Editing KeyBank Center (section)

==History==

===Planning and construction===
What was originally known during construction as '''Crossroads Arena''' opened September 21, 1996, replacing [[Buffalo Memorial Auditorium]]. The construction cost was $127.5 million, (approximately ${{formatprice|{{Inflation|US|127500000|1996}}}} in {{Inflation-year|US}} dollars).{{inflation-fn|US}}

The venue was named after its central downtown location, which was originally proposed as the site of a domed stadium in the 1960s for the [[Buffalo Bills]] and a potential [[Major League Baseball]] team before that project was abandoned.<ref name="Gallivan 2022">{{cite web | last=Gallivan | first=Peter | title=Unknown Stories of WNY: A parade of plans, a look back at Bills stadium proposals of the past | website=wgrz.com | date=January 11, 2022 | url=https://www.wgrz.com/article/news/local/unknown-stories/unknown-stories-of-wny-a-parade-of-plans-a-look-back-at-buffalo-bills-stadium-proposals-of-the-past/71-023bcf01-8e93-4c51-9e7c-4bf1a2972a71 | access-date=June 11, 2022}}</ref>

===Opening and reception===
On November 16, 1996, the arena's first [[JumboTron]], an eight-sided scoreboard made by Daktronics with [[Sony]] video screens, fell to the ice while it was being remotely moved. This happened minutes after a few players ended practice and hours before a game between the [[Buffalo Sabres]] and [[Boston Bruins]]. Nobody was injured, but the game was postponed.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://cr4.globalspec.com/blogentry/500/November-16-1996-The-Buffalo-Jumbotron-Accident|title=CR4 - Blog Entry: November 16, 1996: The Buffalo Jumbotron Accident|website=cr4.globalspec.com}}</ref> The scoreboard was replaced later that season.

===Alterations===

The first update to the arena took place after the conclusion of the 1998-1999 hockey season. 95 seats were added behind the last row of the 300 level, raising the arena's hockey and lacrosse capacity from 18,595 to 18,690.

The second update to the arena took place in 2002–2003, when the Sabres replaced matrix board on the face of the second bowl with a LED ribbon. The original seamless glass boards were also removed, and replaced with boards with clear plastic stanchions, which gave when players were hit into them.

The third update to the arena took place prior to the 2007–2008 season. Two illuminated Sabres logos were added in the upper level of the pavilion on both sides of the Sports Headlines bar. Also, new LED ribbon boards were installed in the arena seating bowl in conjunction with the new [[High-definition video|HD]] scoreboard manufactured by [[Daktronics]]. In addition, the four main speaker racks were removed and replaced and two additional speaker racks were added. The new scoreboard features four large HD video screens, surrounded by two 360-degree LED ribbon boards. The bottom of the board features large Buffalo Sabres logos with giant sabres crossed behind them. The handles of the sabres are lit with blue LEDs. The Sabres logos shoot smoke out of the Buffalo's nostrils every time a Sabres goal is scored or when the Sabres win at home. Later in 2008, a mural was installed in the lower pavilion near the main entrance, containing pictures from the [[2008 NHL Winter Classic]] held at Ralph Wilson Stadium, now known as [[Highmark Stadium (New York)|Highmark Stadium]], in nearby [[Orchard Park (town), New York|Orchard Park]].

[[File:Oilers at Sabres 2023.jpg|thumb|left|200px|The venue's interior during a [[Buffalo Sabres]] game, March 2023]]

The fourth update took place during the summer and early fall of 2011. The major renovation included the demolition and installation of brand new locker rooms, decor and concession updates as well as fan enhancements. This $6 million locker room project<ref name="WKBW6Mil">{{cite news|title=Sabres Spending $6M on Arena Upgrades|first=James|last=Fink|url=http://www.wkbw.com/news/business/Sabres-spending-6M-on-arena-upgrades-125135479.html|work=[[WKBW-TV|WKBW]]|date=July 7, 2011|access-date=July 7, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110718142531/http://www.wkbw.com/news/business/Sabres-spending-6M-on-arena-upgrades-125135479.html|archive-date=July 18, 2011|url-status=dead|df=mdy-all}}</ref> led by Cannon Design of [[Grand Island, New York|Grand Island]] saw an expansion from {{convert|8000|to|15220|sqft|m2}} in size. The new Sabres locker room is designed as a circular room, complete with illuminated team logos on the floor and ceiling. Additional new facilities include a state of the art fitness center, new coaching offices, film rooms where players and coaches can watch previous games, and a players lounge with a kitchen and team chef. Also, the new Sabres locker room features a Wall of Fame featuring team history, the names and numbers of retired team jerseys. Limestones that were salvaged from the former Buffalo Memorial Auditorium are surrounded by glass, which features the names of all team players throughout franchise existence. Visiting team locker rooms were also expanded from {{convert|3230|to|3511|sqft|m2}}. Finally, a new post-game interview room was also built. In addition to the new locker rooms and training facilities, the public spaces within the arena were also upgraded.<ref>{{cite video |title=First Niagara Center Upgrades Wow Fans & Players|url=http://downtown.wgrz.com/news/news/60020-first-niagara-center-upgrades-wow-fans-players|date=October 13, 2011}}</ref>

