NHL DID YOU KNOW? KEY BANK CENTER EDITION #nhl #buffalo #sabres #buffalosabres #nhl24 #hockey #ice
KeyBank Center is a multipurpose indoor arena located in Buffalo, New York, United States. Originally known as Marine Midland Arena, the venue has since been named HSBC Arena and First Niagara Center. Home to the Buffalo Sabres of the National Hockey League since 1996, is the largest indoor arena in Western New York, seating 19,070. It replaced the Sabres’ former home, Buffalo Memorial Auditorium, where the team played from 1970 to 1996. The venue is also home to the Buffalo Bandits of the National Lacrosse League.
KeyBank Center was previously home to the Canisius Golden Griffins (NCAA), Buffalo Blizzard (NPSL), Buffalo Wings (RHI) and Buffalo Destroyers (AFL).
In addition to concerts and professional wrestling, the venue has hosted major events including the NCAA Division I men’s basketball tournament, 1999 Stanley Cup Finals, 2003 Frozen Four, 2011 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships, 2012 NLL All-Star Game, 2016 NHL Draft, UFC 210, 2018 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships and 2019 Frozen Four.
History
Planning and construction
What was originally known during construction as Crossroads Arena opened September 21, 1996, replacing the Buffalo Memorial Auditorium. The construction cost was $127.5 million, (approximately $248 million in 2023 dollars).[2]
The venue was named after its central downtown location, which was originally proposed as the site of a domed stadium in the 1960s for the Buffalo Bills and a potential Major League Baseball team before that project was abandoned.[6]
Opening and reception
On November 16, 1996, the arena’s first JumboTron, an eight-sided scoreboard made by Daktronics with Sony video screens, fell to the ice while it was being remotely moved. This happened minutes after a few players ended practice and hours before a game between the Buffalo Sabres and Boston Bruins. Nobody was injured, but the game was postponed.[7] The scoreboard was replaced later that season.
