Sabres hire lobbying firm to help push for arena upgrades

[#freejame]

“Public officials have not yet detailed what role taxpayers could play in funding any renovations, and no formal timeline has been announced. The hiring of Ostroff Associates suggests the Sabres are beginning to lay the groundwork for conversations at the state level, but concrete proposals have not been made public.“
 

https://www.wgrz.com/article/news/local/documents-show-sabres-have-hired-albany-lobbying-firm-to-push-for-arena-renovation-funding/71-7ddd0313-8a90-4d27-8f6e-2163b5af5adb

[pastajoe]

They should lobby Pegula to pay for the upgrades.

[thewookie1]

The city owns the building so the money and ownership stuff will likely come from any of the Pegulas, county or state

[PromoTheRobot]

What is the impact of Key Bank Center on the Buffalo economy? It's probably more than the stadium in Orchard Park. It hosts upwards of 70 events per year. People eat and drink before games. I assume the city gets a cut of parking.

[Pimlach]

52 minutes ago, thewookie1 said:

The city owns the building so the money and ownership stuff will likely come from any of the Pegulas, county or state

Can you explain this further?  

[kas23]

2 hours ago, thewookie1 said:

The city owns the building so the money and ownership stuff will likely come from any of the Pegulas, county or state

You mean won’t come?

[LTS]

This is where Buffalo should be interested in developing an entertainment district. It's already situation near their baseball team and other key locations. It's why, in my opinion, the Bills stadium should have been in the area as well.

I know the impact to PIzza Plant when I attend a Sabres game is there. 🙂

[JustOneParade]

Why? Is there something wrong with the Lobby at KBC? (Too important a topic to be flippant, I know, but sometimes I just can't help myself).

[thewookie1]

3 hours ago, Pimlach said:

Can you explain this further?  

Key Bank Arena is owned by the City of Buffalo

The City of Buffalo doesn't have money but the Sabres arena is in desperate needs to be refurbished 

Like any business man, Pegula doesn't want to foot the bill entirely 

The County and State would be the only options for government funding

Thus he is hiring lobbyists to make that happen 

[...]

7 hours ago, LTS said:

This is where Buffalo should be interested in developing an entertainment district. It's already situation near their baseball team and other key locations. It's why, in my opinion, the Bills stadium should have been in the area as well.

I know the impact to PIzza Plant when I attend a Sabres game is there. 🙂

As far as they are concerned, the entertainment district already exists. That entire area has been under development for the past decade and a half. They were so far along in developing it they got to adding a "children's museum". 

The only thing they need to do is finish re-developing the rail system because A: the "entertainment district" is spread out across the entire waterfront and B: no one is going to want to ride a bus up and down the waterfront - trains are cooler. 

[TheAud]

2 minutes ago, ... said:

 They were so far along in developing it they got to adding a "children's museum". 

A museum largely funded by Ralph Wilson's charitable trust. 

[#freejame]

5 minutes ago, TheAud said:

A museum largely funded by Ralph Wilson's charitable trust. 

A great museum at that. My kids love it there and super reasonably priced for an annual membership. Just thought I’d plug it since it’s a great addition to Buffalo. 

[LTS]

2 hours ago, ... said:

As far as they are concerned, the entertainment district already exists. That entire area has been under development for the past decade and a half. They were so far along in developing it they got to adding a "children's museum". 

The only thing they need to do is finish re-developing the rail system because A: the "entertainment district" is spread out across the entire waterfront and B: no one is going to want to ride a bus up and down the waterfront - trains are cooler. 

Fair, I know there is other development going on there. But let KBC become a more rundown craphole than it already is and it won't help things.

Not being in Buffalo any longer I am not as up to speed.  But that building is a great way to draw large amounts of people year round to the area.

[PASabreFan]

17 hours ago, TheAud said:

A museum largely funded by Ralph Wilson's charitable trust. 

Thank you for noting this. It's incredible how Terry gets so much credit for Canalside.

[PromoTheRobot]

On 1/21/2026 at 10:58 PM, LTS said:

Fair, I know there is other development going on there. But let KBC become a more rundown craphole than it already is and it won't help things.

Not being in Buffalo any longer I am not as up to speed.  But that building is a great way to draw large amounts of people year round to the area.

People greatly exaggerate the condition of KBC. I've been to 3 games this year and it's totally fine for now. Of course I'm not the sort to hunt for cracks in the floor or busted cup holders. If anyone has one at their at their seat have you considered letting guest services know? They might fix it for you immediately.

