Info for fans visiting Buffalo

[HOOats]

Hey Sabre fans...what are the chances of picking up scalper tickets after the first period Buffalo games? Thanks in advance.

Physical tickets are pretty rare these days, but there's usually at least one guy hanging out at Perry and Washington. For some less desirable games, prices of resale tickets on the Ticketmaster app will drop sharply once the game starts. Keep refreshing because they get snapped up quickly, but you can get a 25% discount.

 

[93LEAFS]

Going to Bills/Broncos for MNF next week. Staying in Hamburg for the night. Gonna try to do Mammosers early in the day Monday (plan to leave Toronto around 11am), and either Bar Bill for lunch (have been before love it) or try for Nine Eleven right when they open. I know Bar Bill can get crazy busy no matter the day, and I've heard similar things about Nine Eleven. Any experience with Mammosers? I feel it could be hard on the Monday considering how close Orchard Park is, and how often people stay in Hamburg for the night if visiting for a game.

Any other newer spots that are recommended, especially closer to the Western side of the region given that's where I'm staying. Have a long list of wing/food places to try over my various trips to Buffalo, but wondering if there is anything new that is great.

 

[BringBackTheRats]

Hey Sabres friends, planning to bring my wife out to the NYE weekend games. Was wondering if KeyBank center has any sections with booze/food included. If not, are the club seats worth the money for any sort of extras? Thanks!

 

[Chainshot]

Hey Sabres friends, planning to bring my wife out to the NYE weekend games. Was wondering if KeyBank center has any sections with booze/food included. If not, are the club seats worth the money for any sort of extras? Thanks!

I haven't had seats in the arena where they used to have service in so long, I don't know if they still do it.

Anyone?

 

[Dex]

Hey Sabres friends, planning to bring my wife out to the NYE weekend games. Was wondering if KeyBank center has any sections with booze/food included. If not, are the club seats worth the money for any sort of extras? Thanks!

I haven't had seats in the arena where they used to have service in so long, I don't know if they still do it.

Anyone?

I'll first start by saying that the KeyBank Center has seen better days and lags far behind the types of amenities that have become commonplace in arenas that are newer, better maintained, and/or forward thinking enough to seek opportunities to improve the fan experience.

To answer your first question, there are no sections with booze/food included in the price of the ticket at KeyBank Center. The Club Level (aka 200 level) does offer in seat service for bar and food items.As for the club level being worth it, that's very much a matter of perspective. For my money, the club level offers, IMHO, the best views of the game in the building. The seats are more comfortable and more spacious, there are less fans to deal with for bathrooms as well as food and bar service.

There is a large bar area that has some first come, first served tables available. There's also a pretty large area with many tables - again first come, first served - that is closer to the arena bowl itself. So, you can head up there a little early, grab something to eat and eat it at a table before heading to your seats. There are also some bar style seating areas that allow you to sit next to each other on bar stools, eat/drink and watch the game. But you have to be early to secure those.

There are also ticketed tables that are yours for the game - but I don't know how they are designated on a seating chart. You'd have to call the ticket office to inquire about those, but my understanding is that they are tough to come by.

Everything is relative when it comes to value. I'll stop short of calling KeyBank Center a dump, but it can be dumpy in some areas and ways. I can say that I've always enjoyed the games I've gone to when I sit in the Club Level. It's not state of the art but it's also definitely not dumpy and, again IMHO, it's the best that KeyBank Center has to offer for gameday experience.

If I'm trying to make my out of town visit to a Sabres game as special as I can, I'd go for club level seats, get there early - grab some food and a table, watch the warmups, hang out at the bar and the head to my seats - from which I can order additional snacks or beverages

 

[BringBackTheRats]

I'll first start by saying that the KeyBank Center has seen better days and lags far behind the types of amenities that have become commonplace in arenas that are newer, better maintained, and/or forward thinking enough to seek opportunities to improve the fan experience.

