The Buffalo Sabres have hosted a vast majority of their home games at either The Aud or the KeyBank Center during their 55-year history in the NHL. A couple times they've ventured away from the friendly confines of downtown Buffalo, though.
Being the "home" team, even when the Sabres are thousands of miles away from Western New York, has become more common in recent decades as the NHL has tried to expand the sport of hockey with outdoor games around North America as well as international contests, mostly in Europe.
Let's take a walk down memory lane with a look at the eight venues where Buffalo has attempted to defend its "home ice."
Buffalo Memorial Auditorium ("The Aud")
Years: 1970-1996
The Sabres' first home still holds a special place in the hearts of Buffalo sports fans. From the franchise's origins, headlined by the French Connection, to the early development of the "Hardest Working Team in Hockey," led by Dominik Hasek, a lot of talented players starred at The Aud.
Buffalo Memorial Auditorium was demolished in 2009 amid longstanding rumors of a Bass Pro Shops being built on the lot. While that never materialized, it's still a running joke within the fanbase.
KeyBank Center
Years: 1996-Present
Although the KeyBank Center was a cutting-edge venue when it opened, it's starting to show its age nearly 30 years later. The seating area is dirty, and the seats themselves are ripped, and the overall atmosphere inside the arena is outdated.
The Sabres recently invested in a new scoreboard above center ice, which helped begin modernization efforts, but there's a lot of work to do for the organization and local governments.
Ralph Wilson Stadium (home of the NFL's Buffalo Bills)
Date: January 1, 2008
Buffalo hosted the first NHL Winter Classic on New Year's Day 2008, and it was a smashing success. It was a picturesque scene as snow fell gently throughout the game. The face of the league, Sidney Crosby, scored the game-winning shootout goal for the Pittsburgh Penguins.
Hartwall Arena (Finland)
Date: October 7, 2011
The Sabres opened their 2011-12 campaign with a 4-1 victory over the Anaheim Ducks in Helsinki. Thomas Vanek scored twice for Buffalo, while Jason Pominville and Ville Leino also found the net. Ryan Miller made 29 saves to pick up the win between the pipes.
O2 World Arena (Germany)
Date: October 8, 2011
One night later, the Sabres traveled to Berlin for a clash with the Los Angeles Kings. Luke Adam lit the lamp twice as Buffalo rushed out to a 3-0 lead. Paul Gaustad and Drew Stafford also scored to help the team open the season 2-0 with a 4-2 triumph over the Kings.
Ericsson Globe (Sweden)
Date: November 8, 2019
Sam Reinhart continued his blistering start to the 2019-20 season with a pair of goals against the Tampa Bay Lightning in Stockholm. It wasn't enough, however, as the Bolts rode a balanced offensive attack and 20 saves from Andrei Vasilevskiy to capture a 3-2 "road" win.
Tim Hortons Field (Canada)
Date: March 13, 2022
The Sabres served as the home team for the 2022 Heritage Classic, even though it was played in the home country of their opponents, the Toronto Maple Leafs. Peyton Krebs and Vinnie Hinostroza each scored twice and Tage Thompson found an empty net to clinch a 5-2 rivalry win for Buffalo.
O2 Arena (Czechia)
Date: October 4, 2024
The Sabres opened last season in Prague, and their poor performance was a preview of things to come throughout a disappointing 2024-25 campaign. The New Jersey Devils steamrolled to 4-1 victory. Owen Power scored Buffalo's only goal.