Speculation: What will First Niagara Center now be called?

[Russ Tyler]

KeyCorp agreed Friday morning to acquire First Niagara Financial Group for $4.1 billion

Now that KeyBank is slated to purchase FNFG, we will get a new area name/signage.

First Niagara signed a 15-year naming-rights agreement in 2011.

Interesting factoid regarding Key's last arena venture: Since 2010, KeyBank no longer owns the naming rights to KeyArena in Seattle, Washington, although the building continues to use the name.

KING 5's Chris Daniels reports the bank whose name sits atop the former home of the Sonics hasn't paid for that right in four years.

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[Beerz]

Interesting... I thought Key Bank was a dying bank considering most had closed up shop near me.

 

[Russ Tyler]

Interesting... I thought Key Bank was a dying bank considering most had closed up shop near me.

I think they acquired a bunch of HSBC branches and then closed them. They will surely do the same with a bunch of First Niagara branches that overlap.

Bank Branches in general are a dying tradition.

Machines are replacing humans. With mobile banking and ATMs, more and more tellers are being replaced by their counterpart - the 'Automatic Teller Machine'.

2014 saw the highest level of bank branch closures in the U.S. in history, according to FDIC data.

 

[Shoey]

I wouldn't be surprised if there's an out clause for one or both parties in the event of something like this happening.

This is kind of a bummer as I've finally gotten used to calling the arena by it's current name, though.

 

[Dingo44]

I wouldn't be surprised if there's an out clause for one or both parties in the event of something like this happening.

This is kind of a bummer as I've finally gotten used to calling the arena by it's current name, though.

First Niagara is definitely an upgrade from HSBC Arena.

I'm really bummed for Buffalo. First Niagara was a big regional success story and they really seemed to be integrated into Buffalo - especially with their HQ in the Larkin Building. HSBC buying Marine Midland definitely ended up costing Buffalo, and this will probably be more of the same.

 

[TehDoak]

Hsbc midland niagara crossroads arena center

 

[cramdizzl]

The Lock... something about keys and the canal.

 

[BloFan4Life]

Glad I bought FNFG at $7.50 months ago. Looking like a nice return.

 

[haseoke39]

Marine midland

 

[Bosswally]

I still want New Era to sponser one of the buildings because New Era Stadium sounds awesome but im hoping thats reserved for the new Bills stadium

 

[drew5580]

the key master

 

[Sabre Dance]

O'Reilly Auto Center

 

[26CornerBlitz]

 

[VaporTrail]

Maybe it's just me but I just call it the arena

 

[Buffaloed]

I think the Pegula's will look at this as a marketing opportunity to stamp their own brand on the arena. Their vision has expanded since they bought the Sabres. HarborCenter Arena or Pegula Sports and Entertainment Arena are possible names.

 

[Husko]

I think the Pegula's will look at this as a marketing opportunity to stamp their own brand on the arena. Their vision has expanded since they bought the Sabres. HarborCenter Arena or Pegula Sports and Entertainment Arena are possible names.

Seeing as how its all one building technically, I'd love for it all to be called 'harbor center.' Then do whatever the heck you want with individual facility names.

 

[LaxSabre]

Seeing as how its all one building technically, I'd love for it all to be called 'harbor center.' Then do whatever the heck you want with individual facility names.

HarborCenter Sr and HarborCenter Jr

 

[Sabre Dance]

I think the Pegula's will look at this as a marketing opportunity to stamp their own brand on the arena. Their vision has expanded since they bought the Sabres. HarborCenter Arena or Pegula Sports and Entertainment Arena are possible names.

Russ Brandon likely in control of this. Going to be interesting. He always claimed, along with Ralph, that naming rights doesn't make any money. But I'm guessing that was all Ralph.

 

[dugman]

Maybe it's just me but I just call it the arena

Maybe I'm just old, but I call it the aud. (yeah, and Rich stadium, too)

 

[Dingo44]

Jimmy Griffin Memorial Auditorium

 

[My Cozen Dylan]

Jack Eichel Arena

It's just a preemptive move towards something that will happen eventually.

It could be referred to as THE JACK.

 

[CatsforReinhart]

Maybe I'm just old, but I call it the aud. (yeah, and Rich stadium, too)

OMG, i laughed out loud.

 

[Russ Tyler]

The Public had their take on this: http://www.dailypublic.com/articles/10302015/ghosts-first-niagara-center

First Niagara’s blue and yellow meshed well with the Sabres uniform colors, Key Bank’s red, white, and black would mark a return to the dreaded goat-head era.

 

[Russ Tyler]

I find this odd. Of course the name will change. When this deal is finalized and the branches are converted, there will be no more First Niagara anywhere, except the arena? Yeah, not buying that.

 

[Djp]

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