The Hong Kong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Arena, "home" of the Buffalo Sabres.
Now, the Buffalo Sabres play at the HSBC Arena, a Sporting Palace with enough luxury boxes to go around. And why not? Gary Bettman's plans of becoming as rich as possible are coming to fruition. The new ice age in New York is behind all of the arena closings, as the old ones had no luxury boxes. The Chicago Stadium was as solid as a rock and could have easily lasted another 50 years, but it wasn't making enough money, so now the Black Hawks play at another faceless palace of greed. Even modern buildings like the Brendan Byrne Arena or the Great Western Forum aren't good enough for the owners, who see only dollar signs. The Aud had the best view of a hockey game I've ever seen, and it was so solid that the Sabres could have stayed for another fifty years. But, the Holy Sellout, Batman, Corporations Abound! Arena (HSBCA) could provide even more. Upon visiting the HSBCA, you visit the NHL's largest team store, and then go up into the main level where all of the conveniences of a modern sports bar are provided. Then, because you are a real fan who cannot afford the top quality seats, you go up the tiny escalator and get shafted aside while watching the game from much farther away. Maple Leaf Gardens recently saw all of its history sold to the highest bidder at a great auction. The "most important building in English Canada" received a tiny funeral and then fell victim to the Abnormally Corporate Centre and the dollar signs in Steve Stavro's eyes. It apparently isn't enough to own the "Carlton Street Cashbox" and have the fans love you for a committment to history when you can own the "Bay Street Vault" and have the corporations give you a license to print money. Who knows what will become of MLG? Not even the team, anymore.
The HSBC Arena is a decent building and a decent arena. As much as I miss the Aud, I still could love the Sabres if they still looked the same as they did when I fell in love. Who had the idea that the Sabres would look good in lacrosse jerseys of red and black? In 1997, the Sabres were a young team in a new arena in new uniforms. They were an expansion team in nearly every way. The old tapes only confirm how beautiful the old look was. How many of you, when asked to give your "best dressed in the league" award, would give the award to the Thrashers? The Wild? The Ducks? God forbid. These new washed-out teams in washed out arenas are a stale, sorry imitation of what hockey used to be. Besides, if money truly is all that matters, look at the examples of the New York Islanders, the Seattle Supersonics, and the Detroit Pistons. Each team conciously went back to their old look, and with excellent results.
The HSBC Arena is capable of supporting the same raucous crowds the Aud had, as proved in the Stanley Cup Finals in 1999, plus it is better for concerts. But! If the city of Buffalo wanted a concert hall, they could have built one. What the Sabres shoud start doing is holding games in the Aud again. Perhaps twice a month, for old-timers games, or what-not. The city of Buffalo owns the Aud; perhaps they could be persuaded to open it up again. It could happen. Riiiiight.
I didn't notice it the first time I went to the new place. It may have seemed odd, but it was a Thursday nighter against Tampa Bay, and so. . . I didn't think too much of it. But this time there was no excuse. The HSBCA has no crowd noise!!! Well, none that was fan inspired, anyway. The fans applauded for goals, and for the ridiculous "crowd meter," but there wasn't a single "Let's Go, Buffalo!" or an inspired chorus of heckling. There was no excuse, either: It was a great game against the Canadiens (read:Américains) and the Sabres fans had no reason to be as quiet as doormice, or possibly Lightning fans. To make sure I wasn't losing my mind or remembering the Sabres through the rose-coloured glasses of youth, I checked the tapes and realized that the Aud was everything that I have said that it was: raucous, loud, intense, and so on. I think I know why, too. The blue-collar fans of Buffalo, the ones who have been there since the beginning with open arms and warm hearts, have been priced right out the door. Where were the signs? Where were the shirtless men with "Sabres" printed on their chests? Where's the Earl of Bud, dancing on the railings to the music of the Champs? Where's the passion? I can only conclude that the Fodor's Complete Four Sport Stadium Guide 1995 was prophetic when it had this to say about the Aud:
"With a smaller-than-normal ice surface, Sabres games have long been known as rock-'em, sock-'em affairs. The fans - maybe as much to stay warm as anything - tend towards wild, rowdy behaviour, especially on Friday nights, the usual home night for Buffalo.
"That spirit could be lost when the Sabres move to Crossroads Arena, [remember that? -ed.] just two blocks farther down Main Street. Sales of corporate boxes and premium seating will foot the bill for the new building, and the local blue-collar fans who have supported the team since its inception in 1970 are already feeling squeezed out."
What can I say? How sadly prophetic.
What will become of the Aud? I'd like to start something, anything to save the building. We still have a chance, but unless someone out there has a few million dollars to throw at the old girl she will stay falling apart. Ideas anyone?