To answer your first question, there are no sections with booze/food included in the price of the ticket at KeyBank Center. The Club Level (aka 200 level) does offer in seat service for bar and food items.As for the club level being worth it, that's very much a matter of perspective. For my money, the club level offers, IMHO, the best views of the game in the building. The seats are more comfortable and more spacious, there are less fans to deal with for bathrooms as well as food and bar service.

There is a large bar area that has some first come, first served tables available. There's also a pretty large area with many tables - again first come, first served - that is closer to the arena bowl itself. So, you can head up there a little early, grab something to eat and eat it at a table before heading to your seats. There are also some bar style seating areas that allow you to sit next to each other on bar stools, eat/drink and watch the game. But you have to be early to secure those.

There are also ticketed tables that are yours for the game - but I don't know how they are designated on a seating chart. You'd have to call the ticket office to inquire about those, but my understanding is that they are tough to come by.

Everything is relative when it comes to value. I'll stop short of calling KeyBank Center a dump, but it can be dumpy in some areas and ways. I can say that I've always enjoyed the games I've gone to when I sit in the Club Level. It's not state of the art but it's also definitely not dumpy and, again IMHO, it's the best that KeyBank Center has to offer for gameday experience.

If I'm trying to make my out of town visit to a Sabres game as special as I can, I'd go for club level seats, get there early - grab some food and a table, watch the warmups, hang out at the bar and the head to my seats - from which I can order additional snacks or beverages

Thank you for the in depth review! Much appreciated.

 

[BB79]

I've been to one game in Buffalo, about 15 years ago. I really hope they've done something with the balcony concourse because it was terrible, not much in the way of vendors, looked old and tired. Plain concrete block walls everywhere. In contrast went to a game at the Garden in Boston in 2019 vs the Blues, one year before they met in the Final, and the place was beautiful. Tons of great food and drink choices, looked like it was just renovated. It's obvious the Sabres management doesn't check out other team's arenas for ideas of what could be improved.

 

[ValJamesDuex]

I've been to one game in Buffalo, about 15 years ago. I really hope they've done something with the balcony concourse because it was terrible, not much in the way of vendors, looked old and tired. Plain concrete block walls everywhere. In contrast went to a game at the Garden in Boston in 2019 vs the Blues, one year before they met in the Final, and the place was beautiful. Tons of great food and drink choices, looked like it was just renovated. It's obvious the Sabres management doesn't check out other team's arenas for ideas of what could be improved.

They have not done ANYTHING in 15 years except sell 716 restaurant off and create signature foot long hot dogs now. Go somewhere else to eat/drink, many, many choices.

 

[BB79]

They have not done ANYTHING in 15 years except sell 716 restaurant off and create signature foot long hot dogs now. Go somewhere else to eat/drink, many, many choices.

I went to Pearl St Brewery before the game I went to, beautiful building with the belt driven ceiling fans. Food and beer were both good. Then went for a walk around the Aud before the game (this was about a year before it was demolished, so glad I got to see the outside of it)

I usually prefer to eat/drink before the game rather than at the arena. Definitely a wise decision in Buffalo it seems as the arena choices seem sparse.

 

[ValJamesDuex]

dlt

 

[ValJamesDuex]

Hit up Wingnutz (Military Rd) last night with visiting friends and we all loved it. Great wings (prices everywhere are high though). They have a new location by UB North now as well (Millersport).

 

[KiwiGriff]

Hey. I was having some beers in the club rooms after finishing a round of golf a couple of weekends ago. On the screen they had a replay of some decent golf event and it looked like it was being hosted at some flash course in Rochester. Is there a really good one around there? When I head over your way next year me and my buddy will try and fit in a round or two on the way. That course looked really nice.

 

[Kevbeau]

Probably Oak Hill in Rochester. PGA championship was there last year

 

[KiwiGriff]

Probably Oak Hill in Rochester. PGA championship was there last year

Cheers that’ll be it. It looks awesome.

