Here is another story about an arena in which I broadcast Kings’ hockey but has since been demolished.
“THE AUD” BUFFALO, NEW YORK
The Buffalo Memorial Auditorium was simply referred to as “The Aud” by those fans living in Buffalo. The building opened on October 14, 1940. It was built for $2.7 million, which in 2012 money would be $45.1 million. It was the home of the Buffalo Bisons of the American Hockey League from 1940 -1970, the Buffalo Bisons of the National Basketball League in 1946, the Buffalo Sabres of the NHL from 1970-1996, and the Buffalo Braves of the NBA from 1970-1978.
The Buffalo Sabres played their first game in The Aud on October 15, 1970, and their final game there at the end of the 1995-96 season, a 4-1 victory over the Hartford Whalers.
Like most arenas of the time, seating was steep and provided an outstanding, close-up view of the action. Talk about a crowd “raising the roof,” in 1971 the roof was actually raised 24 feet, making room for a new upper “orange” level,” making the capacity 15,858 for hockey. The Aud was located in downtown Buffalo, at one end of what was once the Erie Canal. It became the center of entertainment in Buffalo and was also the last of the NHL arenas in which the ice surface was not the regulation size of 200 by 85 feet.
The Aud was 196 by 85 feet, Boston Garden was 191 by 83 feet, Chicago Stadium was 188 by 85 feet and the Detroit Olympia was 200 by 83 feet.
Hockey fans were treated to a lot of thrilling games in The Aud, including one on February 24, 1982, when Wayne Gretzky of the visiting Edmonton Oilers scored a “natural” hat trick in the final seven minutes to defeat the Sabres, 6-3. The first goal of that hat trick was Gretzky’s 77th of the season, breaking the record of 76 held by Phil Esposito. I did not see that game, but here are some of the things I do remember about working in The Aud:
The most exciting line in hockey at the time, the “French Connection Line” of Gilbert Perreault, Rene Robert and Rick Martin. Until the L.A. Kings Triple Crown Line came along in the early 80s, the French Connection Line could bring you right out of your seat. I always said when Perreault stick-handled up the ice it was like listening to someone using a typewriter as he deftly handled the stick and puck.
The television location was in an area called “The Bucket.” It was a small platform hanging off the ledge of the upper deck. It had a great view of the game, but you had to walk down through the crowd, climb over the railing and down a short ladder to get to your spot. The main press box was located at the top of that section.
In those years, we did Kings’ hockey on a simulcast, meaning radio and TV at the same time. One night, the radio lines were mistakenly put in a booth in the main press box, but my partner, Nick Nickson, and I were located in “The Bucket.” Since during the intermissions we did separate radio and TV audio, this posed a problem and we didn’t have time to change it. Therefore, at the end of each period, Nick would go downstairs to do a TV interview, and I would go up to the radio booth. When Nick finished the interview, he would come back to “The Bucket” and I would lean over the press box railing to cue him for the television portion and I would do radio. At the end of that segment, during a commercial, I would go back down to “The Bucket” for the next period and at the next intermission we’d do it all over again.
Buffalo has a reputation for snow…a lot of snow, and sudden snowstorms. On January 10, 1982, the area was hit by a sudden blizzard. Over 15,000 tickets had been sold for the Kings-Sabres game but only 2,079 brave souls made it to The Aud. In fact, on the bridge behind the auditorium, people had to abandon their cars and be led off the bridge holding on to ropes. During the game, the Sabres announced that fans that were stranded and couldn’t get home could spend the night in The Aud or in the Sabres offices. The next morning a photo in the Buffalo newspaper showed a fan sleeping in the penalty box.
After that “blizzard” game, all Kings’ personnel were told to go to the back door of the arena where a four-wheel drive vehicle would take them back to the hotel which was only about a quarter of a mile away. When I got to the back door, about 50 people were ahead of me, the vehicle was able to take only three people at a time, and it was taking about 45 minutes for the round trip. I decided to walk. I used my broadcast headset as earmuffs and started in the general direction of the hotel because you couldn’t see anything in the complete “white out.” During my walk I thought, ‘I’m not going to make it.’ When I finally got to my room, I noticed a quarter-size area of skin on my face that looked like the beginning of frostbite. By the way, the Kings lost that game, 6-4.
The Aud, and Buffalo, were not favorite spots on the road for most NHL teams. The Aud closed in 1996 and demolition was started in January of 2009, and by early July of that year The Aud, which was at one time the showplace of Buffalo and which held so many memories for Sabres fans, was completely gone.
