Buffalo Memorial Auditorium Buffalo Memorial Auditorium ( also known as The Aud ) was an indoor arena in downtown Buffalo , New York . It hosted the Buffalo Bisons of the American Hockey League , the Buffalo Sabres of the National Hockey League , the Buffalo Braves of the National Basketball Association , the Buffalo Stallions of the Major Soccer League , the Buffalo Bandits of the Major Indoor Lacrosse League , the Buffalo Blizzard of the National Professional Soccer League II , and the Buffalo Stampede of Roller Hockey International . It also held a number an NCAA basketball games , as well as numerous entertainment events , such as concerts , the Ringling Brothers circus , Disney on Ice , and other things of that nature . The Aud opened on October 14 , 1940 , and was renovated in 1970 and 1990 . It was closed in 1996 following the conclusion of the Sabres ' , Bandits ' , and Blizzard ' s seasons , and remained vacant up through its demolition in late 2008 and early 2009 . History . Planning and construction . The Buffalo Memorial Auditorium began as a public works project to replace an aging civic auditorium . In June 1938 , city officials sent a loan and grant application to the Works Progress Administration for funds to build the new structure . The approval of the $ 1 . 2 million grant was announced in Washington D . C . on October 7 , 1938 , and construction began on November 30 , 1939 . The Auditorium ' s construction brought a great deal of activity to downtown Buffalo . On December 31 , 1939 , Buffalo Evening News reporter Nat Gorham wrote : " As if overnight the Terrace once more is coming back to life . The massive new hall will be the mainstay , but city planners also want to improve the section with a boulevard in the old canal bend , waterfront parks and relocation , if not removal , of the New York Central tracks . Visible proof of these good intentions is construction of the new hall , which is being watched daily by hundreds of citizens . " Opening . Built for $ 2 , 700 , 000 , Memorial Auditorium ' s grand opening celebration was held on October 14 , 1940 . The arena originally seated 12 , 280 for ice hockey , with an additional 2 , 000 - 3 , 000 sitting in the floor area for basketball and other events . Among the first events held in Memorial Auditorium were an auto show and roller skating . In its first seven months , Auditorium events drew nearly one million spectators , and the first year ' s attendance was 1 . 3 million . Circuses , dog shows and political events all took place at the Aud . The building was also set as a war memorial for the Spanish - American war . Expansion and renovations . An $ 8 . 7 million renovation took place after the 1970 – 71 inauguration of the Sabres and Braves franchises . The arena ' s roof was raised 24 feet , making room for a new upper level ( orange level ) . This raised the total capacity of the arena to about 18 , 000 for basketball and 16 , 433 for hockey , making it a more suitable home for the National Basketball Association and NHL . In 1990 , air conditioning and elevators were added to the Aud to help keep the building functional until discussions and decisions on a new Buffalo arena could be completed . Closing and vacancy . The Aud closed in 1996 , at which time the Sabres , Bandits , and Blizzard moved a few blocks south to the new Marine Midland Arena ( now HSBC Arena ) . Asbestos removal and other environmental remediation was performed in preparation for the demolition in late 2008 . Major demolition of the Aud began in January 2009 . On February 9 , 2009 , the " Buffalo Memorial Auditorium " edifice that sat above the main entrances was torn down . Much of the front of the Aud was torn down that same month . The entirety of the demolition is expected to cost $ 10 million and was completed on June 6 , 2009 . Professional ice hockey . The American Hockey League ' s Buffalo Bisons played 30 seasons at the Memorial Auditorium , beginning with the 1940 – 41 season . The Bisons won five Calder Cup championships , with the last coming in 1970 in the franchise ' s final game . When Buffalo was awarded an expansion team in the National Hockey League — the Sabres — in 1970 , the Bisons folded . The Buffalo Sabres played their first home opener at Memorial Auditorium on October 15 , 1970 . They occupied the Auditorium through the 1995 – 96 season , when they moved a few blocks away to the HSBC Arena . Michael Peca scored the last in - game goal at the Aud while Pat LaFontaine put in a ceremonial goal after the 4 – 1 win over the Hartford Whalers . It was the last arena in which the ice sheet fell short of the league - mandated 200 ft . by 85 ft . size ( though Maple Leaf Gardens still had irregularly shaped corners ) . On May 15 , 1973 , the Cincinnati Swords , then the Sabres ' AHL affiliate , played the final game of the 1973 Calder Cup Finals at the Auditorium . The Swords won the Calder Cup with a 5 – 1 win over the Nova Scotia Voyageurs in front of 15 , 019 fans — at the time the largest playoff crowd in AHL history . The Rochester Americans also played several games at the Aud after becoming the Sabres ' affiliate , including during their run to the Calder Cup championship in 1987 . Memorial Auditorium hosted the 1978 NHL All - Star Game on January 24 , 1978 . Two members of the Sabres ' " French Connection " line — Gilbert Perreault and Rick Martin — played in the game for the Wales Conference . Both had a significant impact on the game ' s outcome : Martin scored a goal with 1 : 39 left in regulation to tie the game at 2 – 2 and force overtime , and Perreault scored the game - winning goal 3 : 55 into overtime to defeat the Campbell Conference 3 – 2 . NHL history was made at the Aud on February 24 , 1982 , when Wayne Gretzky of the visiting Edmonton Oilers scored a natural hat trick in the final seven minutes of the third period to help defeat the Sabres 6 – 3 . Gretzky broke Phil Esposito ' s record for the most goals in a season ( 76 ) with the first goal of the hat trick , Gretzky ' s 77th of the season .