Sabres Tickets - Shockingly Cheap to Start the Year

[JohnC]

1 hour ago, JoeSchmoe said:

The problem is, he's not actually silent. His hands are all over this team given hockey is his main passion. 

Football on the other hand was never his main sport. For that reason, he's happy to let the experts run the team. 

To the public/fans he certainly is silent. When's the last time you heard him make public statements about the direction of the franchise and his expectations? He's not a good public speaker so I don't expect much eloquence commentary from him. But that doesn't mean that he can't communicate his thoughts about his failed hockey team and what he is going to do about it through surrogates. When's the last time you seen him be interviewed or take questions from members of the media? It's not unusual for some owners to stay in the background. However, he's taken that invisible act beyond the boundaries of what is normal for a sports franchise owner. It's outright weird.

[JoeSchmoe]

2 minutes ago, JohnC said:

To the public/fans he certainly is silent. When's the last time you heard him make public statements about the direction of the franchise and his expectations? He's not a good public speaker so I don't expect much eloquence commentary from him. But that doesn't mean that he can't communicate his thoughts about his failed hockey team and what he is going to do about it through surrogates. When's the last time you seen him be interviewed or take questions from members of the media? It's not unusual for some owners to stay in the background. However, he's taken that invisible act beyond the boundaries of what is normal for a sports franchise owner. It's outright weird.

Rightly or wrongly, I think he's figured out that pretty much anything he says comes back to be used against him. Better to keep his mouth shut. 

In the meantime, any little insight we get into the hockey ops workings of the team all show Terry's fully in command of the ship. Unlike with Adams, I'm quite certain Brandon Beane does not talk with him daily... Or if he did, Terry would not be providing any real input.

[Mango]

On 9/16/2025 at 1:17 PM, mjd1001 said:

Im surprised it took this many years for tickets, even for a home opener, so be so far behind the rest of the league.

Lets see, at $33 per ticket (I'm assuming no taxes/fees on that?)

If I wanted to go with one other person, wife, kid..whoever.  $66. Add in parking (is that up to about $20 now?)  Lets assume not much in the way of concessions and certainly no full meals, but maybe one drink and one snack per person. At arena prices that is another $30-$40 for 2 people?

So, for the team that hasn't made the playoffs in a decade-and-a-half, in one of the 'worst' arenas in the league, getting some of the worst seats in the house and having some pretty undesirable food, I might still be looking at $150 per night or more? On a weeknight/worknight/schoolnight?  When I could watch it at home for free and if the game is awful tune into the Thursday nigtht NFL game instead?

I'm not a person that goes to games anymore, but even if I was, between the quality of the team, the quality of the Arena/Arena experience, they would have to give me SOMETHING for me to spend any money to support them.

That's fees included. Lol

[OrangeSeatVertigo]

On 9/16/2025 at 5:49 PM, Cascade Youth said:

Pegs seems to be just letting the org die.

he sees what everyone sees.   this is a dead organization with no real way out.  the ghost of Punch Imlach could come back and FA still have the Sabres at the top of their contracts' no trade list.   

[Pimlach]

On 9/17/2025 at 7:50 AM, Weave said:

Lol an arena beer has 1/2 the value of a ticket in the top section.

Good job, Terry!

Must be some good beer

[Pimlach]

On 9/16/2025 at 12:17 PM, mjd1001 said:

Im surprised it took this many years for tickets, even for a home opener, so be so far behind the rest of the league.

Lets see, at $33 per ticket (I'm assuming no taxes/fees on that?)

If I wanted to go with one other person, wife, kid..whoever.  $66. Add in parking (is that up to about $20 now?)  Lets assume not much in the way of concessions and certainly no full meals, but maybe one drink and one snack per person. At arena prices that is another $30-$40 for 2 people?

So, for the team that hasn't made the playoffs in a decade-and-a-half, in one of the 'worst' arenas in the league, getting some of the worst seats in the house and having some pretty undesirable food, I might still be looking at $150 per night or more? On a weeknight/worknight/schoolnight?  When I could watch it at home for free and if the game is awful tune into the Thursday nigtht NFL game instead?

