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We had just met and fast became good friends, and at the center of that new association was the common
passion we had for sports and following our favorite teams. So we met up at Headlines Sports Bar in the
arena on this night, the last night of the NHL regular season, and as we proceeded to our seats we could
not even conceive that this game would be the first stop on what would become the Ultimate Sports Road
Trip.
This is our home venue, and we have plenty of good things to say. HSBC Arena is the home of the Buffalo
Sabres, and is located right downtown Buffalo at the foot of Main Street, adjacent to the waterfront and part of
the emerging historic Cobblestone District. The arena opened in 1996, replacing the old Aud almost directly
across the street.
You enter the arena through a main entry pavilion, which is the largest of any of the NHL venues. At one end
is a large team store, at the other, ticket offices, and as you walk through the center turnstiles, a streaming
sports ticker and video monitors hang overhead. On the second level of the pavilion is Headlines Sports Bar,
which is the best place in Buffalo to view the downtown skyline and to people watch. Concourses are wide
and bright, with plenty of exhibits of Sabres greats, and an interactive kiosk sponsored by Adelphia Cable,
complete with internet hookups.
The bowl and premium seating
The arena is broken into four levels – lower, club, suite and upper. Club and suite level ticket holders have
access to the Harbour Club, offering a premium buffet and a la carte items served up at individual food
stations. A parking ramp is built right into the arena and premium ticket holders have their own exclusive
entrance to the club level.
A huge eight sided scoreboard serves as the centerpiece, at the top of the board are Sabres logos which
snort out smoke each time the home team scores a goal. Stationary ad panels and message boards are
hung sporadically along the balconies.
Concessions
Two sandwiches on the menu rate high on our list - next to Headlines Sports Bar is a carving station offering
famous Buffalo Beef on Weck. This is the real deal folks and don't forget the horseradish! Also, the bologna
and onions is awesome! The Sabres team store is one of the largest in the league and has many cool
items.
Banners/retired numbers
The Sabres display their division and conference champions, and retired numbers include the famed
members of the French Connection and NHL icon Tim Horton, who played his last days in a Sabres
uniform. Banners honoring the founding owners of the Sabres – Seymour and Northrup Knox, are also
displayed.
Summary
This is one of the NHL’s best venues, because it combines all the best of Buffalo’s strong hockey tradition,
the work ethic of friendly, gritty, blue collar Buffalo people, our good friends across the border in Canada who
come down in droves to support the Sabres (as well as their teams, which makes for some interesting
banter!) and a sleek yet intimate modern arena. Should the adjoining waterfront and historic district ever get
built as planned, and the old Aud get a new life, this will be one great place to come and spend some time..
SCORING:
Architecture 8
Food and team store 7
Scoreboard and electronics 4.5
Ushers 8
Fan support 6
Location and neighborhood 6
Banners and history 8
In game entertainment 7
Concourses/fan comfort 7
Bonus: USRT red carpet treatment 4; Cobblestone district 2, Pour Mans Aud Club 2
Total: 69.5
passion we had for sports and following our favorite teams. So we met up at Headlines Sports Bar in the
arena on this night, the last night of the NHL regular season, and as we proceeded to our seats we could
not even conceive that this game would be the first stop on what would become the Ultimate Sports Road
Trip.
This is our home venue, and we have plenty of good things to say. HSBC Arena is the home of the Buffalo
Sabres, and is located right downtown Buffalo at the foot of Main Street, adjacent to the waterfront and part of
the emerging historic Cobblestone District. The arena opened in 1996, replacing the old Aud almost directly
across the street.
You enter the arena through a main entry pavilion, which is the largest of any of the NHL venues. At one end
is a large team store, at the other, ticket offices, and as you walk through the center turnstiles, a streaming
sports ticker and video monitors hang overhead. On the second level of the pavilion is Headlines Sports Bar,
which is the best place in Buffalo to view the downtown skyline and to people watch. Concourses are wide
and bright, with plenty of exhibits of Sabres greats, and an interactive kiosk sponsored by Adelphia Cable,
complete with internet hookups.
The bowl and premium seating
The arena is broken into four levels – lower, club, suite and upper. Club and suite level ticket holders have
access to the Harbour Club, offering a premium buffet and a la carte items served up at individual food
stations. A parking ramp is built right into the arena and premium ticket holders have their own exclusive
entrance to the club level.
A huge eight sided scoreboard serves as the centerpiece, at the top of the board are Sabres logos which
snort out smoke each time the home team scores a goal. Stationary ad panels and message boards are
hung sporadically along the balconies.
Concessions
Two sandwiches on the menu rate high on our list - next to Headlines Sports Bar is a carving station offering
famous Buffalo Beef on Weck. This is the real deal folks and don't forget the horseradish! Also, the bologna
and onions is awesome! The Sabres team store is one of the largest in the league and has many cool
items.
Banners/retired numbers
The Sabres display their division and conference champions, and retired numbers include the famed
members of the French Connection and NHL icon Tim Horton, who played his last days in a Sabres
uniform. Banners honoring the founding owners of the Sabres – Seymour and Northrup Knox, are also
displayed.
Summary
This is one of the NHL’s best venues, because it combines all the best of Buffalo’s strong hockey tradition,
the work ethic of friendly, gritty, blue collar Buffalo people, our good friends across the border in Canada who
come down in droves to support the Sabres (as well as their teams, which makes for some interesting
banter!) and a sleek yet intimate modern arena. Should the adjoining waterfront and historic district ever get
built as planned, and the old Aud get a new life, this will be one great place to come and spend some time..
SCORING:
Architecture 8
Food and team store 7
Scoreboard and electronics 4.5
Ushers 8
Fan support 6
Location and neighborhood 6
Banners and history 8
In game entertainment 7
Concourses/fan comfort 7
Bonus: USRT red carpet treatment 4; Cobblestone district 2, Pour Mans Aud Club 2
Total: 69.5
| HSBC Arena |
#1
HSBC
Arena
Buffalo,
New York
April 19,
1998
Ottawa
Senators at
Buffalo
Sabres
Originally
named
Marine
Midland
Arena,
name
changed
March,
2000
HELPFUL
LINKS
Buffalo
Sabres
Buffalo
Bandits
HSBC
Arena
NFTA
Metro Rail
HSBC
Arena
Buffalo,
New York
April 19,
1998
Ottawa
Senators at
Buffalo
Sabres
Originally
named
Marine
Midland
Arena,
name
changed
March,
2000
HELPFUL
LINKS
Buffalo
Sabres
Buffalo
Bandits
HSBC
Arena
NFTA
Metro Rail
