KeyBank Center facts for kids
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"Banditland"
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KeyBank Center in 2021
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| Former names | Marine Midland Arena (1996–2000) HSBC Arena (2000–2011) First Niagara Center (2011–2016) |
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| Address | 1 Seymour H. Knox III Plaza |
| Location | Buffalo, New York, United States |
| Coordinates | 42°52′30″N 78°52′35″W / 42.87500°N 78.87639°W |
| Public transit |  Special Events |
| Owner | Erie County |
| Operator | Buffalo Sabres |
| Capacity | Ice hockey: 18,595 (1996–1999) 18,690 (1999–2012) 19,070 (2012–present) Concerts: 18,500 Basketball: 19,200 Wrestling: 16,597 |
| Field size | 700,000 sq ft (65,000 m2) |
| Construction | |
| Broke ground | November 4, 1994 |
| Opened | September 21, 1996 |
| Construction cost | $127.5 million ($238 million in 2022 dollars ) |
| Architect | Ellerbe Becket Bergmann Associates PC |
| General contractor | Huber, Hunt & Nichols |
| Tenants | |
| Buffalo Sabres (NHL) 1996–present Buffalo Bandits (NLL) 1996–present Canisius (NCAA) 1996–1998 Buffalo Blizzard (NPSL) 1996–2001 Buffalo Wings (RHI) 1997 Buffalo Destroyers (AFL) 1999–2003 |
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KeyBank Center is a large indoor stadium in Buffalo, New York. It's a place where many exciting events happen. This includes ice hockey games, lacrosse matches, concerts, and other fun shows.
The stadium is home to the Buffalo Sabres, a professional ice hockey team. They play in the National Hockey League (NHL). It's also where the Buffalo Bandits lacrosse team plays. They are part of the National Lacrosse League.
KeyBank Center is the biggest indoor stadium in Western New York. It can hold up to 19,070 people for hockey games. It opened in 1996, replacing an older stadium called Buffalo Memorial Auditorium. Over the years, it has been known by different names, like Marine Midland Arena, HSBC Arena, and First Niagara Center.
Besides regular games, KeyBank Center has hosted many big events. These include important hockey tournaments like the 1999 Stanley Cup Finals and the 2011 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships. It has also hosted major basketball tournaments and wrestling events.
History of KeyBank Center
Building the Arena
The stadium, first called Crossroads Arena during construction, opened on September 21, 1996. It cost about $127.5 million to build. This new arena took the place of the old Buffalo Memorial Auditorium.
The stadium was built in a central spot downtown. This area was once planned for a huge domed stadium back in the 1960s. That project was never finished, but the location was perfect for the new arena.
Early Days and a Scoreboard Mishap
On November 16, 1996, something unusual happened. The arena's first large scoreboard, called a JumboTron, fell onto the ice. This happened just minutes after some players finished practice. Luckily, no one was hurt, but a hockey game had to be postponed. A new scoreboard was put in later that season.
Cool Updates and Changes Over Time
KeyBank Center has been updated many times to make it even better.
- More Seats and Better Boards: After the 1999 hockey season, 95 new seats were added. This made room for more fans. Later, in 2002, the old scoreboard was replaced with new LED screens. The hockey boards were also changed to be safer for players.
- New Scoreboard and Sabres Spirit: Before the 2007-2008 season, the arena got a brand new, high-definition scoreboard. This scoreboard has four big video screens and LED ribbons. It also features cool Buffalo Sabres logos that shoot smoke when the team scores! New speakers were also installed for better sound.
- Locker Rooms and Fan Upgrades: In 2011, the arena had a big renovation. This included brand new locker rooms for the Sabres team. The new locker room is round and has glowing team logos. It also has a fitness center, coaching offices, and a lounge for players. The visiting team locker rooms were also improved.
- Blue and Gold Colors: As part of the 2011 updates, the inside of the arena changed to the Sabres' blue and gold colors. All the old TVs were replaced with new HDTVs. New food options were added, and restrooms were updated for fans. Special chimes now sound two minutes before each period starts. This tells fans to head to their seats.
