The Buffalo Sabres are the NHL's hottest team, which is causing fans to flock back to the KeyBank Center in downtown Buffalo, but those supporters are arriving to an arena in dire need of a facelift as the venue nears the 30th anniversary of its opening.
James Mirtle of The Athletic released the results of a poll by the outlet that rated every NHL arena based on six categories: location, amenities, atmosphere, affordability, fan score and beat writer score.
The KeyBank Center ranked 31st in the league, ahead of only the Ottawa Senators' Canadian Tire Centre, which opened the same year (1996).
"Fans make it good," one fan told The Athletic. "The ownership not willing to spend money to improve arena keeps the condition of the arena in very poor shape."
Another added: "I miss The Aud."
The Sabres, led by team owner Terry Pegula, recently hired a lobbying firm as they begin the process of trying to secure funding for an estimated $400 million in renovations.
KeyBank Center set to receive a lot more attention as Buffalo Sabres make a playoff push
Remember when Sabres fans used to Party in the Plaza? Those who were there will never forget it, and a new generation of supporters may finally get to experience that unique atmosphere.
Buffalo has posted a 19-3-1 record over its last 23 games to skyrocket from the basement of the Eastern Conference to third place in the Atlantic Division. The team, which last qualified for the postseason in 2011, now has a 68.5% chance of making the playoffs, per MoneyPuck.
However, as more and more fans begin to pack the KeyBank Center for the stretch run of the regular season, they're going to find a building in disrepair.
Torn seats, dirty floors, broken cup holders and an outdated paint scheme are just a small sample of the issues with the venue, which was previously named Marine Midland Arena, HSBC Arena and the First Niagara Center throughout its 29-year existence.
The Sabres did install a new scoreboard and improved the sound system in recent seasons, but there's still ample work left to bring the arena up to modern standards.
Here's where the KeyBank Center ranked in each of the categories in The Athletic poll, which combined led to a 5.7 out of 10 overall rating:
- Location: 8.3 (21st in the NHL)
- Amenities: 5.2 (32nd)
- Atmosphere: 5.3 (30th)
- Affordability: 5.8 (13th)
- Fan Score: 5.6 (31st)
- Beat Writer Score: 6.0 (20th)
Of course, if the Sabres finally bring playoff hockey back to the arena, fans probably wouldn't care if the damaged seats didn't exist at all. They'd stand if they had to. Just getting a chance to see the longest postseason absence in NHL history end would make the venue's problems less of a concern.
Buffalo still has work to do over the final 30 games of the regular season, though. The crowded nature of the East standings leaves a modest margin for error, and there's definitely no room for any type of extended losing spell like the team endured earlier in the campaign.
The KeyBank Center will likely see plenty of sellouts as the Sabres push to end the drought.