The Aud: Final Farewell

by David Oleksy on Nov 11, 2008 11:52 AM EST Comment 6 comments

Any Buffalo Sabres fan that had an opportunity to experience "The Aud" has a special place in their heart for that building. As I sit here writing this now I have behind me a poster of the very last game at "The Aud" that I cherish very much and across the room is a picture frame given to me by a friend that has a ticket stub from the last game and a piece of a red seat. Those are items I will never let go of because that building meant so much to me and to others as we were growing up.

This weekend the City of Buffalo will be holding an event at the Buffalo Convention Center to relive some of those memories and to allow you take home a part of it. Unfortunately I won't be able to attend the event this Saturday and Sunday but will instead depend on you to help me relive those Aud memories.

I have spoken at great length about the Aud before but I guess today it became real to me...the Aud is going to be gone real soon and all we have left is memories. I have my own artifacts hanging on my walls but this weekend you too have an opportunity to forever hold a piece of the Aud. I have to say that some of those blue seats would look real good in my basement and Christmas is coming so feel free to buy a gift for your favorite blogger. Oh wait what if I'm not your favorite...buy it for me and not your favorite blogger.

In all seriousness, there isn't a Sabres fan in the world that is old enough to remember the Aud that didn't like it. Whether it was sitting in the Oranges and literally hanging over the ice or it was sitting in the wooden chairs of the Blues or maybe an opportunity to visit the Aud Club we all have very fond memories of the Aud.

During the Winter Classic last season "Hockey Night in Canada" put together an amazing tribute to the Aud and it was very moving for me. I found myself getting chills when they played the clips of the fans chanting "Let's Go Buff-a-lo" and when they played the goal horn. Watch for yourself and let me know what you think.

I have nothing against the HSBC Arena, I think it is an outstanding building but it will never be the Aud...at least not for me. I hope that kids today can grow that same bond with the HSBC Arena that I was able to grow for the Aud. The problem with the buildings today is that they are all alike...it makes the game more fair but being different is what was great about the old buildings like the Aud, The Boston Garden, The Maple Leaf Garden etc.

Go out and buy your Aud merchandise this weekend and always remember what a great building it was.

If you are interested in more Aud memories there are plenty of links at the Aud Wikipedia page.

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The Aud Memories

I, too, have fond memories of the Aud. I saw my first Sabres game there in the eight’s and sat all the way up top. I felt like I was roll right down and fall on the ice!

Saw a few concerts there too…New Kids and Milli Vanilli! LOL!! (yeah, I admit it.)

It was a fantastic building and I every time I drive past I think about what a shame that they are going to tear down such a historic venue for Buffalo.

I agree that those blue seat would be a great addition to the basement!

by HO on Nov 11, 2008 12:55 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Fantastic

That video is great. Never been to the Aud, but (growing up in St. Louis) I loved the Blues’ rare televised visits there: The building’s character really translated on TV. The league is truly missing something with the loss of these old barns … something that just can’t be replaced. I regret not going on a tour of all of them before they closed.

In St. Louis, when they demo’d The Arena in 1999 (five years after it closed), the local TV stations televised it live. I watched at home and cried like a child.

But I can’t believe they haven’t sold off the Aud seats yet! The St. Louis Arena’s seats have been scattered around town in local bars, people’s TV rooms, local rec rinks, since they closed it in the mid-‘90s. You walk into a place and see a row of ’em, and it still brings a smile. So yeah, I’d recommend picking up a piece of the Aud.

SBN now has a NY Islanders blog at LighthouseHockey.com.

by Dominik on Nov 11, 2008 1:25 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Words from Lindy

“The thing about that building was that everyone was so close that you could recognize people just by looking up. You don’t get that in a lot of places today. The people felt like they were a part of the team and we felt like they were a part of our success. That was the special thing about Memorial Auditorium. I don’t think anything like that can ever be replaced.”

—Lindy Ruff

by HO on Nov 11, 2008 1:39 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

...........

Dear Die By the Blade,

The piece about The Aud was truly special. I forgot the sound of that horn and how magnificent and unique its texture really was. The fans of our city should all get a piece of The Aud if possible because it was a part of our youth.

My fondest memory was probably sneaking down from the golds probably more like the blues and walking down the stairway that actually led to the floor( briefly shown in the video if you look close) and snapping a picture of the newly crowned intercontinental champ Randy Savage as he came out of the dressing room when the WWF came to our city. The other was when the Jordan and the Bulls came to play the Sacramento Kings in an exhibition-and seeing the greatest of my generation.

If I don’t get a memory from the Aud this weekend I know that I will always be able to find one in my heart. Or in a friends basement.

Tommy T.

by HO on Nov 11, 2008 3:10 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Tommy

sent this to me via e-mail and thought it was too good to leave in my e-mail.

by HO on Nov 11, 2008 3:11 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

The Aud

Aud Memories….

Running through the Tunnels…
Feeling like you were going over the edge in the Oranges.
When I Played during intermission.
And Scored a Goal
Being Able to see the Players go into the locker Room after each period.
The Aud Club..my dad took us there for dinner before each game we went to.
MAY….DAY….Being there was Awsome…..

And My Favorite…….
Meeting and Getting Autographs from
Gordie Howe
Gilbert Perreault
Jim Lorentz
Mike Ramsey
Danny Gare

And it was all in one night and on one ticket stub…….

The Aud was a great place to watch a game. you always felt part of the action.
I will always have a place in my heart for THE MEMORIAL AUDITORIAM

by YOMAN on Nov 11, 2008 5:01 PM EST reply actions 0 recs