Also as part of the update, the arena took on the Sabres Blue and Gold color scheme inside the arena bowl. It replaced the red color used on the team logo from 1996 to 2006. The previous Sabres logo (known infamously as the "Buffaslug", and used from 2006 to 2010) was removed from the scoreboard and replaced with the current logo. All of the original TV sets were replaced with new [[HDTV]]s. New food choices were added as part of the upgraded concessions.<ref>{{cite web|title=Excitement before Sabres' first home game of season|url=http://buffalo.ynn.com/content/560440/excitement-before-sabres--first-home-game-of-season|work=[[Your News Now]]|date=October 14, 2011|access-date=October 14, 2011|archive-date=April 1, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120401155644/http://buffalo.ynn.com/content/560440/excitement-before-sabres--first-home-game-of-season/|url-status=dead}}</ref> Signage was replaced or upgraded where needed. Restrooms saw cup holders and HDTVs added for fan convenience.<ref name="wgrnumbers">{{cite news |title=Sabres-Toronto|first=Howard|last=Simon|url=http://wgr550.com/pages/10993015.php|work=[[WGR]]|date=November 13, 2011|access-date=November 13, 2011}}</ref> Also, new chimes were added, which sound two minutes prior to the opening faceoff each period.  This lets fans know to head towards the seating areas.<ref>{{cite news |title=Pegulas Pull Out the Stops for Opener|first=George|last=Richert|url=http://www.wivb.com/dpp/sports/sabres_and_nhl/Pegulas-pull-out-the-stops-for-opener|work=[[WIVB-TV|WIVB]]|date=October 14, 2011|access-date=October 14, 2011}}</ref> Finally, the Sports Headlines bar has now been replaced by the [[Labatt Blue]] Zone.<ref>{{cite web|title=A-Z Guide|url=http://www.firstniagaracenter.com/guide.asp|publisher=Western New York Hockey, LLC|work=First Niagara Center|access-date=November 13, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111130231230/http://www.firstniagaracenter.com/guide.asp|archive-date=November 30, 2011|url-status=dead|df=mdy-all}}</ref>

The ice rink itself also saw a multimillion-dollar upgrade with adding a new dehumidifier system and cooling tower.<ref>{{cite web |title=New Ice Laid Down at First Niagara Center|first=Bryan|last=Shaw|url=http://www.wivb.com/dpp/sports/sabres_and_nhl/New-ice-laid-down-at-First-Niagara-Center|work=WIVB|date=September 12, 2011|access-date=September 12, 2011}}</ref> All of the Zamboni machines were replaced and upgraded to feature laser beam leveling. These upgrades improve the quality of the ice surface.<ref name="wgrnumbers"/> Outside, a new LED ribbon board was added to the entrance pavilion which can display upcoming events, scores, and team information, though it was subsequently removed to make way for the construction of a new pedestrian bridge to the adjacent [[LECOM Harborcenter]] complex in 2014.<ref>{{cite news |title=Ribbon Board Up at First Niagara Center|first=Emily|last=Lenihan|url=http://www.wivb.com/dpp/sports/sabres_and_nhl/Ribbon-board-up-at-First-Niagara-Center|work=[[WIVB-TV|WIVB]]|date=October 12, 2011|access-date=October 12, 2011}}</ref>

[[Image:French connection statue.JPG|thumb|right|200px|[[The French Connection (ice hockey)|The French Connection]] statue in Alumni Plaza, October 2012]]

The fifth update<ref>{{cite news |title=Sabres Announce Plans for 'Alumni Plaza'|first=Kaitlyn|last=Lionti|url=http://buffalo.ynn.com/content/top_stories/591329/sabres-announce-plans-for--alumni-plaza-/|work=[[Your News Now]]|date=July 12, 2012|access-date=July 12, 2012}}</ref> features the creation of the Tops Markets Alumni Plaza.<ref>{{cite web |title=Tops Markets Named Title Sponsor of Alumni Plaza|url=http://sabres.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=642776|publisher=[[Buffalo Sabres|Western New York Hockey LLC]]|date=October 4, 2012|access-date=October 4, 2012}}</ref> In July 2012, the space located between the arena's entrance pavilion and the parking ramp saw the concrete bridge columns covered with brick. All of the team members that the Buffalo Sabres have had throughout existence are now featured on plaques that are mounted to the bricks. In addition, fans of the Sabres are able to purchase custom plaques that will be featured alongside the team members.<ref>{{cite news|title=Sabres to Create Alumni Plaza in Front of FNC|url=http://www.wgrz.com/news/article/174383/37/Sabres-to-Create-Alumni-Plaza-in-Front-of-FNC|work=[[WGRZ]]|date=July 12, 2012|access-date=July 12, 2012|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130209191624/http://www.wgrz.com/news/article/174383/37/Sabres-to-Create-Alumni-Plaza-in-Front-of-FNC|archive-date=February 9, 2013|url-status=dead|df=mdy-all}}</ref> Alumni Plaza's centerpiece is a 10' high bronze statue of [[The French Connection (ice hockey)|The French Connection]]. These renovations were completed in October 2012.

