KeyBank Center was originally known as Marine Midland Arena when it opened on September 21st, 1996. The construction cost was $127.5 million (approximately $220 million in 2021 dollars). The venue has since been named HSBC Arena and First Niagara Center before being renamed to KeyBank Center.

It replaced the Buffalo Sabres’ former home, Buffalo Memorial Auditorium, where the team played from 1970 to 1996. In addition to being home to the Buffalo Sabres and Buffalo Bandits, KeyBank Center has also hosted major events including the NCAA Division I men’s basketball tournament, 1999 Stanley Cup Finals, 2003 Frozen Four and UFC 210.

The nearest airport to KeyBank Center is Buffalo Niagara International Airport (BUF) which is located about 10 miles from the stadium. There are several airlines that offer flights from London to Buffalo Niagara International Airport. However, there are no direct flights available, and all flights have at least one stopover.

If you are already in the US and looking to travel to/from the area, then you have the choice of most US domestic airlines including Air Canada, Alaska Airlines, American Airlines, American Eagle, Frontier Airlines, Jet Blue, Southwest Airlines, Spirit Airlines, United Airways and WestJet.

The Niagara Frontier Transportation Authority (NFTA) Metro Bus and Rail system operates in the area and provides convenient access to the arena. The Metro Rail runs along Main Street from the KeyBank Center to the South Campus of the University at Buffalo, with several stops in between.

Bus stops are found on almost every City of Buffalo street corner and many other spots throughout the region. You could also make use of free apps such as Moovit to get real-time timetables, maps and directions to the arena using local public transportation systems.

Rideshare services are also available in the vicinity with a designated drop off/pick up zone.

KeyBank Center is in the Canalside district of downtown Buffalo, New York, which is a popular tourist destination. It is located at the heart of Buffalo’s waterfront revitalisation and offers a wide range of attractions and activities for visitors. Canalside also hosts over 1,000 annual events including outdoor yoga, children’s games, and concerts.

Beyond the Airbnb and Sonder options there are many hotels nearby to suit all budgets, which can be booked directly or via one of the hotel reservation booking sites.

Some of the closest hotels within walking distance include Buffalo Marriott, and Courtyard Buffalo Downtown/Canalside.

The Buffalo Sabres sell their tickets via Ticketmaster.

The official ticket partner for the NHL is Ticketmaster.

Here are links to the main ticket resale sites. Click on the link, which will open up a new window, and you can compare the prices on the different ticket resell sites, bearing in mind that the prices shown are before the selling platform fees are added, so take time to have a read of my tips to Buying Tickets in North America.

• SeatGeek
• SportsEvents365 (Click on the Search Button)
• StubHub International
• StubHub US
• Ticketmaster US
• TicketNetwork
• Viagogo
• Vivid Seats

I recommend downloading the team’s Mobile App to your phone as it contains much Gameday information for the stadium.