Hey Terry, Do Us A Favor and SELL

[MOGlLNY]

A lot of "industry experts" have been quoted saying that upgrading KBC could cost $150M+. But Roth mentioned that the heaviest investment they will make in the arena is the scoreboard, and it won't be like any of the behemoths recently installed around the league.

I think it is important to distinguish Pegula's spend of replacement vs. upgrade.

For reference, the Sabres scoreboard was redone in 2007 by Daktronics. They have been starting to see failure in boards around the 14 year mark and KBC is at year 16. This is likely less of an "upgrade" and more of a "replacement". (source, I sell the dvLED walls)

The new San Jose one cost $5M. I think Pegula likely spends between $2-3M on this. Probably a similar size, but 2x or 3x the 2.5mm pixel pitch the sharks have. The current set up is 10mm. 5mm would be a huge upgrade, then reduce the cost based on San Fran vs. Buffalo.

There hasn't been a single upgrade to the arena other than the locker rooms since Pegula bought the team. Or since it was built for that matter. Originally Pegula asked the state/county to cover it and they said no.

I am unsure how much of this is "Pegula upgrading" vs "general maintenance".

Ok well say it is “general maintenance” why would Pegula do any of that if he planned to sell and move. It isn’t happening.

Also I imagine if they’re actually redoing the roof that it will cost a lot more than a new scoreboard. But we’ll see

 

[Ace]

The arena is a perfect metaphor for his treatment of the team itself. Neglected, full of holes, without a plan. But there are minimum requirements to adhere to.

 

[EichHart]

I think if the team is sold it's as good as gone too which maybe was the point of keeping the team as bad as it's been all along (makes the team easier to move because the fans don't give a shit). It's crazy how they took one of the most passionate and arguably the best US market (per capita) and beat us into submission.

As soon as we're good again everyone will come flocking back.

 

[Tijuana Donkey Show]

Ok well say it is “general maintenance” why would Pegula do any of that if he planned to sell and move. It isn’t happening.

Also I imagine if they’re actually redoing the roof that it will cost a lot more than a new scoreboard. But we’ll see

He asked the county/state to pay for it and the response was "it isn't part of the lease agreement". The scoreboard is dying and the roof needs to be replaced. He is contractually obligated to replace them.

'It's desperately in need': are improvements on the way for Buffalo's KeyBank Center?​

The arena is owned by Erie County but operated by the Pegulas and the Sabres. In an email to 7 News the county said: "Under the operating agreement, upgrades and renovations fall on Crossroads Arena LLC and Niagara Frontier Hockey LLC. both of which are private entities, the first leases out the arena and the latter holds the Sabres franchise."

Professionals are saying a full scale upgrade could cost between $150-200M and the mouth piece for the org is saying that their greatest expense will be a scoreboard, but don't expect anything fancy like some of the new ones at the TD Center. We like something more modest".

I don't think Pegula will spend anywhere near $150-200M. In fact I think it could be as low as 10-20% of number. Depending on the cost of the roof, possibly quite a bit less.

EDIT: I found the company/roof that did the original build. Grove Roofing installed a "Sarnafil PVC roof system" Fairly popular in warehousing, arena's, manufacturing, etc.

A quick google has installation cost at $4-12 per square foot. I went into google maps and measured around the arena with a wide birth and, rounding up the square footage was 180,000 square feet.

Even increasing the install cost to $20 per square foot because it is a custom building the total is $3.6M.

To note, directly from Daktronics the recommend replacing their DVLED walls every 10 years. I have heard of large scale failing a little over that so that makes sense. The Sabres scoreboard is 17 years old.

What to Consider When Buying a Video Display

What is your display made of? We tell you what to pay attention to when it comes to buying a video display.

www.daktronics.com

As we mentioned, some products are built to last just 3 years. Daktronics LED displays have a lifetime estimate of 10 years. We have been in business for 50 years and are committed to continuing our legacy in the sports industry, with the same quality you received on day 1, guaranteed.