The sixth update included multiple changes, including modifying the entrance pavilion due to the [[LECOM Harborcenter]] construction.  That building is attached to the arena by an elevated walkway. LECOM Harborcenter is a mid-rise building with 2 hockey rinks, a [[Marriott International|Marriott]] hotel, retail space, IMPACT Training facility, restaurants including 716 Food and Sport and flagship [[Tim Hortons]] and a parking garage. Construction began in early 2013, while the restaurants and rinks opened in late October 2014. The elevated walkway connecting the KeyBank Center and LECOM Harborcenter buildings was completed and opened in early 2015, while the Marriott hotel opened in the summer of 2015. Also, after the [[2011-12 Buffalo Sabres season]], the Sabres added 380 seats, mainly as an additional row in the 200 level, to raise the arena's capacity to 19,070. This number is symbolic of the team's founding in 1970.<ref>{{cite news|title=Only Single Seats Remain for Amerks' Game in Buffalo on Friday As Team Will Set Franchise Attendance Record|first=John|last=Vogl|url=http://blogs.buffalonews.com/sabres/2012/12/only-single-seats-remain-for-amerks-game-in-buffalo-on-friday-as-team-will-set-franchise-attendance-.html|newspaper=[[The Buffalo News]]|date=December 27, 2012|access-date=December 28, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121231195851/http://blogs.buffalonews.com/sabres/2012/12/only-single-seats-remain-for-amerks-game-in-buffalo-on-friday-as-team-will-set-franchise-attendance-.html|archive-date=December 31, 2012|url-status=dead|df=mdy-all}}</ref> In 2013, the Buffalo Sabres announced that all 80 luxury suites would be renovated over a 3-year period. All suites will now feature the Sabres Blue and Gold color scheme, 50" TVs, new carpeting, new furniture and gathering islands. Construction began on this project in July 2013.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bizjournals.com/buffalo/print-edition/2013/08/16/sabres-put-a-new-shine-on-first.html?page=all|title=Sabres put a new shine on First Niagara suites|website=Bizjournals.com|access-date=21 January 2018}}</ref>

The seventh update took place during the summer of 2016 on the exterior due to the renaming from First Niagara Center to KeyBank Center. The entrance canopies that featured hockey images were replaced.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wgrz.com/news/local/first-niagara-center-begins-rebranding-process/287554731|title=First Niagara Ctr. begins rebranding process|website=Wgrz.com|access-date=21 January 2018}}</ref> New exterior signage was installed during the week of August 11, 2016 and KeyBank debuted the rebranded arena on September 19, 2016.<ref name="bizjournals.com"/>  Also, a new LED lighting system was installed by Ephesus.  This allows the arena to provide better lighting while significantly reducing the number of light fixtures needed and reducing energy consumption.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://ephesuslighting.com/news/buffalo-sabres-enhance-fan-experience-and-energy-efficiency-at-the-first-niagara-center-with-eatons-advanced-led-lighting-and-controls-system/|title=Buffalo Sabres Enhance Fan Experience and Energy Efficiency at the First Niagara Center with Eaton's Advanced LED Lighting and Controls System - Ephesus Lighting|website=Ephesuslighting.com|access-date=21 January 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171222104846/http://ephesuslighting.com/news/buffalo-sabres-enhance-fan-experience-and-energy-efficiency-at-the-first-niagara-center-with-eatons-advanced-led-lighting-and-controls-system/|archive-date=December 22, 2017|url-status=dead|df=mdy-all}}</ref>

The arena's main scoreboard and roof are both being replaced in the spring/summer of 2024.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Augello |first1=Michael |title=Sabres Arena To Get New Scoreboard, Roof For Next Season |url=https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/buffalo-sabres/latest-news/sabres-arena-to-get-new-scoreboard-roof-for-next-season |website=thehockeynews.com |publisher=Roustan Media Ltd. |access-date=May 19, 2024 |date=February 27, 2024}}</ref>

