LECOM Harborcenter facts for kids
Quick facts for kids LECOM Harborcenter |
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| General information | |
| Status | Complete |
| Type | Stadium, commercial, hotel |
| Architectural style | Postmodern architecture |
| Location | 100 Washington St, Buffalo, New York, United States |
| Coordinates | 42°52′36″N 78°52′36″W / 42.87664°N 78.876686°W |
| Construction started | March 1, 2013 |
| Topped-out | June 25, 2014 |
| Completed | October/November 2014 (Restaurants/rinks/training facility) August 2015 (hotel) |
| Opening | October 31, 2014 / November 6, 2014 |
| Cost | US$ 172.2 million (est) |
| Owner | Pegula Sports and Entertainment |
| Management | Buffalo Sabres |
| Height | |
| Roof | 240 ft (73 m) |
| Technical details | |
| Floor count | 20 |
| Floor area | 600,000 sq ft (56,000 m2) |
| Design and construction | |
| Architecture firm | Populous |
| Developer | Harborcenter Development, LLC |
| Main contractor | Mortenson Construction |
| Other information | |
| Number of rooms | Hotel: 205 rooms |
| Parking | 750 spaces |
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| Location | 7th Floor |
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| Public transit | NFTA Metro Rail (Erie Canal Harbor) |
| Owner | Pegula Sports and Entertainment |
| Operator | Buffalo Sabres |
| Capacity | 1,800 (Rink 1) 150 (Rink 2) |
| Surface | 200' x 85' (Rinks 1 and 2) |
| Construction | |
| Broke ground | March 1, 2013 |
| Opened | October 31, 2014 |
| Tenants | |
| Canisius Golden Griffins (NCAA) (2014–present) Buffalo Jr. Sabres (OJHL) (2014–present) Buffalo Beauts (NWHL) (2015–2019) Erie Kats (NJCAA) (2014–present) Buffalo Sabres (practice facility) |
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LECOM Harborcenter is a cool building in Buffalo, New York. It's a "mixed-use development," which means it has many different things inside. You can find shops, restaurants, a hotel, and even two ice hockey rinks!
This big building is owned by Pegula Sports and Entertainment. It sits right across from the KeyBank Center and Canalside, which are popular spots in Buffalo. It's also easy to get to by public transport.
The two hockey rinks inside Harborcenter are home to several teams. These include the Buffalo Jr. Sabres, the Canisius Golden Griffins, and the Erie Kats. It's also where the Buffalo Sabres (a professional hockey team) practice!
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Building LECOM Harborcenter
The idea for Harborcenter started when officials from the Buffalo Sabres visited a practice facility in Washington, D.C. They saw a building with ice rinks built on top of a parking garage. This gave them the idea to create something similar in Buffalo.
At first, the plan was just for hockey rinks and a parking garage. But then, Kim Pegula, whose family owns the Sabres, suggested adding a hotel and restaurants. This made the project much bigger and more exciting.
Construction Timeline
Construction on the 20-story Harborcenter began in March 2013. The land it sits on, called the Webster Block, was bought from the City of Buffalo for $2.2 million that same month.
The company Mortenson Construction built the facility. By June 25, 2014, the hockey rink part of the building was "topped out." This means the highest structural beam was put in place. The entire building was finished in August 2015.
The hockey rinks and restaurants opened first, in October and November 2014. The hotel welcomed its first guests in August 2015.
What Happens Inside Harborcenter
Harborcenter was paid for by Terry Pegula, the owner of the Buffalo Sabres. His company, Pegula Sports and Entertainment, owns the building.
The building has indoor parking for 750 cars. On the sixth floor, you'll find two ice rinks that are the same size as those used in the NHL. One rink can seat 1,800 people, and the other can seat 150.
There's also a special training facility called IMPACT Sports Performance. It's 5,000 square feet and helps athletes train off the ice. The building also has classrooms and a RapidShot Hockey Training System for players.
Harborcenter was one of the most expensive privately funded buildings ever built in Buffalo. It was designed to get a special "LEED Silver" certification. This means it was built using environmentally friendly methods.
In 2019, the building got a new name, LECOM Harborcenter. This happened after a 10-year agreement with the Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine (LECOM).
Shops and Food at Harborcenter
Harborcenter is home to a 205-room Marriott hotel. It also has many places to eat and shop.
A large two-floor restaurant called 716 Food and Sport opened in October 2014. There's also a special Tim Hortons coffee shop. This Tim Hortons honors Tim Horton, a famous hockey player who played for the Buffalo Sabres. It also pays tribute to the old Buffalo Memorial Auditorium.
Along Main Street, there are smaller shops called The Shops at Harborcenter. These stores offer unique items. Some of the shops that have been there include Red Siren, Modern Nostalgia, Fowler's Chocolates, and Clayton's Toys & Gifts.
In 2016, a quick-serve restaurant and boutique called Healthy Scratch opened. It is operated by Kelly and Jessica Pegula.
Hockey Action at The Rinks
The two ice rinks at Harborcenter are known as The Rinks. They are a busy place for hockey!
Home Teams and Events
The larger rink, called KeyBank Rink at Harborcenter, is home to the Canisius Golden Griffins college hockey team and the Buffalo Jr. Sabres. The Erie Community College Kats also play there. The smaller rink is called New Wave Energy Rink.
The Rinks also host the Academy of Hockey and the Harborcenter Cup. They are the main practice facility for the Buffalo Sabres.
The rinks opened on October 31, 2014, with a college hockey game between Canisius and Ohio State.
Special Hockey Events
Every year around Veterans Day, a special needs hockey team called the Buffalo Sabres Thunder hosts a tournament at The Rinks. It's called the Buffalo Fall Festival.
Harborcenter has also hosted big hockey events for the NHL.
- From 2015 to at least 2019, the NHL Scouting Combine was held here. This is where young hockey players show off their skills before the NHL Draft.
- Buffalo also hosted the NHL Entry Draft in 2016.
- The 2015 IPC Ice Sledge Hockey World Championships took place at Harborcenter.
- In 2016, the first National Women's Hockey League all-star game was held here.
- The CHA women's college hockey tournament has been hosted at Harborcenter since 2016.
- From June 22 to July 3, 2017, Rink 1 hosted the 11 Day Power Play. This charity event set a world record for the longest continuous hockey game! It's now an annual event.
- The 2018 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships were partly hosted at the KeyBank Rink.
- Since 2019, the Atlantic Hockey Tournament for men's college hockey has been held at Harborcenter.
