Buffalo Sabres dropped the best new concessions menu item in the NHL

Buffalo Sabres franchise cornerstone Tage Thompson was the inspiration for the best new food item at an NHL arena for the 2025-26 season: "The Big Parm Thompson."

The Sabres announced their new menu offerings at the KeyBank Center ahead of Thursday night's home opener against the New York Rangers. The Big Parm Thompson is a "two-foot chicken parm sub inspired by Tage's pregame meal."

Thompson is a 6-foot-6, 220-pound world-class athlete, so perhaps he could handle the monster sub by himself, but at baseline it's probably large enough for two people to share.

One thing's for sure: It looks delicious.

Tage Thompson items headline Buffalo Sabres' new concession menu at the KeyBank Center

Along with The Big Parm Thompson, the Sabres also debuted "The Tage Hero," which is described as an "Italian-style sandwich with genoa salami, pepperoni, ham, capicola, provolone, mozzarella, red wine vinegar, lettuce, tomato and onion on a toasted sub roll."

Here's where you can find the coveted new items at the KeyBank Center:

The Big Parm Thompson — La Nova (100 Level)
The Tage Hero — Perry Market (100 Level)

Delaware North handles concessions at the arena in downtown Buffalo, and the company's executive chef, Michael Buonopane, explained their effort to become a destination for food.

"This is a place [fans] can come and have dinner with us," Buonopane told the team's website. "It doesn't just have to be hot dogs and snacks."

Buffalo is an elite food city. Whether it's pizza and wings, beef on weck or the endless other options you can find in Western New York, there are no shortage of places to get a terrific meal.

In turn, it's common for Sabres fans to stop at a local restaurant for a pregame dinner followed by maybe grabbing a beer and a snack afterward at the arena.

The Sabres are clearly making a concerted effort to attract more people to the arena for both their main meal and then a drink before puck drop.

Along with the Tage-centric offerings, the team also announced The French Connection sandwich (three layers of French toast, ham, cheese, fried egg and mustard cream sauce) along with the continuation of its Hot Dog of the Game promotion for 2025-26.

Sabres fans will have plenty of opportunities to try the new food early in the campaign as Buffalo plays 10 of its first 14 games on home ice.

You know what Buffalo sports fans really want, though? The chance to eat The Big Parm Thompson before the franchise's first playoff home game since 2011.