Buffalo Sabres

Move over Detroit! Buffalo is Hockeytown, U.S.A.!

ESPN The Magazine Ranks the Buffalo Sabres the No. 1 Sports Franchise

Despite Detroit’s claim to the title, Buffalo can make a pretty good case for being designated “Hockeytown, U.S.A.” In March 2007, ESPN The Magazine ranked the Buffalo Sabres No. 1 in their Big 4 professional sports franchises “Ultimate Standings” poll for “giving fans the most back for the emotion, money and time they invest in their teams.”

According to ESPN The Magazine, the difference between the fandemonium of Buffalo’s HSBC Arena and the sedate corporate culture of Toronto’s Air Canada Centre illustrates why hockey is better in Buffalo.

Author Peter Keating writes: “Larry Quinn, managing partner of the Buffalo Sabres, knows owner Tom Golisano doesn't like him to talk about other clubs' fans, but he just can't help himself. Anytime the Sabres host archrival Toronto, Quinn enjoys watching the thousands of crazies who make the 101-mile trek to cheer their Leafs.

‘Jersey-wearing, face-painted, wig-wearing types, not the kind you see at the Air Canada Centre," says Quinn. "It's ironic that Buffalo has become the place where true Toronto fans can express themselves.’

Actually, it makes perfect sense. Because when you ignite fans the Sabres way, you're going to spark passion in your opponents as well as in your own faithful.”

So there you have it. At the 18,500 seat HSBC Arena in downtown Buffalo, the highflying National Hockey League action is matched by one of the best fan experiences in sport. You’ve come to watch hockey? Buffalo is the place!

Situated in downtown Buffalo between high-rise office buildings and the Erie Canal Harbor, HSBC Arena is easily accessible from the New York State Thruway and by the Metro Rail line.

Out-of-town hockey fans will find that downtown Buffalo’s hotels make attending a Buffalo Sabres game a hassle-free affair. For an upscale and stylish stay, make reservations at The Mansion on Delaware Avenue (414 Delaware Avenue), Buffalo Niagara’s only AAA rated Four Diamond hotel. Both the Hyatt Regency Buffalo (Two Fountain Plaza) and the Comfort Suites (601 Main Street) have Metro Rail stops adjacent to their hotels – all you have to do is jump onboard the train and you are dropped off at the front door of the arena. The Adam’s Mark (120 Church Street) is a full-service hotel, located a short walk or shuttle ride to the arena. Other nearby accommodations include the Hampton Inn & Suites (220 Delaware Avenue), the Holiday Inn Downtown (620 Delaware Avenue) and the Best Western Inn on the Avenue (510 Delaware Avenue).

The blocks surrounding the arena contain an abundance of outstanding eating and drinking establishments. Set in a 19th century three-story brick building, the Pearl Street Grill & Brewery (76 Pearl Street) is a favorite gathering spot before and after games. The establishment brews its own ales and serves up large dishes of scrumptious pub food. Pettibone’s (275 Washington Street), located inside Dunn Tire Park, home of the AAA baseball Buffalo Bisons, is a nice addition to a sporting evening. City Grill (268 Main Street) and The Irish Times (38 Swan Street) are all great options for pre-event dining. A block away from the arena is the Cobblestone District, a mix of late 19th and early 20th century brick buildings and cobblestone streets. The Cobblestone Bar and Grill (130 South Park Avenue) and W.J. Morrissey’s are the closest nearby watering holes. Operating as a corner tavern since 1882, the Swannie House (170 Ohio Street) is located two blocks from the arena and once served as a boarding house for Great Lakes ship captains and crews

If you have time before a game, stop and visit the HSBC Arena’s neighbors, the Erie Canal Harbor, the recently restored western terminus of the Erie Canal (currently under construction), and the Buffalo & Erie County Naval & Military Park, the largest inland floating history museum in the United States. A shoreline walking path will take you from the naval grounds to the Erie Basin Marina Gardens and an 80-foot observation tower. From the top of the tower are panoramic views of downtown Buffalo, Lake Erie, the Niagara River and the Canadian shore.

Welcome to Buffalo, the new Hockeytown, U.S.A. It’s FAN-tastic!