WOW, great memories Bob and thank God you survived. I’m sure you could write several more books.
The players Nick interviewed also got a $100 gift certificate to some suit company….
I remember the game at the Forum that got you broke up laughing when the chorus of elephant horns were going, in the 3rd that was funny, they just kept building on each other. Can’t even remember who won..
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empire Reply:
November 6th, 2012 at 5:22 pm
@empire,
PS you were right about Perreault, he would stick handle all the way down the ice to confuse the defense as to whether he was going to pass or even when he was going to shoot.
Such a great line.
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Edward Reply:
November 7th, 2012 at 10:54 am
@empire, That happened in the early 80′s when the Kings were just absolutely horrible and 5-6 mde their way to every game. I remember listening to the game on the radio and it was against St. Louis. Bob was making the calls and the horns kept on being blown and both Bob and Nick started giggling…..finally they couldn’t hold it any longer and begin to laugh and right when they begin laughing, the Kings scored…..Bob, half laughing, announced “And the Kings scored”. Fun times when listening on radio, which has been a lost art recently with all games being shown on tv.
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IndioKingFan Reply:
November 8th, 2012 at 1:57 am
@empire, I was sitting next to one of the guys who was tooting the horn. He did it after a stoppage in play just before the puck was dropped. On this night someone two sections over responded and my friend’s attitude was I’m getting the last blast in. And of course the responses kept going on and on. I was doubled over in laughter and couldn’t concentrate on the game. Listening to the post game show on the way home Bob replayed the battling horns and I had to pull over so I didn’t cause an accident.
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Mark Mistretta Reply:
November 8th, 2012 at 8:50 am
@IndioKingFan, Ok Bill don’t be shy, tell them your name! My name is Mark Mistretta and my friend Roger Hodson and I were season ticket holders with the Kings at that time. I have to confess and take part responsibility for making Bob Miller laugh and lose it on air while broadcasting a Kings game for what Bob told me later was the first time in his career doing so! Yes the other guy blew his parade horn and I told my friend Bill I wasn’t going to be out done. I blew mine and he responded with his and it became a battle. As I recall it was a small crowd, not much going on in the game and a quiet nite at the Fab Forum. You could hear a pin drop so our horns could be heard for miles around! Even the players stopped and looked up to see where the horns were comming from! Bill and our group kept encouraging me to out do the other guy and the battle of the horns went on for about 10-15 minutes. While listening to the post game show Bob Miller said he would not normally replay such an even but because it was the first time in his broadcasting career he lost it on air he felt compelled to replay the horn battle. We cracked up all the way home. We had seats above the press box there in the collonade so the next game we saw Bob and I confessed to him I was one of the “horn blowers”! We both laughed and I apologized for “ruining” his broadcast career! Great times at the ‘ol Fab Forum! It was truly a special place to watch Kings Hockey! Congratulations Kings on finally winning your first Stanley Cup!! It was long over due! We love LA!
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Keep these stories coming Bob, they’re great! You must have enough material to write a second book.
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Thanks, Bob!
I coincidentally saw the Kings play the Sabres at the Aud way back when. My best recollection was that if you stood up too fast you would fall out onto the ice. It literally felt like you were hanging out over the rink.
Just to give you an idea, the nosebleeds at Staples are a gentle hill compared to the Aud.
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Thanks Bob great reading hope all is well and thanks again so much for your great writing!
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Barn Storming with Bob Miller.
Good title for you next book Bob.
Thanks for the great stories. We may not think to much about the
older buildings, and how much things have changed, but its nice to
hear about many sides of the game we love.
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We never had much success in that building.
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Westy has a seat at the table.
“According to the union’s website, those players planning on attending are: Craig Adams, David Backes, Martin Biron, Chris Campoli, Sidney Crosby, Mathieu Darche, Ron Hainsey, Johan Hedberg, Milan Lucic, Manny Malhotra, Steve Montador, Shawn Thornton and Kevin Westgarth.”
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Is it time to panic about AEG not inking GM Dean Lombardi to an extension?
“In Los Angeles, GM Dean Lombardi is inexplicably a lame duck general manager in the final year of his contract and would become a GM free agent this summer without an extension in L.A. Maybe the sale of Anschutz Entertainment Group, which owns the Kings, has slowed an extension, but it would seem the franchise is much more valuable to potential suitors with the architect behind the Stanley Cup champions signed long-term.”
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DesertKing Reply:
November 6th, 2012 at 11:44 pm
@luc20rules,
Why sign the GM when you don’t know if the NHL will ever play again?
