KeyBank Center is a multipurpose arena in downtown Buffalo, New York, that has served as the home rink of the NHL’s Buffalo Sabres since it opened on September 21, 1996. Built to replace the aging Buffalo Memorial Auditorium, the arena sits at 1 Seymour H. Knox III Plaza along the city’s waterfront and has anchored Buffalo’s professional sports scene for nearly three decades.
The building has carried several names over the years as its naming-rights sponsor changed, opening as Marine Midland Arena before becoming HSBC Arena, First Niagara Center, and finally KeyBank Center in 2016. Beyond hockey, it is also home to the Buffalo Bandits of the National Lacrosse League and has hosted high-profile events including 1999 Stanley Cup Finals games, multiple NCAA basketball tournament rounds, and the 2011 World Junior Ice Hockey Championship.
Stats at a Glance
- Team(s): Buffalo Sabres (NHL), Buffalo Bandits (NLL)
- Location: Buffalo, New York
- Opened: September 21, 1996
- Capacity (hockey): about 19,070
- Capacity (concerts): about 18,500
- Architect: Ellerbe Becket & Bergmann Associates
- Notable fact: Hosted 1999 Stanley Cup Finals games and 2011 World Junior Championship
The Ride Experience
Sabres fans pack KeyBank Center for a loud, close-quarters hockey atmosphere, with lower-bowl seating that puts spectators right on top of the ice and a scoreboard upgraded in 2024 into one of the largest center-hung video boards in any indoor arena in New York State.
The arena’s downtown waterfront location near Canalside gives it a distinct game-day feel, with bars and restaurants within walking distance that fill up before Sabres and Bandits games alike.
A Storied Buffalo Venue
Since replacing Memorial Auditorium in 1996, the arena has hosted some of the biggest moments in Buffalo sports history, including Stanley Cup Finals games in 1999 and numerous NCAA Division I basketball tournament rounds spanning from 2000 through the 2020s.
Its four name changes over three decades reflect shifting corporate sponsorships, but locals have long referred to it simply as ‘the Aud’s replacement’ or just ‘the arena,’ regardless of the name on the marquee.
Explore more: Explore more stadiums and arenas.
KeyBank Center FAQs
What teams play at KeyBank Center?
KeyBank Center is home to the Buffalo Sabres of the NHL and the Buffalo Bandits of the National Lacrosse League, both of which have played there since it opened in 1996.
How many names has KeyBank Center had?
The arena has had five names: Marine Midland Arena (1996–2000), HSBC Arena (2000–2011), First Niagara Center (2011–2016), and KeyBank Center since 2016.
What is the seating capacity of KeyBank Center?
KeyBank Center seats about 19,070 for hockey and lacrosse, up to 19,200 for basketball, and around 18,500 for concerts.
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Photo: Andre Carrotflower / CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.