Dear Bills fan community,

I am a Buffalo native, UB alumnus, and former Buffalo News sports writer. I am currently completing my PhD in Sport Management at the University of Massachusetts Amherst. My colleagues, Dr. Matt Katz, Dr. Liz Delia, and I are conducting research pertinent to the role of community for Bills fans. I am contacting you to request your participation in this study.

We are searching for highly committed Bills fans. Each fan will receive a $20 Amazon gift card for their participation. We encourage female/minority subjects to reach out, as we would like to recruit a diverse sample size.

I will interview each fan in one sitting (approximately 90-120 minutes) in person in Buffalo this winter, between 1/14-1/18; we will meet in a public space that is convenient for the interviewee, such as a coffee shop. Each fan will be asked questions about their Bills fandom and how they have handled the team’s playoff drought.

I would sincerely appreciate your time, effort, and willingness to participate in this project, as I believe our understanding of this issue could benefit from your participation. If you have any questions, comments, or suggestions for the study, please contact me (Aaron Mansfield, primary investigator) directly via email at amansfield@umass.edu.

Thank you and have a great day!

Aaron Mansfield

PhD Candidate

Mark H. McCormack Department of Sport Management

Isenberg School of Management

University of Massachusetts Amherst