HSBC Arena Buffalo, New York

The first name that was given to this arena was the Marine Midland Arena when it opened in 1996. It was part of the HSBC parent company, but the name was changed to the HSBC Arena in 1999. It is home to the NHL Buffalo Sabres and NLL Buffalo Bandits of Buffalo, New York. The first hockey game played in the arena featured the Sabres and Toronto with the first concert performed by the Goo Goo Dolls. The arena is owned by Erie County, but is controlled by the Sabres. The arena seats over eighteen thousand for a hockey game, eighteen thousand five hundred for concerts and over nineteen thousand for a basketball game.

Tickets can be purchased at the HSBC box office, at www.tickets.com or by phone. There are also walk- in outlets where tickets can be picked up in and around the Buffalo, New York area. They are sold at Tops locations which can be found online. The box office is open Monday through Friday from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm. On arena event days the box office is open Monday through Saturday from 9:00 through the end of the event. Sunday they will open at 10:00 am through the end of the event. The Sabres Store is open Monday through Friday from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm. During the Sabres and Bandits home games the store opens at 10:00 am and closes at the end of the game.

Parking is available in lots along Perry, Washington and Swan streets. The costs vary from lot to lot, but range from ten to twenty dollars. Not every lot will accept Canadian dollars. Buses may park in the lot on Perry and Michigan for forty dollars or at the free lot on Exchange Street. This lot is about a ten minute walk from the HSBC Arena.

Some of the upcoming events to be held at the HSBC Arena include: Keith Urban, An Evening with Dr. David Jeremiah,AC/DC, Ringling Brothers and Barnum and Bailey Circus, and Metallica. The Buffalo Sabres, WWE Monday Night Raw and NCAA Tournaments are also part of the lineup.

There are many restaurants that are in close proximity to the HSBC Arena. For casual dining there are several pizzerias. Take out or dining in offers more choices. They include many types of cuisine such as seafood, American, Greek and restaurants with microbreweries. Fine dining consists of E.B. Green's Steakhouse, Hutch's, Lotis, Olivers and Park Lane Tavern and Oyster Bar.

Hotels are plentiful in the Buffalo area. They range from the upper end like Adam's Mark to Comfort Suites, Hampton Inn and Suites, The Mansion on Delaware Avenue, Best Western Inn on the Avenue, Holiday Inn Buffalo Downtown, Millennium Airport Hotel Buffalo, Comfort Inn and the Buffalo Niagara Marriott.

If visitors to the HSBC Arena are not driving their own vehicle they can get transportation from either the Buffalo Niagara International Airport or the Niagara Falls International Airport. Buses, taxis and limousines can then take patrons to the arena.