Mayor Gives Aud Blue Seats to BECHS
On the eve of the historic sale of seats from Buffalo Memorial Auditorium, Mayor Byron W. Brown today announced that the City of Buffalo is donating a set of “blue” seats to the Buffalo Historical Society, to become part of the general collection to preserve this important part of Buffalo history.
Hundreds of original sets of blue seats will be available for direct purchase at Farewell, Old Friend…The Final Salute to Memorial Auditorium at the Buffalo Convention Center.
“I wanted to ensure that a piece of Buffalo’s beloved ‘Aud’ would be on display for everyone to see,” said Mayor Brown. “I have always emphasized the need for community involvement in the final farewell to the Aud that properly pays tribute to the history and the impact that this remarkable sports venue had on generations of Buffalonians and out-of-towners. By donating these seats to the to the Historical Society, people will be able to relive those memories for years to come.”
The sale of seats and other items from the Aud will take place on November 15th and 16th at the Buffalo Convention Center. As announced previously, proceeds from the auction sale will go to the creation of public memorial of the Aud in the general vicinity of the arena.
“Many great stories – from sporting events to rock concerts – are associated with the Memorial Auditorium. We are proud to accept these seats into our collection, so that we can preserve these stories for generations to come,” said Buffalo and Erie County Historical Society Executive Director Cynthia A. Conides, Ph.D.
In December of 2007, the City of Buffalo transferred Memorial Auditorium to the Erie Canal Harbor Development Corporation (ECHDC), which, according to a legally binding agreement between the city and the ECHDC, will demolish the vacant sports arena and develop the site as part of the ongoing Canalside redevelopment project.
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Clyde
Anyone go to the auction today? How was it?
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the_trooper
Clyde, It was pretty disappointing. I went to the 6 pm session, when I got in I went up to the auction area hoping to get a pair of $100 seats. I was advised that because I didn't go at 2 pm wait in line to get a bracelet, I couldn't get seats. Isn't an auction when people bid on an object which goes to the highest bidder? It was more like a raffle. They were calling out numbers at random over the loud speaker. Perhaps I didn't completely understand, but it seemed poorly explained.
Other than that the souveniers were second rate. There were trading card booths set up. The museum area on the first floor was small and underwhelming. The kids area was pathetic and had nothing to do with hockey. There were no video screens with Aud era highlights. No audio highlights from Sabres years past. Not even the pre game for the Sabres-Pens game tonight (by the way what an awful performance, this team has no passion). 97 rock was playing outdated hair rock.
There should have been large boards with a visual history of the Aud that people could walk along and read. There was a seating area with a screen set up, which was dark and empty.
Overall I was VERY disappointed with the setup and execution of this event. I was looking forward to it for months and even altered my work schedule so I could attend.
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the_trooper
Clyde, It was pretty disappointing. I went to the 6 pm session, when I got in I went up to the auction area hoping to get a pair of $100 seats. I was advised that because I didn't go at 2 pm wait in line to get a bracelet, I couldn't get seats. Isn't an auction when people bid on an object which goes to the highest bidder? It was more like a raffle. They were calling out numbers at random over the loud speaker. Perhaps I didn't completely understand, but it seemed poorly explained.
Other than that the souveniers were second rate. There were trading card booths set up. The museum area on the first floor was small and underwhelming. The kids area was pathetic and had nothing to do with hockey. There were no video screens with Aud era highlights. No audio highlights from Sabres years past. Not even the pre game for the Sabres-Pens game tonight (by the way what an awful performance, this team has no passion). 97 rock was playing outdated hair rock.
There should have been large boards with a visual history of the Aud that people could walk along and read. There was a seating area with a screen set up, which was dark and empty.
Overall I was VERY disappointed with the setup and execution of this event. I was looking forward to it for months and even altered my work schedule so I could attend.
Report this
metalpeter
I didn't go but the auction makes me sad, and not because of people getting rid of things but because of what with a bit of foresight what it could have been. Why when the AUD was first closed people didn't set things aside some place like maybe and Area of the gold Seats like the lower golds. I know there had to be some sections that where not all ways used or taken out for concerts even maybe some Red seats to. You keep them in storage someplace and then if the Aud gets used again they can be returned. I think it blows that all there are are the blue seats. What would have been amazing is to get records of Season Ticket holders to things like the Braves, Bandits and Sabres and try to contact those people to see if they want there seats first. But off course no one took Care of the AUD so the only seats that are any good are the blues. What I would like to see is a scavanger series. What I mean is people have everything for the historic places and monuments safely secured and locked up. Then you open up the AUD bring in a bunch of cops to maintain order and let people in the side door. Let people take anything that they want before the place gets wrecked.
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