But now that I’ve looked, I think it’ll be:

a) too expensive even if we could manage to do it
and b) not the kind of course that is keen on my Adidas golf shoes, beer drinking and loving use of the C bomb while playing.

 

[Kevbeau]

Ha! As you probably are aware. The C bomb is the unholy of unholies in the States

 

[Ehran]

Cheers that’ll be it. It looks awesome.

But now that I’ve looked, I think it’ll be:

a) too expensive even if we could manage to do it
and b) not the kind of course that is keen on my Adidas golf shoes, beer drinking and loving use of the C bomb while playing.

I played at Oak Hill. Once. Many, many (Dear God too many!) years ago.

But it was a corporate event and somehow I ended up on the invite list even though I was a total hack.

I honestly don't remember the course much other than the recurring thought "OMG don't f*** up the fairway and greens! Probably costs more than my annual salary just to mow this place one week!"

 

[KiwiGriff]

Ha! As you probably are aware. The C bomb is the unholy of unholies in the States

I am aware.
With great power comes great responsibility. I will heed Uncle Ben’s words and only use it in case of emergency.

 

[jcbeze]

Got tickets tonight in the 300s. Should be low crowd. How close do you think I can move down into better seats without an usher giving me grief?

 

[HOOats]

Got tickets tonight in the 300s. Should be low crowd. How close do you think I can move down into better seats without an usher giving me grief?

You could probably get a spot behind the Sabres bench if you bring a whiteboard with you.

In all seriousness, sit wherever you want, you'll get zero grief. My move is to scope things from on high in the 300s, find a big blue soft spot once the crowd fills in, then move there at intermission. Gives you options if someone shows up a period late. But honestly these days just sit 100 corners from the start of you want.

 

[jcbeze]

You could probably get a spot behind the Sabres bench if you bring a whiteboard with you.

In all seriousness, sit wherever you want, you'll get zero grief. My move is to scope things from on high in the 300s, find a big blue soft spot once the crowd fills in, then move there at intermission. Gives you options if someone shows up a period late. But honestly these days just sit 100 corners from the start of you want.

My buddy uses ticketmaster to see which seats haven't been sold, walks in like their his.

 

[commie]

I'll be driving to Buffalo for the March 9th Sabres/Oilers game, coming in from Toronto. Life long Oilers fan since the 80's.
Probably going to make the most of it, and stay Friday to Sunday. Hotel seems high around the arena area, so was thinking of staying by the Amherst/Airport area near Walden Galleria, so the wifey can do some shopping as well. It's a noon game, how are the traffic like for a Saturday morning going to the game, and easy to find parking around the arena? Probably head to a place for dinner after the game on Sat before driving back out. Any recommendations for some foodies?

As for tickets, we have not purchased them yet, have my eyes on Ticketmaster and Stubhub, and looking for the 100s in the section that the visitors shoot twice. Looks like they will be 170-200 range per.
On TM, most of the tickets are sold, and on Stubhub there are plenty. Should I wait it out and hope for further drops? I know the Oilers fans do travel well, and with the draw of McDavid, so likely the game will be near full, or more full than usual?

 

[Beerz]

I'll be driving to Buffalo for the March 9th Sabres/Oilers game, coming in from Toronto. Life long Oilers fan since the 80's.
Probably going to make the most of it, and stay Friday to Sunday. Hotel seems high around the arena area, so was thinking of staying by the Amherst/Airport area near Walden Galleria, so the wifey can do some shopping as well. It's a noon game, how are the traffic like for a Saturday morning going to the game, and easy to find parking around the arena? Probably head to a place for dinner after the game on Sat before driving back out. Any recommendations for some foodies?

