First Niagara Center
- Buffalo Sabres (NHL, 1996 )
- Buffalo Bandits ( NLL, since 1996)
- Buffalo Destroyers (AFL, 1999-2003)
- Buffalo Blizzard ( NPSL, 1996-2001)
- Buffalo Wings (RHI, 1997-1999)
The First Niagara Center is a multi-purpose hall in Downtown Buffalo, New York, USA. The hall is home to the Ice Hockey team the Buffalo Sabres (NHL ), and the Buffalo Bandits of the National Lacrosse League from. In addition, the arena is regularly used for concerts and basketball games of the College Football (NCAA Basketball Tournament and Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference).
Every now and then the arena is also used for wrestling events, such as Fully Loaded 1999 WCW Fall Brawl 2000 and 2005 WWE Great American Bash. Formerly HSBC Arena home of the Buffalo Destroyers, Buffalo Blizzard, Buffalo Stampede, Buffalo Wings and the NCAA Frozen Four was in 2003.
History
The First Niagara Center was opened on 21 September 1996 and replaced the Buffalo Memorial Auditorium. First was the arena Crossroads Arena, but the name was changed to Marine Midland Arena before the first game had taken place since the Marine Midland Bank had (part of the HSBC banking group ) acquired the naming rights. 1999, the name was changed to HSBC Arena. In the same year, the first college basketball tournament was held. The arena can accommodate, depending on the event, for up to 19,200 spectators. On 25 August 2011, the Buffalo Sabres announced that the arena is the name of the future First Niagara Center, according to the First Niagara bank wearing. The contract term is 15 years.
Incidents
On November 16, 1996 fell several minutes after the end of training, the 8-page video cube down from the ceiling. No one was injured, but a few hours later scheduled game between the Sabres and the Boston Bruins has been moved.
Gallery
The HSBC Arena during a lacrosse game
Aerial View
The ice
The video cube