I'm not a person that goes to games anymore, but even if I was, between the quality of the team, the quality of the Arena/Arena experience, they would have to give me SOMETHING for me to spend any money to support them.

[JohnC]

Does anyone know what the ticket costs are for the Buffalo Bandits? Clearly, a better product and entertainment value. 

[JP51]

On 9/16/2025 at 10:47 AM, pastajoe said:

Pretty soon the concessions will cost more than the tickets.

I kinda think if you got a couple beers and a couple dogs it might already be... if not really close...  

[JP51]

On 9/17/2025 at 9:00 AM, JohnC said:

There is such a disparity between how the owner oversees his football operation compared to the hockey operation. In the football operation, he ended up hiring a good coach and GM, and then without much interference allowed them to run the operation. Over the past five years or so, the Bills have been one of the most consistently well-run franchises in the league.  Without question, it's a respected franchise in the league.  

In comparison, the hockey franchise has become a long-term stepchild that is not taken seriously in in the league. The silent owner's critical hires have gone beyond being bad to being simply odd. The hiring of KA made no sense other than he installed a sycophant who would allow him to intrude whenever he wanted to. And what's even worse is retaining him after his five-year record of abject failure. What followed was the fraudulent hiring process for a HC. It was a charade that fooled no one. The owner hired the person he wanted to in the first place, Ruff, and then amateurishly masked it as the end product of a legitimate search process. It seemed that nostalgia was the critical factor for the hire. 

Based on the record, it's not unfair to say that Pegula is one of the worst owners in the league. And based on the record, it's not unfair to say that KA is one of the worst GMs in the league. And few would argue that the Sabre's coaching staff that includes the assistants is a very accomplished staff. This is not a recipe for success. 

I almost wonder if he got lucky with the Bills, like, he just happened to pick the right folks... I also think he fancies himself as a hockey guy and is more involved in the day to day as opposed to football where he probably finds himself way out of his league, like after he picked Sexy Rexy he may have said oh geez...  I do however on Bills draft day watch Beane explain every pick to him... but never once have I heard him ask why or I like this guy... I think he may with the Sabres...  

[JohnC]

1 hour ago, JP51 said:

I almost wonder if he got lucky with the Bills, like, he just happened to pick the right folks... I also think he fancies himself as a hockey guy and is more involved in the day to day as opposed to football where he probably finds himself way out of his league, like after he picked Sexy Rexy he may have said oh geez...  I do however on Bills draft day watch Beane explain every pick to him... but never once have I heard him ask why or I like this guy... I think he may with the Sabres...  

The owner may not be aware of it that he is also out of his league in hockey. His record attests to that obvious fact. Hubris is not a positive attribute for a sports franchise owner.

[JP51]

Just now, JohnC said:

The owner may not be aware of it that he is also out of his league in hockey. His record attests to that obvious fact. Hubris is not a positive attribute for a sports franchise owner.

Oh, I think you are putting that nicely... I think the owner is clearly unaware that he is out of his league AND hires sycophants that bolster his delusional notion that he is some kind of a hockey guy... problem is after 14 years couldnt you figure that out TP? Like do you avoid mirrors at all costs?...  

[JohnC]

Just now, JP51 said:

Oh, I think you are putting that nicely... I think the owner is clearly unaware that he is out of his league AND hires sycophants that bolster his delusional notion that he is some kind of a hockey guy... problem is after 14 years couldnt you figure that out TP? Like do you avoid mirrors at all costs?...  

You hit on what is so intolerable about this owner. When he was a new owner he deserved plenty of forbearance entering a new sports ownership endeavor. A generation is more than enough time to adjust to this new realm for him. He’s a stubborn fellow. However, I do see him backing off more. And that is a good thing. 

[JP51]

1 minute ago, JohnC said:

You hit on what is so intolerable about this owner. When he was a new owner he deserved plenty of forbearance entering a new sports ownership endeavor. A generation is more than enough time to adjust to this new realm for him. He’s a stubborn fellow. However, I do see him backing off more. And that is a good thing. 

I totally agree with you... I just hope that he does it before the talented players on this team bolt...