Buffalo Memorial Auditorium

Infobox Stadium | stadium_name= Buffalo Memorial Auditorium
[http://i68.photobucket.com/albums/i17/sabresrsick123/terrace.jpg]
location= Buffalo, New York
broke_ground= November 30, 1939
opened= October 14, 1940
owner= City of Buffalo
construction_cost= $2,700,000
architect= Green and James (1939)
former_names=
tenants= Buffalo Bisons (AHL) (1940-1970)
Buffalo Sabres (NHL) (1970-1996)
Buffalo Braves (NBA) (1970-1978)
Buffalo Stallions (MISL) (1979-1984)
Buffalo Blizzard (NPSL) (1992-1996)
Buffalo Stampede (RHI) (1994-1995)
seating_capacity= Basketball: 18,000
Hockey: 16,433

Buffalo Memorial Auditorium (also known as The Aud) was an indoor arena in downtown Buffalo, New York.

It hosted the Buffalo Sabres of the NHL from 1970-1996, the Buffalo Braves of the NBA from 1970-1978, the Buffalo Stallions of the MISL, the Buffalo Stampede of RHI from 1994 to 1995, the Buffalo Bandits of the Major Indoor Lacrosse League, the Buffalo Blizzard of NPSL and the Buffalo Bisons of the American Hockey League from 1940 to 1970.

It also held a number an NCAA basketball games, as well as numerous entertainment events, such as concerts, the Ringling Brothers circus, Disney on Ice, and other things of that nature.

Planning and Construction

The Buffalo Memorial Auditorium began as a public works project to replace an aging civic auditorium. In June 1938, city officials sent a loan and grant application to the WPA for funds to build the new structure. The $1.2 million grant's approval was announced in Washington D.C. on October 7, 1938 Vogel, Mike. "Buffalo's Town Hall". "The Buffalo News" (Buffalo), Magazine - page 4, August 1, 1994.] and construction began on November 30, 1939.

The Auditorium's construction brought a great deal of activity to downtown Buffalo. On December 2, 1939, Buffalo Evening News reporter Nat Gorham wrote:

epigraph | quote = As if overnight the Terrace once more is coming back to life. The massive new hall will be the mainstay, but city planners also want to improve the section with a boulevard in the old canal bend, waterfront parks and relocation, if not removal, of the New York Central tracks. Visible proof of these good intentions is construction of the new hall, which is being watched daily by hundreds of citizens Vogel, Mike. "Buffalo's Town Hall". "The Buffalo News" (Buffalo), Magazine - page 4, August 1, 1994.] .
cite = Nat Gorham

Opening

Built for $2,700,000, Memorial Auditorium's grand opening celebration was held on October 14, 1940.http://www.sabresalumni.com/2001/aud.php3] The arena originally seated 12,280 for ice hockey, with an additional 2,000-3,000 sitting in the floor area for basketball and other events. Among the first events held in Memorial Auditorium were an auto show and roller skating.

In its first seven months, Auditorium events drew nearly one million spectators, and the first year's attendance was 1.3 million Vogel, Mike. "Buffalo's Town Hall". "The Buffalo News" (Buffalo), Magazine - page 4, August 1, 1994.] .

Circuses, dog shows and political events all took place at the Aud. The building was also set as a war memorial for the Spanish-American war.Fact|date=July 2008

Expansion

An $8.7 million renovation took place after the 1970-71 inauguration of the Sabres and Braves franchises. The arena's roof was raised 24 feet, making room for a new upper level. (orange level). This raised the total capacity of the arena to about 18,000 for basketball and 16,433 for hockey, making it a more suitable home for the NBA and NHL.

ports

College Basketball

Before the NHL and NBA came to Buffalo, college basketball was Memorial Auditorium's most popular sporting event. On December 11, 1940, the Auditorium hosted its first college basketball game when Canisius College played the University of OregonNorthrop, Milt. "College Basketball Breathed Life Into Newborn Aud". "The Buffalo News" (Buffalo), page 1D, March 27, 1996.] .

After World War II, the era of college basketball doubleheaders began. While the participants were typically from Western New York - Canisius, Niagara University, St. Bonaventure University, the University of Buffalo, and Buffalo State College - teams from outside the area such as Cornell University also took part Northrop, Milt. "College Basketball Breathed Life Into Newborn Aud". "The Buffalo News" (Buffalo), page 1D, March 27, 1996.] Over time, the rivalry among the "Little Three" colleges -- Niagara, Canisius, and St. Bonaventure - came to dominate the Auditorium's college basketball schedule. Throughout the 1950s, the three schools were each national powers, and their games at Memorial Auditorium drew strong local and national interest.

In 1991, a visit from Buffalo native Christian Laettner and the national champion Duke University Blue Devils drew an Aud collegiate record crowd of 16,279 Northrop, Milt. "College Basketball Breathed Life Into Newborn Aud". "The Buffalo News" (Buffalo), page 1D, March 27, 1996.] .

