To view this site you need Adobe Flash Player and your browser must allow javaScripts. Go here to get the latest Flash Player. SUZANNE K. TAYLOR “The fans felt like they were right on top of [the off-ice officials], just being so close to the ice. The Oranges–you almost looked [directly] down on the top of the ice. Before I got to work for the NHL, my tickets were up in the Oranges and [my son] Cliffy used to go to the games all the time. My wife wouldn’t let go of the railing. She had to hold on to that railing. We were only about three rows down from the top, but she had a death grip on that railing.” -Cliff Smith, Sabres official timekeeper, who has worked as an off-ice official since the ‘77-’78 season The remains of the steep stairwell in the Oranges. The stairwell where my brother and father played handball during Sabres’ intermissions. The basement was home to the equipment The cavernous building, with the ceiling lined cage. Rip Simonick began working at The with sound baff les resembling enormous Aud during the final years of the Bisons cigarette filters, was also “During particularly and remains with the Sabres today as their full of hiding places. good Sabres games or Equipment Manager. The equipment cage was Once, I lost my father in raucous E Street Band where the players from both teams could gather the Oranges. On a final shows, the feeling in the together after the morning skates, renewing old tour, my brother took place was palpable. There was a feeling in friendships out of the view of those who might me to the remote stairthe beginnings of a French well where he and our prefer a more competitive attitude. Connection power play father played handball or Clarence Clemons Fans remembered that if you parked under the during intermissions. sax solo that you could Skyway, you would enter through The Aud’s Exiting through the south doors, I was the last one out “I was continually feel in your chest.” before demolition left no Aud to go into. south entrance and could see the Zambonis™ – Michael Powers amazed that I kept on your way in. Sometimes on your way out, finding new places in the you could end up walking alongside the visiting players, who had to building that I had never visited before,” recalls Bailey, “and I never follow that same route to get to the team bus. even got to the basement.” MIKE HEALY 1 SUZANNE K. TAYLOR 6