Browns Tickets Offered as Reward for Hard, Manual Labor
By Kyle Koster
In unsurprising news, Buffalo has been blanketed by a mid-December snow storm. Ralph Wilson Stadium must be shoveled out before tomorrow’s game against the winless Cleveland Browns. And the necessary manpower is being provided by Bills fans incentivized by $10 an hour and tickets to see the Robert Griffin III show.
Anyone over 18 was invited to come clear the snow beginning at 10:30 a.m. this morning. Per the team’s website:
"Shovelers can shovel snow throughout the day on Saturday and into the night into Sunday if needed. Rate of pay is $10 per hour. Lunch and dinner breaks will be provided throughout the shifts in a comfortable warming area. In addition, a complimentary Bills football game ticket will be given to those that work a four-hour shift or longer. Those interested in shoveling must have proper identification (driver’s license, state ID) in order to work."
Shovelers also had to bring their own shovels. The Bills offered a similar deal last year.
Stories like this provide an important counterbalance to the “NFL is dying” narrative. The mere fact that hearty souls are suiting up for manual weekend labor for the chance to see sub-.500 teams is a good sign for the league and, possibly, the biggest confidence boost the Browns have received all year.