Buffalo Memorial Auditorium

Buffalo Memorial Auditorium
"The Aud"
Aerial view of the venue (center) in October 2007. 2 years before demolition
Map
Address140 Main Street
LocationBuffalo, New York
Coordinates42°52′41″N 78°52′39″W / 42.87806°N 78.87750°W / 42.87806; -78.87750
Public transitTram interchange Auditorium (now Canalside)
OwnerCity of Buffalo (1940–2007)
Erie Canal Harbor Development Corporation (2007–2009)
OperatorCity of Buffalo
Executive suites16
CapacityHockey: 16,325
Basketball: 18,000
Record attendanceOverall: 21,000
Ike Eisenhower rally, 10/23/1952
John F. Kennedy rally, 9/28/1960
Sports: 19,226
Braves vs. Celtics, 1/31/1976
Field size350,000 sq ft (33,000 m2)
Construction
Broke groundNovember 30, 1939
OpenedOctober 14, 1940
Renovated1970, 1990
Expanded1970
ClosedSeptember 11, 1996
DemolishedApril 2009
Construction costUS$2.7 million
($58.7 million in 2023 dollars[1])
ArchitectGreen & James
Tenants
Canisius Golden Griffins (NCAA) 1940–1995
Buffalo Bisons (AHL) 1940–1970
Buffalo Bisons (NBL) 1946
Buffalo Braves (NBA) 1970–1978
Buffalo Sabres (NHL) 1970–1996
Toronto-Buffalo Royals (WTT) 1974
Buffalo Stallions (MISL) 1979–1984
Buffalo Bandits (MILL) 1992–1996
Buffalo Blizzard (NPSL) 1992–1996
Buffalo Stampede (RHI) 1994–1995

Buffalo Memorial Auditorium, colloquially known as The Aud, was a multipurpose indoor arena in downtown Buffalo, New York. Opened on October 14, 1940, it was home to the Canisius Golden Griffins (NCAA), the Buffalo Bisons (AHL), the Buffalo Bisons (NBL), the Buffalo Braves (NBA), the Buffalo Sabres (NHL), the Toronto-Buffalo Royals (WTT), the Buffalo Stallions (MSL), the Buffalo Bandits (MILL), the Buffalo Blizzard (NPSL) and the Buffalo Stampede (RHI). It also hosted events such as college basketball, concerts, professional wrestling and boxing. The venue was closed in 1996 after the construction of the venue now known as KeyBank Center, and remained vacant until being demolished in 2009.

  1. ^ 1634–1699: McCusker, J. J. (1997). How Much Is That in Real Money? A Historical Price Index for Use as a Deflator of Money Values in the Economy of the United States: Addenda et Corrigenda (PDF). American Antiquarian Society. 1700–1799: McCusker, J. J. (1992). How Much Is That in Real Money? A Historical Price Index for Use as a Deflator of Money Values in the Economy of the United States (PDF). American Antiquarian Society. 1800–present: Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis. "Consumer Price Index (estimate) 1800–". Retrieved February 29, 2024.