To view this site you need Adobe Flash Player and your browser must allow javaScripts. Go here to get the latest Flash Player. From hockey to basketball in a matter of hours BUFFALO STATE COLLEGE LIBRARY “We played more ‘cup hockey’ than anybody on the planet. When the bell rang, we’d come back and we’d go to the seats. [My friend’s] mother used to bring us; we’d all come back soaking wet. We loved it. The Aud was an awesome place for a kid. There were homemade goals [on the ramps]. If you went on certain levels, they had the [radiators], so that was the goal. But we used to play down in the good seats–the Browns– then you had to make something.” - Jim Kralisz, former Buffalo resident and Sabres Season Ticket holder “In the ‘80s we moved upstairs into the center of The Aud. The Marketing and Public Relations offices were up there, buried in slightly-refurbished quarters in the center of the building, at the Blues level. Every day was an adventure. The adventure was mostly related to creatures in the building. The morning after events we had to make our way through garbage left by the 16,000 fans the night before. Garbage attracts rodents, and we had those, but we also had birds and bats. Birds were difficult, but I was always successful getting them to leave. When a bat was found in the office, none of the women would go inside. I used to drive them toward open doors with a broom, but the damned things wouldn’t fly out. They’d just bang around in panic inside the office area. Eventually I would have to dispatch them with extreme prejudice. Events like this would brighten up our days, as the offices were truly claustrophobic. No amenities, no water, no bathrooms except the ones that used to be part of the old press room. Of course, no one bothered us, so if we wanted to play street hockey, we’d push back desks and go at it.” - Paul Wieland, former Director of Communications for the Sabres BUFFALO STATE COLLEGE LIBRARY BUFFALO STATE COLLEGE LIBRARY JOHN BOUTET COLLE CTION During the Bisons era, the color of your ticket matched the color of your seat. 2 0