- Better Ice and Outdoor Screens: The ice rink itself also got a big upgrade. A new system was added to keep the ice perfect. All the Zamboni machines, which clean the ice, were replaced with newer models. Outside, a new LED screen was added to show upcoming events. This screen was later removed to build a bridge to a new complex.
- Alumni Plaza and French Connection Statue: In 2012, an area outside the arena was turned into Tops Markets Alumni Plaza. It has plaques with the names of all Buffalo Sabres players. The main feature is a 10-foot tall bronze statue of "The French Connection." This was a famous line of Sabres players.
- LECOM Harborcenter Connection: A new building called LECOM Harborcenter was built next to the arena. It has two hockey rinks, a hotel, shops, and restaurants. An elevated walkway now connects KeyBank Center to this new complex. Also, 380 new seats were added to the arena in 2012. This brought the total capacity to 19,070, a number that honors the team's founding year (1970).
- Exterior Makeover and New Lighting: In 2016, the outside of the arena got a fresh look. This was because the name changed from First Niagara Center to KeyBank Center. New signs were put up. A new LED lighting system was also installed. This system uses less energy and provides better light for events.
- Recent Updates: The arena's main scoreboard and roof were replaced in the spring and summer of 2024.
Who Owns and Names the Arena?
The arena's name has changed several times because of naming rights deals. These are agreements where a company pays to have its name on the building.
- Marine Midland Arena: When it first opened in 1996, it was called Marine Midland Arena. Marine Midland Bank bought the rights for 30 years.
- HSBC Arena: In 1999, Marine Midland Bank's parent company, HSBC, changed its name. So, the arena's name changed to HSBC Arena in 2000.
- First Niagara Center: In 2011, First Niagara Financial Group bought many of HSBC's branches. They then made a deal to rename the arena First Niagara Center.
- KeyBank Center: In 2015, KeyCorp announced plans to buy First Niagara. The arena's name officially became KeyBank Center on September 19, 2016.
The Erie County government plans to end its lease agreement in 2026. However, the Buffalo Sabres and KeyBank extended the naming rights agreement. This means the arena will keep the KeyBank Center name through the 2035–36 season.
Exciting Events at KeyBank Center
Hockey Highlights
KeyBank Center has seen many memorable hockey moments.
- The first Buffalo Sabres regular season game was played here on October 12, 1996.
- It hosted the 1998 NHL Entry Draft and the 2016 NHL Entry Draft, where new players are chosen by NHL teams.
- Games three, four, and six of the 1999 Stanley Cup Finals were held here.
- The arena hosted the Frozen Four college hockey tournament in 2003 and again in 2019.
- From 2010 to 2011, it hosted the 2011 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships, an international tournament for young players.
- In 2014, it hosted an Ontario Hockey League game, featuring future NHL star Connor McDavid.
- The first National Women's Hockey League game at the arena was played in 2018.
- The first Professional Women's Hockey League game in Buffalo was played here on February 23, 2025.
Basketball Games
The arena has also been a popular spot for basketball.
- The Toronto Raptors of the NBA have played preseason games here.
- Canisius College played some home games at the arena from 1996 to 1998.
- It has hosted many NCAA men's basketball tournaments. These include events in 2000, 2004, 2007, 2010, 2014, 2017, and 2022. It will also host again in 2026.
Professional Wrestling Shows
KeyBank Center has hosted many exciting professional wrestling events. These include shows from WCW, WWE, and AEW.
- It has been the site for TV tapings of popular shows like Monday Nitro, Raw is War, and SmackDown.
- Several big pay-per-view events have also taken place here. These include Fully Loaded (1999) and Night of Champions (2011).
Other Sports and Concerts
- On April 8, 2017, KeyBank Center hosted UFC 210, a major mixed martial arts event. It was the first UFC event in Buffalo in over 20 years.
- Many famous musicians have performed concerts here. Parts of Barenaked Ladies' 1998 concert were in their documentary Barenaked in America. Avril Lavigne's 2003 concert was released as Avril Lavigne: My World. A live recording of Bruce Springsteen's 2009 show was also released.
Special Features
Honoring Legends
The press box in the arena is named after Ted Darling. He was a famous broadcaster for the Sabres and is in the Hockey Hall of Fame.
