First Niagara Center

First Niagara Center
The Bank FNC F'N Center
Former names	Crossroads Arena (Planning-1996) Marine Midland Arena (1996–1999) HSBC Arena (1999-2011)
Location	One Seymour Knox III Plaza, Buffalo, New York, 14203-3096
Coordinates	42°52′30″N 78°52′35″W / 42.875°N 78.87639°W / 42.875; -78.87639Coordinates: 42°52′30″N 78°52′35″W / 42.875°N 78.87639°W / 42.875; -78.87639
Opened	September 21, 1996
Owner	Erie County, New York
Operator	Buffalo Sabres
Construction cost	$ 127.5 million ($178 million in 2011 dollars[1])
Architect	Ellerbe Becket[2]
General Contractor	Huber, Hunt & Nichols[3]
Capacity	Ice hockey: 18,595 (1996-1999), 18,690 (1999-present) Concerts: 18,500 Basketball: 19,200 Wrestling: 16,700
Tenants
Buffalo Sabres (NHL) (1996–present) Buffalo Bandits (NLL) (1996–present) Buffalo Destroyers (AFL) (1999–2003) Buffalo Blizzard (NPSL) (1996–2001) Buffalo Wings (RHI) (1997–1999)

The First Niagara Center, formerly known as HSBC Arena and Marine Midland Arena, is a multi-purpose indoor arena located in downtown Buffalo, New York, USA. It is the largest indoor arena in Western New York, seating 18,690 fans in its normal configuration, and was constructed primarily for the Buffalo Sabres of the National Hockey League, who have called the arena home since its opening in 1996, when it replaced the now-demolished Memorial Auditorium.

History

What was originally known during construction as Crossroads Arena opened September 21, 1996, replacing the Buffalo Memorial Auditorium. The construction cost was $127.5 million, (approximately $178 million in 2011 dollars)^[1].

Naming

Naming rights were sold to Marine Midland Bank, part of the HSBC banking group in 1996, and the building was renamed Marine Midland Arena before the first game had been played. The bank bought the naming rights for 30 years then to expire in 2026. In 1999, as part of HSBC's worldwide corporate rebranding, the arena's name was changed to HSBC Arena. The official renaming of the Arena took place March 17, 2000. The name of the arena had been Marine Midland Arena though 1999 and the change was approved in March 2000. This name change coincided with the playing of the first college basketball tournament game in the arena's history. The press box in the arena is named after former Sabres broadcaster and Hockey Hall of Fame member Ted Darling.

In 2011, Buffalo based First Niagara Financial Group reached an agreement to purchase HSBC Bank's upstate New York and Connecticut branch network.^[4] While naming rights to HSBC Arena were not included in the sale, First Niagara, HSBC, the Buffalo Sabres, and other parties reached an agreement to establish a new naming rights deal with First Niagara. The name of the arena became First Niagara Center that summer.^[5][6][7] First Niagara bought the naming rights for 15 years, approximately the remainder of the time that was left on HSBC's naming rights deal with the arena.^[8]

The scoreboard

On November 16, 1996, the arena's first JumboTron, an eight-sided scoreboard made by Daktronics with Sony video screens, fell to the ice while it was being remotely moved. This was minutes after a few players ended practice and hours before a game between the Sabres and Boston Bruins. Nobody was injured, but the game was postponed.^[9] The scoreboard was replaced later that season.

In time for the Buffalo Sabres' 2007–2008 season, a new High Definition scoreboard manufactured by Daktronics was installed. In addition the four main speaker racks were removed and replaced and two additional speaker racks were added. The new scoreboard features four large high-definition video screens, surrounded by two 360-degree LED ribbon boards. The bottom of the board features large Buffalo Sabres logos with giant sabres crossed behind them. The handles of the sabres are lit with blue LED lights. The Sabres logos shoot smoke out of the Buffalo's nostrils every time a Sabres goal is scored or when the Sabres win at home.