===Naming rights===
[[File:Exterior of KeyBank Center in Buffalo, NY.jpg|thumb|Exterior of the arena in 2023]]
{{multiple image|perrow = 2|total_width=250
| align = left
| image1 = Full House at Buffalo's Former Marine Midland Arena for Buffalo Sabres Hockey, 1999.jpg
| image2 = HSBC Arena.jpg
| image3 = First Niagara Center Sabres.jpg
| footer = Clockwise from upper left: Marine Midland Arena, HSBC Arena, First Niagara Center
}}

Naming rights were sold to Buffalo-based [[Marine Midland Bank]], part of the [[HSBC]] banking group in 1996, and the building was renamed Marine Midland Arena before the first game had been played. The bank bought the naming rights for 30 years then to expire in 2026. 

In 1999, as part of HSBC's worldwide corporate rebranding, the arena's name was changed to HSBC Arena, with the official renaming taking place on March 17, 2000. This name change coincided with the playing of the first college basketball tournament game in the arena's history. 

In 2011, Buffalo-based [[First Niagara Bank|First Niagara Financial Group]] reached an agreement to purchase HSBC Bank's upstate New York and Connecticut branch network, including much of the core of the old Marine Midland.<ref>{{cite web |title=Home of the Sabres to be renamed First Niagara Center|url=http://sabres.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=587384 |publisher=[[Buffalo Sabres]]|date=August 25, 2011|access-date=August 25, 2011}}</ref> While naming rights to HSBC Arena were not included in the sale, First Niagara, HSBC, the Buffalo Sabres and other parties reached an agreement to establish a new naming rights deal with First Niagara. The name of the arena became First Niagara Center that summer, with the official renaming taking place that fall.<ref>{{cite news|title=HSBC Arena to Become First Niagara Center|first=John|last=Vogl|url=http://blogs.buffalonews.com/sabres/2011/08/hsbc-arena-to-get-new-name.html|newspaper=[[The Buffalo News]]|date=August 25, 2011|access-date=August 25, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111008222402/http://blogs.buffalonews.com/sabres/2011/08/hsbc-arena-to-get-new-name.html|archive-date=October 8, 2011|url-status=dead|df=mdy-all}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=First Niagara, Sabres Feel They're Part of a Hot Team as Bank acquires Arena Naming Rights|first=John|last=Vogl|url=http://blogs.buffalonews.com/sabres/2011/08/first-niagara-sabres-feel-theyre-part-of-a-hot-team-as-bank-aquires-arena-naming-rights.html|newspaper=[[The Buffalo News]]|date=August 25, 2011|access-date=August 25, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110923125256/http://blogs.buffalonews.com/sabres/2011/08/first-niagara-sabres-feel-theyre-part-of-a-hot-team-as-bank-aquires-arena-naming-rights.html|archive-date=September 23, 2011|url-status=dead|df=mdy-all}}</ref> First Niagara bought the naming rights for 15 years, approximately the remainder of the time that was left on HSBC's naming rights deal with the arena.<ref>{{cite news|title=Sabres Home to be Called First Niagara Center|first=Rich|last=Newberg|url=http://www.wivb.com/dpp/news/buffalo/Sabres-to-announce-arena-naming-rights|work=[[WIVB-TV|WIVB]]|date=August 25, 2011|access-date=August 25, 2011|archive-date=March 21, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120321143505/http://www.wivb.com/dpp/news/buffalo/Sabres-to-announce-arena-naming-rights|url-status=dead}}</ref>

[[KeyCorp]] announced its plans to purchase First Niagara—and thus also the naming rights to the arena—on October 30, 2015.<ref>{{cite web|title=Better Together|url=https://www.key.com/about/articles/keybank-first-niagara-agreement-103015.jsp?ppc=Q4_prFN_tw|publisher=KeyBank|date=October 30, 2015|access-date=June 13, 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Simon|first=Mitch|title=First Niagara Center to receive new name|url=http://www.wkbw.com/news/first-niagara-center-to-receive-new-name|publisher=[[WKBW-TV]]|date=May 11, 2016|access-date=June 13, 2016}}</ref> Although exterior signage was installed during the week of August 11, 2016, the renamed KeyBank Center became official on September 19, 2016.<ref>{{cite press release|title=KeyBank Center Press Release|url=http://keybankcenter.com/general.cshtml/19|publisher=KeyBank Center|date=September 19, 2016|access-date=September 29, 2016}}</ref><ref name="bizjournals.com">{{cite news|last=Kline|first=Allissa|title=Sign of the times appearing at First Niagara Center|url=http://www.bizjournals.com/buffalo/news/2016/08/11/sign-of-the-times-appearing-at-first-niagara.html|publisher=[[American City Business Journals|Buffalo Business First]]|date=August 11, 2016|access-date=September 29, 2016}}</ref>