As for tickets, we have not purchased them yet, have my eyes on Ticketmaster and Stubhub, and looking for the 100s in the section that the visitors shoot twice. Looks like they will be 170-200 range per.
On TM, most of the tickets are sold, and on Stubhub there are plenty. Should I wait it out and hope for further drops? I know the Oilers fans do travel well, and with the draw of McDavid, so likely the game will be near full, or more full than usual?

Sat afternoon game with McDavid and I am sure there are plenty of Oiler fans living in Toronto .. I expect it would be a sellout or close to sell out.

Not familiar with the parking so can't help you there..

Food? Depends what you're looking for. If you like Italian I'd recommend Chef's and try the Spaghetti Parm.

You want wings? Too many places to name them all.. Gabriel's Gate is good, Bar Bills, Doc Sullivans, 911 Tavern to name a few.

I'd avoid the Anchor Bar...even tho they're the birthplace of Wings they are just a mediocre wing in terms of taste. But it is a cool place with a great atmosphere.

Bar Bills and Doc Sullivans had great Beef on Weck if you were in the mood for that.

Want some steak? Try Buffalo Chophouse. Tho the Chophouse is more of the dressing up type..not wearing game jersey ect

 

[HOOats]

It's a noon game, how are the traffic like for a Saturday morning going to the game, and easy to find parking around the arena? Probably head to a place for dinner after the game on Sat before driving back out. Any recommendations for some foodies?

Zero traffic, it'll feel like you have a police escort. Parking is easy.

Probably head to a place for dinner after the game on Sat before driving back out. Any recommendations for some foodies?

Hutch's, Waxlight, and Angeline for fine dining. Graylynn and Marble+Rye for elevated bistro. Moriarty for sandwiches. Kuni's for sushi. 911 and Bar Bill for wings. Ted's for hot dogs. Ballyhoo for very good and cheap bar food close to the arena. Southern Junction for the best current food for the $ in town.

 

[Zman5778]

I'll be driving to Buffalo for the March 9th Sabres/Oilers game, coming in from Toronto. Life long Oilers fan since the 80's.
Probably going to make the most of it, and stay Friday to Sunday. Hotel seems high around the arena area, so was thinking of staying by the Amherst/Airport area near Walden Galleria, so the wifey can do some shopping as well. It's a noon game, how are the traffic like for a Saturday morning going to the game, and easy to find parking around the arena? Probably head to a place for dinner after the game on Sat before driving back out. Any recommendations for some foodies?

As for tickets, we have not purchased them yet, have my eyes on Ticketmaster and Stubhub, and looking for the 100s in the section that the visitors shoot twice. Looks like they will be 170-200 range per.
On TM, most of the tickets are sold, and on Stubhub there are plenty. Should I wait it out and hope for further drops? I know the Oilers fans do travel well, and with the draw of McDavid, so likely the game will be near full, or more full than usual?

1.) If you're driving into the arena from the airport/Amherst, it'll likely be smooth sailing until you reach the immediate vicinity of the area where it'll be a bit stop and go.
2.) Parking depends on how early you get there. The earlier you get there, the closer you can get. There are quite a few lots on the streets leading to the arena, specifically on Perry Street. If you arrive like 45ish min before the game, you'll find a spot in one of those lots with zero issue.
3.) @HOOats covered a lot of the foodie options. If you're looking for closer to the arena -- @Beerz mentioned Chef's for good Italian, and there's a chance you'll see some players there after the game. Pearl Street Grill and Brewery is walkable from the area for bar food and house-made beer. If you want wings that is close-ish to the arena, I'd highly recommend Gabriel's Gate.

 

[commie]

Coming in for the Mar 9th game, and trying to nail down 2 tickets, right now on the ticketmaster/stubhub/tickpic the following seems to be best option:

221 - row 4 or 7 : ~$200 per ticket
119 - row 10 - $198
106 row 20 - $206

What section would be the best experience?
On the TM site, there aren't too many blue dot seats left, but quite a few red dot resaler seats. Should I secure the tickets now or wait even closer to game day?