Renovations

The first update to First Niagara Center took place for the 2007–2008 season. Two illuminated Sabres logos were added in the upper level of the pavilion on both sides of the Sports Headlines bar. Also, new LED ribbon boards were installed in the arena seating bowl in conjunction with the new HD scoreboard. Later in 2008, a mural was installed in the lower pavilion near the main entrance. The mural contained pictures from the 2008 NHL Winter Classic held at Ralph Wilson Stadium in Orchard Park, NY.

The second update, took place during Summer and early Fall of 2011. The major renovation included the demolition and installation of brand new locker rooms. This $6 million locker room project ^[10] led by Cannon Design of Grand Island, NY saw an expansion from 8,000 square feet (740 m²) to 15,220 square feet (1,414 m²) in size. The new Sabres locker room is designed as a circular room, complete with illuminated team logos on the floor and ceiling. Additional new facilities include a state of the art fitness center, new coaching offices, film rooms where players and coaches can watch previous games, and a players lounge with a kitchen and team chef. Also, the new Sabres locker room features a Wall of Fame featuring team history, the names and numbers of retired team jerseys. Limestones that were salvaged from the former Buffalo Memorial Auditorium are surrounded by glass, which features the names of all team players throughout franchise existence. Visiting team locker rooms were also expanded from 3,230 square feet (300 m²) to 3,511 square feet (326.2 m²). Finally, a new post-game interview room was also built.

In addition to the new locker rooms and training facilities, the public spaces within the arena were also upgraded.^[11] First, the arena took on the Sabres Blue and Gold color scheme inside the arena bowl. It replaces the red color used on the team logo from 1996-2006. The previous Sabres logo (used from 2006-2010) was removed from the scoreboard and replaced with the current logo. All of the original television sets were replaced with new High Definition televisions. New food choices were added as part of the upgraded concessions.^[12] Signage was replaced or upgraded where needed. Restrooms saw cup holders and HD televisions added for fan convenience.^[13] Also, new chimes were added, which sound two minutes prior to the opening faceoff each period. This lets fans know to head towards the seating areas.^[14] Finally, the Sports Headlines bar has now been replaced by the Labatt Blue Zone.^[15]

The ice rink itself saw a multi-million dollar upgrade with adding a new dehumidification system and cooling tower.^[16] All of the Zamboni machines were replaced and upgraded to feature laser beam leveling. These upgrades improve the quality of the ice surface.^[13]

Outside, a new LED ribbon board was added to the entrance pavillion which can display upcoming events, scores, and team information.^[17]

Operations

First Niagara Center during a Buffalo Sabres game

First Niagara Center during the 2008 National Lacrosse League Champion's Cup game

First Niagara Center is home to the Buffalo Sabres of the National Hockey League and the Buffalo Bandits of the National Lacrosse League. The arena was the home of the Buffalo Destroyers of the Arena Football League, the Buffalo Blizzard of the National Professional Soccer League II, and the Buffalo Wings of Roller Hockey International during each team's brief existence.

The arena also is used regularly for college basketball games and hosts concerts. It has been home to the NCAA (2000, 2004, 2007, 2010) and MAAC (1997, 1999, 2001, 2005) men's basketball tournaments. In 2003 the Arena hosted the Frozen Four NCAA Ice Hockey tournament. In addition, First Niagara Center has been used for hosting several professional wrestling events, mainly WWE's Fully Loaded 1999, The Great American Bash (2005) and Armageddon 2008, World Championship Wrestling's Fall Brawl 2000, the February 28, 2011 episode of Monday Night Raw and WWE Night Of Champions 2011, which took place on September 18,2011.

The arena was also host to a house party for the 2008 NHL Winter Classic. Festivities included the Buffalo Sabres Alumni Hockey Team playing in pre-game action, followed by the Winter Classic shown on the scoreboard. In December 2010 through January 2011, the arena hosted the IIHF World Junior Championship tournament. On November 10, 2009, Metallica played a concert at the arena.

