The Aud Goes Down
June 8th, 2009 | by Vance |The barn known as the Aud has finally gone down. The Buffalo Memorial Auditorium, where the echoes of Sabres fans yesteryears still resonate, is nothing more than a really, really, really big pile of scrap metal and asbestos.
Check out the Buffalo News video on the final rafters coming down, making way for a waterfront and Bass Pro Shops, across the street from the current home of the Sabres, HSBC Arena.
Now I never made it to a game in the Aud, for HSBC (then The Marine Midland Arena) opened its gates on September 21st, 1996, when I was a mere 10 years old. The Aud first opened in 1940, and had major renovations in the 70’s before the Sabres moved in, then early in the 90’s as well.
The Buffalo Bisons, winners of 5 AHL Calder Cups, played in Buffalo until 1970, when they folded due to the expansion arrival of the Sabres. The rest is history I suppose.
We’ll let current Coach for Life Lindy Ruff send the Aud out in all it’s glory…
The thing about that building was that everyone was so close that you could recognize people just by looking up. You don’t get that in a lot of places today. The people felt like they were a part of the team and we felt like they were a part of our success. That was the special thing about Memorial Auditorium. I don’t think anything like that can ever be replaced.
Tags: Buffalo Sabres, History, The Aud
