Exhibit Plans On Hold

All planning for the Buffalo Hockey Experience + Museum's exhibit at the Buffalo & Erie County Historical Society is on hold and will resume later than planned in 2010.

Exhibit Plans Moves Forward with Opening Nov. 8th

All planning for the November 8th opening of the Buffalo Hockey Experience + Museum's exhibit at the Buffalo & Erie County Historical Society moves forward. Plans call for the artifacts to center on the birth of the Buffalo Sabres concentrating on the first eight years- where the team build an immediate connection with it's fans and the city of Buffalo.

Highlights will include memorabilia from:

• The Inaugural Year 1970
• The First Playoff Appearance (known to fans as "Thank You Sabres")
• The Sabre Exciting Trip to the '75 Finals
• The Historic 1976 Game vs. the Russians
• The 1978 All-Star Game
• plus mini exhibits on legends Tim Horton and trainer Frank Christie

More details to follow, so stayed tuned!

Buffalo, New York 1972- a Hockey Town

We are pleased to announce that the portions of the BHEM's collection of memorabilia will be featured in an exhibit this November at the Buffalo & Erie County Historical Society. The exhibit will highlight some prominent pieces from the collection-- concentrating on the first eight years of the Sabres in Buffalo. Artifacts will include pieces from the Inaugural Year, the 1972-73 Playoffs, the 1975 Finals, the French Connection, the legendary 1976 Soviets Series and ending with the All Star game which took place in the Memorial Auditorium in 1978.

While researching, curating and reviewing the history of the team-- and digging through the archives--- I was browsing a 1972 program from a Sabres-North Stars game and found some great graphic inspiration. I was taken by the ads in the program and how they gave a snapshot into Buffalo nightlife circa 1972. I have attached a few below. There will be more on the upcoming exhibit at the History Museum, so stay tuned.


The famous No Names (and it still exists)!


Peter's Pub features their "World Famous Cocktail Hours."

Moving Forward -->

Joseph E. Gambacorta, DDS, founder of the Buffalo Hockey Experience + Museum, announced today that New York State has granted the Museum a Provisional Charter, an important step towards the Museum’s proposed opening.

Read the press release on the BHEM website.

BONUS:
The AUD is nothing but a hole in the ground now.
See the Buffalo News video- click here.

Snapshots of the Aud
From The Last Game to The Big Hole in The Side

Ace photo Joe Cascio has been documenting the AUD for ages and has posted some great photos of the demolitiion he shot recently. It is sort of painful to see this big hole in the AUD.

Drive by on the Skyway-- it is a bit alarming to see it in person.

Here is a link to Joe's amazing shots, click here.

Demolition Live!

The Erie Canal Harbor Development Corp. has posted a live cam of the AUD coming down. It is sad, but cool to see. As of this date, there is a large gaping hole on the east side.

Watch the demo live, click here. You can go through the progression of "already captured' images to watch the giant hold begin to take shape.

Hats Off 2 You!

The Buffalo Hockey Experience + Museum will be displaying memorabilia at the Farewell Aud show this weekend (Nov. 15, 16th). Hope to see you there, stop by and say hello!

We will be giving away "Bleed For The Blue And Gold" bumper stickers and selling limited run, commemorative AUD Edition BHEM hats. Thanks to New Era for all the help!




Please excuse my cruddy laptop video camera snapshots..

The Center of Buffalo in the '30s
Another great postcard image dating from the 1930s of the AUD in the center of downtown Buffalo.

He Shoots! He Scores!

BHEM featured in The Buffalo News: 

Charity Vogel: Hockey Lore Galore Seeks Special Home (11/03/08)

Click here to read! The word is spreading!!

Goodbye, Old Friend & more

Website news:

The official Buffalo Hockey Experience + Museum website is live, click here.

The official website for the AUD Farewell Event is up as well, click here too!

The AUD today- Oct. 21, 2008

I just toured the AUD as it sits right now (in fact, how it sat, a 1/2 hour or so ago). These are the snapshots I took as we toured the lower bowl, the hallways and up to the 'once 70s chic', AUD Club. Very cool.

The building has been open to the elements as the demolition continues.
It was wet and cold and felt very sad, actually.


Empty and apocalyptic.


Entrance to the lower bowl.


Evens.


Odds.


Color section map.


Men's room by AUD Club entrance ("Sir, you need a sports coat to come in.")


Turnstiles by entrance.


Willcall for picking up tickets.


AUD Club center stairs.


AUD Club hallway wall.


Steps up, way up....


From the bowl.


Fan on the tour uncovering floor graphic.

Farewell, Old Friend

Come down and relive your AUD memories... one more time!

The Final Salute to Memorial Auditorium
Buffalo Convention Center
Sat. Nov. 15th noon-4pm & 6-10 pm
Sun. Nov 16th noon-6 pm

Tickets go on sale Saturday, Oct. 25th at Tickets.com and Tops
$5 adults, $3 students, children under 5- Free!

All paid attendees will receive a free limited edition commemorative "Memories of the Aud" program. Scheduled appearances include: the French Connection, Pat LaFontaine, past Buffalo Braves, Buffalo Blizzard and AHL Buffalo Bisons players! Relive memories on a giant video screen, free hockey clinics for ids, interactive game area and...
the Aud seats will be on sale as well as special commerative items.

This event will also feature a display for the Buffalo Hockey Experience and Museum!

The City of Buffalo has issued a Press Release about the event- read it here.

NOTICE- the Farewell, Old Friend event logo is using the same image from the vintage postcard below.