! We can check on the back end to see what the problem was.

I have received some cash donations and I want to update the fundraising total on my webpage to include these. How can I do this? Individual participants can enter donations in the system, but they must be confirmed by the staff at Special Olympics New York. All donations – cash, check, money order – received via mail or in person are entered by the administrative support staff for the event. Contributions in this form should be mailed to Special Olympics New York, 2821 Wehrle Drive, Suite 7, Williamsville, NY 14221 for processing. Please allow at least 5-7 days from receipt of the donations for totals to reflect online.

How long does it take for checks that are mailed in on my behalf to show up in my fundraising total? Generally speaking, contributions will be entered no more than 5-7 days after they are received by Special Olympics New York. When checking on a donation that has been mailed, please remember to allow 2-3 days for handling by the USPS. During the week of the event, processing time WILL increase due to the volume of mail received. In this case, contributions may or may not appear on your webpage prior to the event.

Additional questions? Reach out to Erica Raepple at eraepple@nyso.org or 716-909-6444 (call or text)