Raze the roof

I say the following with caution and hesitation, but confidence that there is at least one other reader out there who feels the same way I do about a Buffalo landmark.

This week gave us the last chance to take a peek at our beloved Memorial Auditorium, set for demolition next month.  The arena, as we all know, was home to the Buffalo Sabres and Buffalo Braves (the Queen City’s NBA team) as well as countless other sporting, entertainment and political events.  What we might not have known (which I didn’t know until I read it on Wikipedia recently, making it absolutely true right?) is that the building is almost 70 years old; or that the Sabres, inaugurated into the NHL in 1970, were previously known in the American Hockey League from 1940-1970 as the Buffalo Bisons; or that the roof of the building was raised 24 feet in 1971, adding the steeper-than-hell orange section; or that one of the first events in the Aud was an auto show.

Which brings me to my next point.  I am one of, oh let’s say, 8 people in Buffalo by whom the words “sports” and “Memorial Auditorium” are rarely mentioned in the same sentences.  I’ve always been aware of the significance of the Aud as a sports arena, the home turf (so to speak) for our Sabres, and I know the great history of our team and its accomplishments and whatnot.  But my memories of the building have everything to do with all of the other events the building hosted.  Events like three consecutive September tour stops by the one and only Neil Diamond, or countless Disney on Ice spectaculars – I said it, they were spectacular – or the rather lackluster (and stinky) Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus.  What a stink show that was, and I’m referring to the fact that from the orange seats (a great view from the heavens, let me tell you) you had tiny barely spectacular elephants trotting around, looking for a peanut butter sandwich to snack on.  It was lame-o.  But it was a great memory, and it was my memory.  It’s not a quadruple-overtime win, or a masterful performance by a trio of Canadian hockey elite; but it was special for sure.

I did attend one Sabres game at the Aud, and I’m thrilled to report that life was better from the gold seats.  I don’t know how I got a ticket, but a friend must have dragged me along.  I think I was surprised at how, when after the introductory fanfare and announcements, the lights didn’t go down to make way for a laser light or smoke and skating show.  I must have expected every visit to the arena to be as magical as Peter Pan’s soaring triple-axels, or Neil’s astounding encore of “America.” Still, I had fun and learned how big the place looked with the lights on.  And cold.  Geez, get a space heater, guys.

It should not surprise die-hard Sabres fans, then, that my feelings over the demolition of the structure and the reuse of the land for a long-in-gestation stupid fishing store are not as intense as it is for others.  I did not spend hours crying my way through the perpetual defeat by a dominating team.  I did not jump for joy at the performance of a team captain or visiting superstar player.  Instead, I sat in dire anticipation for when the stage floor would open up, a platform with microphone stand would raise and my ears would be blessed with the lyrics to Sweet Caroline, glittery leather jackets and hip-swivels punching the moment into explosive might.  That made my year (for three years).  Or, when I noticed out of the corner of my eye that a clown had fallen off his unicycle, and not on purpose.  That made me cry.  Hey, we all have our memories.

A footnote: I read online that elements of the vacant building, surprisingly in tact after more than a decade of idleness, were being saved for a future memorial.  That would mean, a Memorial Auditorium Memorial?  Really?  Okay.

Photo illustration includes shot courtesy this guy.  See some great shots of the Aud’s interior today, taken at this week’s media event, the last time members of the public were allowed in the building before it goes down next month.  Also, read my friend Nick’s WGR blog about his more sports-appropriate memories of the Aud.

Posted by on 10/23 at 03:28 PM