City of Buffalo Floats Bills Name Change as April Fools' Prank

The City of Buffalo's Legislative Branch ran a trick play involving the Buffalo Bills on April Fools' Day.

With the internet taking the facetious holiday to all new levels, the city playfully proposed that the Bills change their name to something more geographically accurate on Monday. A copy of the loony legislation was posted on the Buffalo Common Council's Facebook page, documenting the efforts to advocate that no one circles the wagons like the Orchard Park Bills.

"It has come to the attention of the Buffalo Common Council that the name "Buffalo Bills"' may cause confusion among fans and spectators regarding the team's actual location," the proposal says. "NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Buffalo Common Council hereby requests, in the spirit of geographical accuracy and community representation, that the Buffalo Bills consider changing their name to the "Orchard Park Bills" to better reflect their home stadium's location."

The proposal makes it clear that the suggested change in identity is meant to be a joke, as the statement is capped off by wishing readers a happy holiday. It's perhaps highly doubtful that the NFL would allow any sort of switch-up, considering Orchard Park's relatively minuscule population of 3,049, which is over 100,000 smaller than the small mark of the Green Bay Packers.

Highmark Stadium, home of the Bills since 1973, is just under 11 miles away from Buffalo City Hall on Niagara Square. The Bills previously played their home games at War Memorial Stadium in the city from their inception in 1960 through 1972. A new stadium, currently referred to as New Highmark Stadium, is expected to open in Orchard Park by 2026.