ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. — If you’ve never been to a Bills game or Hammer's Lot, there’s a small chance you may be wondering what’s going on when you see waves of ketchup and mustard flying through the air onto Kenny Johnson.
Of course, many now call him ‘Pinto Ron.’
"It was all a mistake from the press," said Johnson.
A print error in the ‘90s and the Bills Mafia legend was perpetuated. But according to the Bills Mafia legend, it was for the best.
"It's given me the ability to meet a ton of people and they're all good people,” he said.
Known as one of the most hardcore of lots to pre-game in outside the stadium, Hammer’s Lot is really just a growing family reunion.
"About half of the lot here are just regulars,” said Johnson. “They're all parked in the same spot. Then you get the other people just coming in because they just want to hang out here."
And who wouldn’t - with this cast of characters, including the famous 'Pizza Pete' Papagelis.
"One day during a preseason game somebody brought the filing cabinet says, ‘can you cook in it?’ We said, ‘sure, we can cook in anything,’" said Pete.
Kenny and Pete are quick to defend when people say they are wary of traveling to Hammer’s Lot.
"There's only one real reason you need to 'keep safe,'" Pete added while gesturing to the area directly around the Red Pinto. "This whole berm will be filled with people this whole parking lot will be filled with people and it gets tight.”
If you can get away from the car and the cabinet, you run into people like Captain Buffalo.
"We see each other we hug each other. We asked about how are the kids doing, how's work going," said Captain Buffalo. "And it's just a great camaraderie and a friendship that only meets outside this beautiful stadium."
Right next door is the official DJ for this party who makes his way down from Canada.
Past the bowling ball shots and other cheers, DJ Paul Burdon loves what this lot has become.
"Walk around, people share their food with you. They share a drink with you. Like any other team, players, whatever," he said. "Fans can walk around. You're not going to have to fear anything. It's just a great time."
Home to Bills Mafia — the welcome does still extend to invaders who are sometimes more similar than we think.
"We're big Vikings fans," said Tony Carlson, who made the drive from Minnesota for the game. "We've never won anything. We are very passionate about our teams, but we'll have good years."
And they know where the party is.
"We made sure to make our way over here. And it's been nothing short of spectacular," Carlson added.
When it comes to the infamous lot, the fans come in from far and wide.
"Fifteen-year season ticket holders come out here all the time. This is my home away from home. Where else would I rather be," asked Californian Bills fan and memorabilia collector Justin Higgs.
For Higgs and so much of Bills Mafia – ‘right here, right now’ every gameday in the lot.
"Is this family if you come here if you don't know anybody?” he said. “It doesn't matter. They make you feel welcome."
Which brings us back to the Red Pinto used to cook bacon, burgers and more outside the stadium in Orchard Park — a man and his condiments, and who knows; maybe a trophy or two somewhere down the road.