🏛 Historic Stadium
Buffalo Memorial Auditorium, affectionately known as ‘The Aud,’ stood at 140 Main Street in downtown Buffalo, New York, for more than five decades. Opened on October 14, 1940, as a WPA-era public works project built at a cost of $2.7 million, the arena became the heartbeat of Buffalo sports and entertainment before hosting its final event on September 11, 1996.
At its peak The Aud accommodated up to 18,000 fans for basketball and hosted a remarkable roster of tenants — the Buffalo Sabres of the NHL, the Buffalo Braves of the NBA, and the AHL’s Buffalo Bisons, among others. Beyond sports, the arena welcomed legendary acts from Frank Sinatra to Led Zeppelin, and marquee events including the 1975 Stanley Cup Finals and the 1978 NHL All-Star Game. After sitting vacant for over a decade, the beloved arena was demolished in 2009.
Stats at a Glance
- Team(s): Buffalo Sabres (NHL), Buffalo Braves (NBA), Buffalo Bisons (AHL)
- Location: 140 Main Street, Downtown Buffalo, New York
- Opened: October 14, 1940
- Closed: September 11, 1996
- Demolished: 2009
- Capacity: Up to 18,000 (basketball); 16,325 (hockey, post-1990)
- Record Attendance: 19,226 — Buffalo Braves vs. Boston Celtics, January 31, 1976
- Construction Cost: $2.7 million
An Era of Buffalo Sports Glory
The Aud was the stage for Buffalo’s most celebrated sports moments. The Buffalo Sabres called it home from their founding in 1970, reaching the Stanley Cup Finals in 1975 with games played on The Aud’s ice. Three years later, the arena hosted the 1978 NHL All-Star Game, cementing its reputation as a first-class hockey venue. The NBA’s Buffalo Braves packed the house as well, drawing a record crowd of 19,226 for a game against the Boston Celtics on January 31, 1976.
A major renovation in 1970 raised the roof by 24 feet and added an upper deck, expanding basketball capacity to around 18,000. Hockey capacity climbed to 16,325 following further improvements in 1990. The Aud also hosted UFC 7 in September 1995, one of the earliest events of the Ultimate Fighting Championship, reflecting the arena’s willingness to welcome all manner of spectacle.
The End of an Era
By the mid-1990s, pressure from the Buffalo Sabres’ ownership for a modern, revenue-generating facility pushed the city to plan a replacement. The Sabres played their final game at The Aud on September 11, 1996, then relocated to the newly opened Marine Midland Arena (now KeyBank Center). The historic building sat vacant for more than a decade, with a proposed Bass Pro Shops retail development that ultimately never materialized.
In December 2007, the City of Buffalo sold the property to the Erie Canal Harbor Development Corporation for just $1. Asbestos remediation was completed in late 2008, and major demolition began in January 2009. The front façade fell on February 9, 2009, and a final demolition ceremony was held on June 30, 2009, when officials opened a copper time capsule to close a beloved chapter in Buffalo’s history.
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Buffalo Memorial Auditorium FAQs
What teams played at Buffalo Memorial Auditorium?
The Aud served as home to the Buffalo Sabres (NHL), Buffalo Braves (NBA), Buffalo Bisons (AHL), and Buffalo Bandits (Major Indoor Lacrosse League), along with various minor league hockey and soccer franchises over its 56-year history.
When was the Buffalo Memorial Auditorium demolished?
Major demolition began in January 2009, with the front façade falling on February 9, 2009. A final ceremony was held on June 30, 2009, marking the end of the site’s history as a sports and entertainment venue.
What replaced the Buffalo Memorial Auditorium?
The Buffalo Sabres moved to Marine Midland Arena — now known as KeyBank Center — when it opened in 1996. The site of The Aud was redeveloped as part of the Erie Canal Harbor area in downtown Buffalo.
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Photo: Jamie / CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.