Buffalo Memorial Auditorium
Buffalo Memorial Auditorium (also known as The Aud) was a multi-use stadium located in Buffalo, New York. The arena used to serve as the home for the Buffalo Sabres of the National Hockey League (NHL) and the Buffalo Braves of the National Basketball Association (NBA). It was also home to the Canisius Golden Griffins men's basketball team, the Buffalo Bisons of the American Hockey League (AHL), the Buffalo Bisons of the National Basketball League (NBL), the Buffalo Bandits of the Major Indoor Lacrosse League (MILL), and the Buffalo Blizzard of the National Professional Soccer League (NPSL).
The arena first started to be built on November 30, 1939 near the Erie and Main-Hamburg Canals.[1] Construction for the building cost $2.7 million and the opening ceremony was held on October 14, 1940. It was opened by Buffalo mayor Thomas L. Holling and over 3,000 attended.[2]
On October 14, 1940, the first event took place at the arena with Republican presidential candidate Wendell Willkie holding a rally.[3] Throughout its history, the arena hosted other Rally's as well. With a rally by Ike Eisenhower on October 23, 1952 and John F. Kennedy on September 28, 1960 both tying the record attendance for 21,000 people.[4] On December 11, 1940, the first sporting event to take place at the arena was a basketball game between the Canisius Golden Griffins and the Oregon Ducks. The Ducks would defeat the Golden Griffins 50-42.[5]
In 1970, Buffalo would be awarded an expansion franchise in both the National Basketball Association (NBA) and National Hockey League (NHL). The teams would be called the Buffalo Braves and Buffalo Sabres respectively.[6][7]
On October 14, the Braves would play their first game at the Aud. They played against the Cleveland Cavaliers and lost 107–92.[8] The next day on October 15, the Sabres would play their first game at the Aud. They played against the Montreal Canadiens and lost 3–0.[9]
On April 8, 1978, the Braves played their final game at the Aud. They would lose to the New York Knicks 118–107.[10] On April 14, 1996, the Sabres played their final game at the Aud. They would defeat the Hartford Whalers 4–1 but missed the playoffs.[11]
On September 21, 1996, the Marine Midland Arena was opened and replaced the Buffalo Memorial Auditorium as the home arena for the Sabres, Bandits and Blizzard. On June 30, 2009, an event called the "Farewell Buffalo Memorial Auditorium Ceremony" took place. The arena was demolished in 2009.[12]
References
change- ↑ "This Day in Buffalo Sports History Nov. 30, 1939 -- Buffalo Gets Its Aud". The Buffalo News. Retrieved January 8, 2024.
- ↑ "Buffalo's Best Recalling Great Memories of 50 Years at 'The Aud' 50 Years at Buffalo's Best Memories Locked in The Aud". The Buffalo News. Retrieved January 8, 2024.
- ↑ "Palace joins new kids on the block". Tampa Bay Times. Retrieved January 8, 2024.
- ↑ "Remarks of Senator John F. Kennedy at Memorial Auditorium, Buffalo, New York, September 28, 1960". JFK Library. Retrieved January 8, 2024.
- ↑ "December 11, 1940 -- Aud debut for Canisius". The Buffalo News. Retrieved January 8, 2024.
- ↑ "How the Braves came to Buffalo -- and why they left". The Buffalo News. Archived from the original on April 22, 2016. Retrieved January 8, 2024.
- ↑ "The Early Years". Buffalo Sabres. Archived from the original on March 7, 2011. Retrieved January 8, 2024.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link) - ↑ "Cleveland Cavaliers at Buffalo Braves Box Score, October 14, 1970". Basketball-Reference. Retrieved January 8, 2024.
- ↑ "This Day in Buffalo Sports History Oct. 15, 1970 -- Habs spoil home debut". The Buffalo News. Retrieved January 8, 2024.
- ↑ "This Day in Buffalo Sports History, April 9, 1978: Final basket for the Braves". The Buffalo News. Retrieved January 8, 2024.
- ↑ "This Day in Buffalo Sports History, April 14, 1996: Sabres play last game in the Aud". The Buffalo News. Retrieved January 8, 2024.
- ↑ "As Sabres prep for Aud night, a 2009 video farewell of fond memories, demolition". The Buffalo News. Retrieved January 8, 2024.
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