Seating

For sporting events, the First Niagara Center can seat 18,690 spectators. In the event that the arena is being used for a concert, basketball game, or similar event, the total number would increase - accounting for seats or standing space on the arena's floor. Both sporting events and concerts at the arena are served by the Special Events station of the Buffalo Metro Rail.

Gallery

• 

  Front entrance

• 

  Formely HSBC Arena (now First Niagara Center)shown with the old Buffalo Memorial Auditorium

• 

  The jumbotron prior to a Buffalo Sabres game

• 

  The jumbotron after a goal from the Sabres

References

1. ^ ^{a b} Consumer Price Index (estimate) 1800–2008. Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis. Retrieved December 7, 2010.
2. ^ . http://www.ellerbebecket.com/expertise/project/118/HSBC_Arena.html. 
3. ^ http://hockey.ballparks.com/NHL/BuffaloSabres/index.htm
4. ^ "Home of the Sabres to be renamed First Niagara Center". Buffalo Sabres. http://sabres.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=587384&navid=DL. Retrieved 25 August 2011. 
5. ^ "Sabres Announce HSBC Arena Name Change to First Niagara Center". WBEN. http://www.wben.com/HSBC-Arena-Becomes-First-Niagara-Center/10730994. Retrieved 25 August 2011. 
6. ^ [1]
7. ^ "First Niagara, Sabres feel they're part of a hot team as bank aquires [sic] arena naming rights". Buffalo News. http://blogs.buffalonews.com/sabres/2011/08/first-niagara-sabres-feel-theyre-part-of-a-hot-team-as-bank-aquires-arena-naming-rights.html. Retrieved 25 August 2011. 
8. ^ Newberg, Rich. "Sabres home to be called First Niagara Center". WIVB. http://www.wivb.com/dpp/news/buffalo/Sabres-to-announce-arena-naming-rights. Retrieved 25 August 2011. 
9. ^ The Buffalo jumbotron accident
10. ^ James Fink (July 7, 2011). "Sabres spending $6M on arena upgrades". WKBW. http://www.wkbw.com/news/business/Sabres-spending-6M-on-arena-upgrades-125135479.html. 
11. ^ First Niagara Center Upgrades Wow Fans & Players. October 13, 2011. http://downtown.wgrz.com/news/news/60020-first-niagara-center-upgrades-wow-fans-players. 
12. ^ "Excitement before Sabres' first home game of season". YNN Buffalo. October 14, 2011. http://buffalo.ynn.com/content/560440/excitement-before-sabres--first-home-game-of-season. 
13. ^ ^{a b} Howard Simon. "Sabres-Toronto". INSIDE the NUMBERS. WGR 550. http://wgr550.com/pages/10993015.php. Retrieved November 13, 2011. 
14. ^ George Richert (14 Oct 2011). "Pegulas pull out the stops for opener". WIVB-TV. http://www.wivb.com/dpp/sports/sabres_and_nhl/Pegulas-pull-out-the-stops-for-opener. 
15. ^ "A-Z Guide". First Niagara Center. Western New York Hockey, LLC. http://www.firstniagaracenter.com/guide.asp. Retrieved November 13, 2011. 
16. ^ Bryan Shaw (12 Sep 2011). "New ice laid down at First Niagara Center". WIVB-TV. http://www.wivb.com/dpp/sports/sabres_and_nhl/New-ice-laid-down-at-First-Niagara-Center. 
17. ^ Emily Lenihan (12 Oct 2011). "Ribbon board up at First Niagara Center". WIVB-TV. http://www.wivb.com/dpp/sports/sabres_and_nhl/Ribbon-board-up-at-First-Niagara-Center. 

External links

• Official Website of First Niagara Center
• First Niagara Center map and directions
• First Niagara Center Seating Chart

Preceded by Buffalo Memorial Auditorium	Home of the Buffalo Sabres 1996 – present	Succeeded by current
Preceded by Xcel Energy Center St. Paul, Minnesota	Host of the Frozen Four 2003	Succeeded by FleetCenter Boston, Massachusetts