KeyBank Center is a multifunctional indoor arena in Buffalo , New York , USA . Is home to the NHL Buffalo Sabers team. It was opened on September 21, 1996 to replace the Buffalo Memorial Auditorium . It was originally planned that the arena would be called the Crossroads Arena. Before the first game took place in the arena, title was sold to Marine Midland Bank, a branch of the HSBC banking group and the arena was renamed the “Marine Midland Arena”. In 1999, the arena was renamed the "HSBC Arena".
| Kibank Center | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Location | |
| Built | 1996 |
| Open | September 21, 1996 |
| Construction cost | 127.5 million dollars |
| Architect | Ellerbe becket |
| Owner | Erie County and Buffalo City |
| Developer | |
| Capacity | 18 500 (concerts) 19,200 (basketball) 18 690 (hockey) |
| Home team | Buffalo Sabers ( NHL ) (1999-2003) Buffalo Wings (RHI) (1997-1999) |
| Site | keybankcenter.com |
In 2011, First Niagara Financial Group acquired the HSBC banking network in Connecticut and upstate New York. [1] Since title to the arena was not part of the deal, First Niagara, HSBC and Buffalo Sabers agreed on a new agreement to sell title to the stadium. In the summer of the same year, the arena was renamed the “First Niagara Center” [2] [3] [4] . The new lease is for 15 years, almost as much as was left with the HSBC lease [5] . In 2016, the arena was renamed the Cyber Center. [6]
Notes
- ↑ Home of the Sabers to be renamed First Niagara Center . Buffalo Sabers (August 25, 2011). Date of treatment August 25, 2011.
- ↑ Sabers Announce HSBC Arena Name Change to First Niagara Center (Link unavailable - history ) . WBEN (August 25, 2011). Date of treatment August 25, 2011.
- ↑ Vogl, John HSBC Arena to Become First Niagara Center (unavailable link) (August 25, 2011). Date of treatment August 25, 2011. Archived on October 8, 2011.
- ↑ Vogl, John First Niagara, Sabers Feel They're Part of a Hot Team as Bank Aquires Arena Naming Rights (link unavailable) (August 25, 2011). Date of treatment August 25, 2011. Archived on September 23, 2011.
- ↑ Newberg, Rich Sabers Home to be Called First Niagara Center . WIVB (August 25, 2011). Date of treatment August 25, 2011. Archived March 21, 2012.
- ↑ Downtown arena set for new name: KeyBank Center (inaccessible link) . Date of treatment August 29, 2016. Archived August 19, 2016.