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luc20rules Reply:
November 7th, 2012 at 9:27 pm
@DesertKing, There will still be a draft.
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An example that rules don’t mean anything always?
The title is in all caps, clearly breaking a written rule in the top right corner.
(That one is for you Rich!) Kirk…….out!
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I liked this comment from an Yahoo article
“Bottom line: The 82-game season is deader than Raffi Torres’s Lady Byng hopes.”
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luc20rules Reply:
November 7th, 2012 at 1:07 pm
@Lake Forest, Raffi Torres’s Lady Byng hopes still live in the hearts and minds of Mike Smith & Shane Doan also serving as a montra for what Cryotes think is clean hockey.
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gr81scores Reply:
November 7th, 2012 at 1:39 pm
@luc20rules, Yeah, those Cryotes are probably still bitching about Brown’s so-called legal hit that led to Penner scoring and winning the series.
It’s too bad these new arenas don’t have those little nuances that made them special in their own way. It would be great to have those steep-lavel seats up in the rafters that put you right on top of the action. Just add a few escalators and elevators, that’s all.
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luc20rules Reply:
November 9th, 2012 at 8:23 pm
@gr81scores, It only lead to Penners goal, because the Cryotes couldn’t see with all the tears in their eyes to play defense. Hell Smyth had to many tears in his eyes to be able to slash Richards after the score. Sure didn’t stop him from swinging though.
Thank you Bob for sharing your memories with us. I am ready for the Winnipeg Arena stories.
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More and more everyday there is less and less to look forward too……..
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Lake Forest Reply:
November 7th, 2012 at 1:55 pm
@DesertKing, it’s funny reading articles on yahoo.
THERE’S A CHANCE
THERE’S NO CHANCE
OOOHHHH THERE’S A CHANCE
OHHHH THERE’S NO CHANCE
everytime the NHL and NHLPA meet for more than 10 minutes there’s suddenly a LOT of hope.
I HAD a lot of hope.
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goldielocks Reply:
November 7th, 2012 at 3:15 pm
@Lake Forest,
I only listen to what trustworthy says. So I’m not freaked out.
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DesertKing Reply:
November 7th, 2012 at 4:35 pm
@goldielocks,
I only listened to what Hammond said……
luc20rules Reply:
November 7th, 2012 at 5:55 pm
@Lake Forest, It has been long since there was any hope. What hope do you speak of as the Bettman barks reterick & the Fehr grips the old CBA with an iron fist and chants on concessions. I has been long since there was any hope.
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Bob, that was terrific!
My wife is from Buffalo and has so many fond memories of The Aud and Sabres hockey. (Not the show though!)
Look forward to more of your stories, a pleasure always.
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Thanks Bob, great story! Perreault was one of the most entertaining players to watch I’ve ever seen. Guy was so absurdly quick with the puck that he often made others look silly. I think a lot of his success was because defenders would back off so much, afraid of looking real bad trying to poke check him. All they would get is open ice.
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Reason for hope maybe in what we aren’t hearing. Bettman and Fehr appear to have dropped the PR campaign they have waged thru out this negotiation. Its odd that they were all interviewed some how despite being a secret location(Rae’s NY). If nothing else it atleast appears as if they have learned how fickle some of the egos in the room are.
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KC23 Reply:
November 7th, 2012 at 6:27 pm
@luc20rules, They say the talks went 7 hours up until after 10pm. I’m thinking they are finally doing their job, but I’ve been let down many times before. Time will tell.
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goldielocks Reply:
November 7th, 2012 at 6:38 pm
@KC23,
Or reliable source can tell.
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Today’s meeting is over. They will continue to discuss the key issues tomorrow.
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luc20rules Reply:
November 7th, 2012 at 7:19 pm
@goldielocks, Is Westy tweeting you. Don’t answer that or the blog may be taken down for relaying information from a locked out player.
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luc20rules Reply:
November 7th, 2012 at 7:20 pm
@luc20rules, Did Rich handle the daylight savings time change on this site?
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CB14 Reply:
November 7th, 2012 at 8:08 pm
@luc20rules, Apparently.
Do you get the feeling that these negotiations would have been done months ago if Daly & Steve Fehr were in charge? It just seems to me Bettman’s ego just gets pricked then Fehr’s ego inflates at Bettman’s behavior, then negotiations get suspended for about 2 to 3 weeks. Then repeat.
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CB14 Reply:
November 7th, 2012 at 8:08 pm
@luc20rules, I get the feeling this lockout would’ve been done months ago if not for an absurd first offer by the owners. That offer set the tone for these negotiations.
