The Best Deal In Professional Sports
Story by: by Michael P. Santa Maria, Ph.D
Photo: Copyright Buffalo Sabres, Bill Wippert
With Sabres ticket prices the lowest in the league and Montreal atop the Northeast Division and the mightiest team hockey has ever known, the Sabres versus Canadiens game on Friday, November 4th is the breakaway best deal in pro athletics.
The Canadiensi official name is Le Club de Hockey Canadien, just as it appears a multitude of times on the Stanley Cup in Torontois Hockey Hall of Fame. According to NHL.com, the Canadiens have won 25 Stanley Cups, with their first against the Portland, Oregon Buckaroos in 1916. Thatis more than two dozen cups that the Canadiens have over their south-of-the-border Friday night rivals. Said lifelong fan de Canadien, Jeff Maddigan, iWhen you win that many itis easy to lose count.i But like every season, this may be the Sabresi year!
Portland was the first U.S. pro hockey team, but hockey then continued to invade the Northern U.S. much as illegal aliens now invade the Southern U.S. Hockey now has also colonized the Southern U.S., where the game has tended to have a more faddish appeal. However, this southward sprawl of hockey has in part been to accommodate the cravings of so many displaced Buffalonians in North Carolina, Florida, and Arizona!
As hockey has migrated, the stock of players has diversified, adding more American and European influences. The Sabres presently are a conglomerate of 8 Canadians, 6 Americans, a hat trick of Finns, 2 Russians, with 1 rep each from Austria, Germany, Czech Republic, and Sweden. Among the 8 Sabres players from Canada, 3 are Quebecois n Martin Biron, Daniel Briere, and J.P. Dumont n now preparing to face-off against the pride of their homeland, the Montreal Canadiens. Thus, hockey has served as a minor Buffalo-bound immigration influence, countering the overwhelming tide of southbound EmigrEs from Buffalo to places with city managers, regional government, fiscal accountability, and all that jazz.
Serving to heighten the rivalry and make the best deal in sports even better, the Sabres game in Buffalo at 8PM on Friday, November 4 is the first of a home and home series.
To sweeten the deal even further the Sabresi amigo numero uno, Tom Golisano, and his posse have invoked keen business sense to move this seasonis Friday night games from 7PM as they were in the old defensive, clutching, and grabbing NHL to 8PM in the new fast-paced post-strike era. This gives more of us time to catch a pre-game dinner and beverage at Pearl Street Brewery (856-2337), Swannie House (847-2898), or Toro (886-9457).
Some die hard fans will make the 383 mile highway journey to catch Part II of the home and home series the following night at Bell Centre in Montreal. But at that distance and with the cheapest currently available seats in for Saturdayis Buffalo at Montreal game at $56 Canadian dollars, Part I remains unchallenged as the bargain. Tickets for the game in Montreal can be had by calling 1-877-463-2674 ext. 3.
For less mobile fans, tickets for the Friday,Novemeber 4th game can be picked up by calling HSBC Arena at 1-888-GO-SABRES. Tickets for the best deal in sports are a steal ranging from $21 and $29 at the affordable end up to rinkside at $100 each for those who donit need a deal. See you there!
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DT Buff
I've been to a couple games this year and it is so much more fun to watch with all of the new rules. The tix prices go a long way as well.
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jon
The value games finally allow for families to incorporate the Sabres into their disposable entertainment expenditures which is great. Hasek and Ottawa come back to Buffalo this wednesday, this ones a bronze, but ottawa is a hot team and division rival, well worth it. Good to see a Sabes article!!
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krysta
Thank you for putting this on the site. I live in the Rochester area and went to the game last week, and even though it was great to see the Sabres after such a long drought, it made me miss the HSBC Arena even more! The rivalry between The Habs and the Sabres is just as fun as the rivalry with the Leafs.
If anyone is still bitter about the lockout, put it to rest and get to a Sabres game. Even with the ridiculous gas prices, I am still going to travel the 70 mi. home for some games.
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bflover
I attended the Sabres/Rangers game on Friday night, Oct. 22. Tres exciting! The game is faster and more thrilling now, and the Sabres have just the team for the new rule changes. I'll be attending a few more this year, absolutely. Go Sabres!
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