A 1996 Buffalo News article named Memorial Auditorium's all-time all-visitors team: Ed Macauley (St. Louis University), Tom Gola (La Salle University), Tom Heinsohn (College of the Holy Cross), Jerry West (West Virginia University), Willie Somerset (Duquesne University), Dave Bing (Syracuse University), Sonny Dove (St. John's University (Jamaica, NY) and Bob Lanier (St. Bonaventure)Northrop, Milt. "Here's the Score From Aud". "The Buffalo News" (Buffalo), page 3D, March 27, 1996] .

Professional Basketball

Buffalo Bisons

The first professional basketball franchise to call Memorial Auditorium home were the National Basketball League's Buffalo Bisons. The Bisons featured center Don Otten and coach Nat Hickey, but on December 27, 1946 - only thirteen games into their inaugural season - owner Ben Kerner moved the team to MolineNorthrop, Milt. "History of the Braves Was Short and Sweet". "The Buffalo News" (Buffalo), page 1D, March 28, 1996.] . After stops in Milwaukee and St. Louis, the team became the Atlanta Hawks.

Professional Ice Hockey

Buffalo Sabres

The National Hockey League's Buffalo Sabres played their first home opener at Memorial Auditorium on October 15, 1970 Kelley, Jim. "All-time Aud Games Stir Lasting Memories". "The Buffalo News" (Buffalo), page 5D, March 31, 1996.] . They occupied the Auditorium until after the 1995-96 season, when they moved across the street to the Marine Midland Arena (now HSBC Arena). Michael Peca scored the last in-game goal at The Aud while Pat Lafontaine put in a ceremonial goal after the 4-1 win over the Whalers. It was the last arena in which the ice sheet fell short of the league-mandated 200 ft. by 85 ft. size (though Maple Leaf Gardens still had irregularly shaped corners).

Many Sabres players noted Memorial Auditorium's atmosphere:

epigraph | quote = The thing about that building was that everyone was so close that you could recognize people just by looking up. You don't get that in a lot of places today. The people felt like they were a part of the team and we felt like they were a part of our success. That was the special thing about Memorial Auditorium. I don't think anything like that can ever be replaced.Kelley, Jim. "The Ice Age: Hockey Made the Building Famous". "The Buffalo News" (Buffalo), page 1C, March 26, 1996.]
cite = Lindy Ruff

Concerts

In addition to sporting events the Aud hosted concerts by major acts such as The Grateful Dead who performed there three times; 3-31-73, 5-9-77 (long lauded as one of the band's finest shows ever), and 9-26-81. [ [http://www.setlists.net/?search=true&venue=&city=buffalo&state=&month=&day=&year=&songs=&submit=Search The SetList Program - Grateful Dead Setlists, Listener Experiences, and Statistics ] ]

Closing

Since 1996, the building has remained closed to the public although Buffalo's Studio Arena Theatre was at times allowed to use the large floor surface to paint backgrounds for its productions. During the 2001-02 season, Sabres officials and the city of Buffalo entered the building to relocate some items from the main concourse of The Aud to HSBC Arena, including a sign for the "Pour Man's Aud Club" which was re-incarnated by popular demand. During a CBC television broadcast from the winter classic during the 2007-2008 regular season, the inside of The Aud was shown and the video showed that the seating bowl and arena floor have remained virtually untouched. Most notably, the advertisements that were on the boards during the final Sabres home game in 1996 were still present and the scoreboard hanging above center ice remained in the rafters.

The Future

For the last few years plans were in the works to renovate The Aud and re-purpose it as a Bass Pro Shops store, however on March 29, 2007 these plans were officially abandoned. Instead it was announced that Bass Pro will build a new building on the site of the to-be-demolished auditorium. The Aud is now set for demolition to begin in October 2008. Asbestos removal and other environmental remediation is currently being done in preparation for the demolition. It is expected to cost 10 million dollars and be done by early 2009. [http://www.buffalonews.com/101/story/42941.html]

In December, 2007 The Aud was sold by the city of Buffalo to the Erie Canal Harbor Development Corporation for $1 in hopes that it would move along asbestos removal and demolition. All salvageable items are to be sold, stored, or removed before demolition begins. The sales of these artifacts, especially of seats, will help pay for a memorial to the Aud. [citenews|title=Aud memories many, but old seats are few|publisher=Sabres Insider|url=http://www.sabresinsider.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=196&Itemid=1|accessdate=2008-01-31]

ee also

*War Memorial Stadium (Buffalo)

References

External links

* [http://www.bisonshistory.com/memorial-auditorium.htm Buffalo Memorial Auditorium History]
* [http://www.staffannouncer.com/miltellis.htm The Voice of the Aud: Milt Ellis with Aud Pictures, sounds, and memories] by Buffalonian Steve Cichon
* [http://sabres.nhl.com/team/app/?service=page&page=NewsPage&articleid=381255 Saying goodbye to The Aud] from nhl.com on Sep 5, 2008, 3:32 PM EDT

Photos

* [http://rain.prohosting.com/theaud/terrace.jpgExterior photo of Terrace Street entrance] (uncredited)
* [http://www.buffpics.com/aud01.jpgExterior photo of Main Street side] by Charles J. Malley
* [http://www.roadwolf.ca/blog/?p=30 Inside photos present day] by Roadwolf

s-ttl|title=Home of the Buffalo Braves
years=1970–1978s-ttl|title=Home of the Buffalo Sabres
years=1970–1996