On 1/21/2026 at 1:51 PM, JustOneParade said:

Why? Is there something wrong with the Lobby at KBC? (Too important a topic to be flippant, I know, but sometimes I just can't help myself).

I saw a crack in the floor once. THINK OF THE CHILDREN!!

[LTS]

23 hours ago, PromoTheRobot said:

People greatly exaggerate the condition of KBC. I've been to 3 games this year and it's totally fine for now. Of course I'm not the sort to hunt for cracks in the floor or busted cup holders. If anyone has one at their at their seat have you considered letting guest services know? They might fix it for you immediately.

I saw a crack in the floor once. THINK OF THE CHILDREN!!

KBC is a concrete tomb. It lack any character and navigating it inside is awful. There's nothing appealing about it.

I completely understand all of what led to its construction but it's just a terrible place to go see a game. It was nothing special when it opened and it remains a craphole.

 

[PASabreFan]

9 minutes ago, LTS said:

KBC is a concrete tomb. It lack any character and navigating it inside is awful. There's nothing appealing about it.

I completely understand all of what led to its construction but it's just a terrible place to go see a game. It was nothing special when it opened and it remains a craphole.

 

I might be with PTR here. Scary! Navigating is awful? You walk to your seat. The Aud was weirder.

Terrible place to see a game? The ice is down there. Use your inside vision.

The vibe I don't like is the curb appeal.

[Taro T]

11 minutes ago, PASabreFan said:

I might be with PTR here. Scary! Navigating is awful? You walk to your seat. The Aud was weirder.

Terrible place to see a game? The ice is down there. Use your inside vision.

The vibe I don't like is the curb appeal.

What curb appeal?

[7+6=13]

On 1/21/2026 at 9:08 AM, pastajoe said:

They should lobby Pegula to pay for the upgrades.

Now that would be meddling.

[Shoot da Puck]

Bend over tax payers, this one gonna hurt

[Big Guava]

A lobbying firm? 😂😂😂

 

Edited January 25 by Big Guava

[LTS]

On 1/24/2026 at 12:01 PM, PASabreFan said:

I might be with PTR here. Scary! Navigating is awful? You walk to your seat. The Aud was weirder.

Terrible place to see a game? The ice is down there. Use your inside vision.

The vibe I don't like is the curb appeal.

I don't just walk to my seat.  I cram my arse up one of two escalators that I pray don't collapse only to be exited into a tight space full of people trying to figure out where to go.  Once I'm safely off the escalator of doom I am then forced to navigate a concourse was inspired by NYC subways. 

I like to watch the hockey on the ice but when I'm stuck in the roller coaster length line for the bathroom it's hard not to notice that you're going to miss part of that game. I feel bad for people with small bladders.  Let's not even talk about the acoustics in the building.

The Aud was weirder, I enjoyed trying to to step on the head of the people in the row below me. But that was an even older building. 

If you've been to a more modern arena you appreciate the difference. Need something to eat, drink? In and out in no time because there's plenty of places to get it. Need to get rid of the 7 beers/waters you've had? Well there are plenty of bathrooms so it's in and out.

Want to not carry the germs of what appears to be every person who is in the arena? No worries, the concourses are wide enough so that you don't have to subject yourself to molestation.

But yes.. it's all about the the game on the ice.

 

 

[tom webster]

Larry Quinn’s directive was to get the maximum number of seats at the least amount of cost and to deliver it on time and on budget. He actually pulled it off.

They need to remove about three thousand seats and open the place up. The renovations were supposed to be Kim’s thing but hopefully they find someone with the same vision. 

[LGR4GM]

8 minutes ago, tom webster said:

Larry Quinn’s directive was to get the maximum number of seats at the least amount of cost and to deliver it on time and on budget. He actually pulled it off.

They need to remove about three thousand seats and open the place up. The renovations were supposed to be Kim’s thing but hopefully they find someone with the same vision. 

Whenever they replace the seats, I 100% agree they need space them more. Will be interesting to see what they do once the stadium isn't drawing funds from Pegula. 

[PromoTheRobot]

20 hours ago, tom webster said:

Larry Quinn’s directive was to get the maximum number of seats at the least amount of cost and to deliver it on time and on budget. He actually pulled it off.

They need to remove about three thousand seats and open the place up. The renovations were supposed to be Kim’s thing but hopefully they find someone with the same vision. 

I can't see them doing that. But it would be cool if they took out some seats and created upper deck bars like they have in the United Center in Chicago. One in each corner of the upper deck.

It would also be nice if the Sabres allowed season ticket members to select a seat in person so you can try out that seat. Some areas are roomier than others.

Edited January 26 by PromoTheRobot