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luc20rules Reply:
November 7th, 2012 at 8:23 pm
@CB14, Agreed and Bettman was lead for that. This is the petty personality that Bettman has always shown. Its like how when he didn’t get the NHLPA to work off his offer he dismisses 3 NHLPA offers each of 40 pages in length in less than 10 mins. No counter or lets discuss this. 10 BLEEPIN MINS. Then refusing to have negotiations for 3 weeks. Productive? Also have you noticed how NHL offers have been made only a couple of days before key timeline periods for the players Sept. 15th, Oct 25th estimated time to have a full 82 game season, and now after showing the NHLPA that it is fine throwing away about 30 mil in HRR in the Winter Classic. I still think he purposly asked league schedulers to have exactly 82 games in the 1st 2 weeks, so his 1st cancellation of games would be 82 games(subliminally telling the players full season). Why even announce it as # or games thats not how it was done when they cancelled games in Nov.
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..NEW YORK (AP) — The NHL and its players’ union kept talking Wednesday, a day after they met for more than seven hours in an effort to end the nearly two-month-old hockey lockout.
The sides negotiated on a new collective bargaining agreement past 10 p.m. Tuesday and immediately announced they would reconvene. They started up again at an undisclosed location, and were fully prepared to talk well into the night.
As the lockout reached its 53rd day, it was expected that owners and players would further discuss the “make-whole” provision, which involves the payment of player contracts that are already in effect.
A day after NHLPA executive director Donald Fehr spoke to reporters before meeting with the NHL, neither side made any pre-meeting comments.
Pittsburgh Penguins captain Sidney Crosby, an active participant in the process, was among eight players in attendance for the latest session. Some players, including Crosby, left New York to try to avoid an impending storm that brought snow to the area, the union said.
The sides got together Wednesday for the third time in five days, including a weekend session between NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly and union special counsel Steve Fehr, Donald’s brother. Before that there had been no face-to-face discussions since Oct. 18.
Daly and the Fehrs were joined on Tuesday by Commissioner Gary Bettman, a handful of team owners and 13 players.
There was already common ground before negotiations began Tuesday. The players’ union adhered to the league’s request to keep the meeting location in New York a secret. With no outside distractions, the sides talked from afternoon until night.
Once they broke for the day, neither side gave any hint of what was discussed or if progress was made, but both pointed to the next round of talks.
“The league will not characterize the substance or detail of the discussions until their conclusion,” Daly said in a statement Tuesday night.
Steve Fehr met with Daly on Saturday in a secret location, and neither provided many details of what was discussed, but both agreed that the meeting was productive.
Time is becoming a bigger factor every day a deal isn’t reached. The lockout, which went into effect Sept. 16 after the previous collective bargaining agreement expired, has already forced the cancellation of 327 regular-season games — including the New Year’s Day outdoor Winter Classic in Michigan.
Whether any of the games that have been called off through Nov. 30 can be rescheduled if an agreement is made soon hasn’t been determined. But the NHL has already said that a full 82-game season won’t be played.
Back in October, the players’ association responded to an NHL offer with three of its own, but all of those were quickly dismissed by the league — leading to nearly three weeks without face-to-face discussions. Daly and Steve Fehr kept in regular contact by phone and agreed to meet again last weekend.
Both sides have made proposals that included a 50-50 split of hockey-related revenues.
The NHL has moved toward the players’ side in the contentious issue of the “make-whole” provision and whose share of the economic pie that money will come from. But work will need to be done to get an agreement on the hot-button topic.
Other core economic issues — mainly the split of hockey-related revenue — along with contract lengths, arbitration and free agency will also need to be agreed upon before a deal can be reached.
The players’ association accepted a salary cap in the previous CBA, which wasn’t reached until after the entire 2004-05 season was canceled because of a lockout. The union doesn’t want to absorb the majority of concessions this time after the NHL recorded record revenue that exceeded $3 billion last season.
“The issues the players are concerned about remain the same,” Donald Fehr said Tuesday. “The players haven’t seen any need to go backward, given the history of the last negotiations and given the level of revenue increase since then. Player-contracting rights are very important to them.
“Before we have any agreement, both sides have to see everything on paper and make sure that they all understand it right. That’s about all I can say about it at this stage. I don’t want to prejudge or indicate that I have any particular impressions or expectations. That’s what the meetings are for,” he said.
…
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luc20rules Reply:
November 7th, 2012 at 8:32 pm
@Real 7, Really just copying an ESPN article. I saw the length and thought wow, must be a good rant. LOL.
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