 

[TheMistyStranger]

I haven't read this whole thing but I assume @Old Navy Goat is crunching the numbers. I bet we end up with imported ice girls within the decade

 

[Old Navy Goat]

I haven't read this whole thing but I assume @Old Navy Goat is crunching the numbers. I bet we end up with imported ice girls within the decade

I'd have to import some Koreans as they do that for hockey and baseball. Plus I've heard you have to pay cheerleaders by the pound, so best to stock Asians

 

[ForsbergMoDo21]

The Sabres aren’t going anywhere for the 19th time Pegula just agreed to renovate the building we are literally getting a new scoreboard for 24-25. It’s confirmed

Can’t they just replace the bulbs on the visitor side and then it’ll be like new?

 

[sabremike]

Oh I can think of another word than "sell"...

 

[Sabre the Win]

If Terry sells and this team relocates I won't follow them. I will be free to chose another team and I will choose another team. So please Terry, please sell and remove these chains from me or you know start to become winners and allow me to enjoy hockey again.

 

[MOGlLNY]

I get people’s frustration and maybe they’re joking but I hate the posts of people wanting the Sabres to move. Just very lame in my opinion.

 

[TheMistyStranger]

If Terry sells and this team relocates I won't follow them. I will be free to chose another team and I will choose another team. So please Terry, please sell and remove these chains from me or you know start to become winners and allow me to enjoy hockey again.

If they relocated I'm done with the league. It's not like it's an enjoyable product with the questions surrounding gambling and officiating.

 

[Zman5778]

If Terry sells and this team relocates I won't follow them. I will be free to chose another team and I will choose another team. So please Terry, please sell and remove these chains from me or you know start to become winners and allow me to enjoy hockey again.

If the Sabres ever relocate, I'm more than likely done with hockey period. When Center Ice first was a thing, I'd watch some West Coast hockey every night after my wife went to bed.

Now? I watch the Sabres and that's it. If there's no Sabres, there's no hockey for me.

 

[EichHart]

I couldn't handle a Sabres move. Hockey is my favorite sport and it wouldn't be the same cheering for anyone else. I try to go to 5-6 games a year and thoroughly enjoy going most nights. Would destroy a part of me.

 

[oldgoalie]

If the Sabres ever relocate, I'm more than likely done with hockey period. When Center Ice first was a thing, I'd watch some West Coast hockey every night after my wife went to bed.

Now? I watch the Sabres and that's it. If there's no Sabres, there's no hockey for me.

As far as I'm concerned, the league and owners have ruined this game for me. The piss poor officiating, the random decisions on fines and punishment, the inability to stop clutch and grab play, the lousy TV broadcasts and crews, and the outrageous ticket prices have made the NHL simply craptastic entertainment.

 

[phantomlord]

Hi all, long time daily lurker (and I go back before my 2011 registration, was on other sites before, and ran one of the earliest protest blogs back in the 90s after the stars no goal)...

When Terry bought the team, I was still actively watching football, and my team was the Redskins. I was hopeful that my hockey team would have the resources to be successful, but wary of having an potential meddling owner. While the NFL as a whole did enough to drive me away, Dan Snyder destroyed what love I had for my team, making it easy to just walk away completely. I haven't watched football in more than a decade. I don't care that my team is the Commanders now, and I think Snyder sold the team, but I don't even know who the new owner is. THAT is just how hard I walked away.

Hockey is the only sport I regularly watch still... and I used to watch the entire league, but, like with the NFL, the league itself has become a joke, and like with football, my team has become a joke. I live 2 hours away, so it's not easy for me to make it to games, but I still try to go a couple times per year. I brought my fiance to a game last April and again in November, and, honestly, I was embarrassed about the product on the ice, the arena activities, etc. She said she had a good time, but I think it was more to make me feel better about bringing her. I used to have season calendars hung up and never missed a game on tv. I pay for ESPN and a VPN to jump through hoops to watch still, but I really don't care if I miss games anymore. Like ROR, this team has killed my love for the game.

Terry can sell or not sell, but if he keeps the team, competent hockey people need to be put in charge. Terry (and Kim and whomever else) can listen in, attend the draft room, etc, but he needs to shut his mouth. He shouldn't be making any of the hockey decisions. Like with Snyder, I don't know how much longer I can stick around if the product doesn't change. If the team moves, I have no more interest left for this league, and I'll be out of sports completely.

I own a business and I know that the culture of my business starts with me. I don't micromanage my employees, but I do set the standard that I expect them to live up to, and when they need support to hit those standards, I make sure they get it. I take care of my employees and they make sure our customers get taken care of, all of which in turn makes sure I get taken care of. While I have my own set of customers that I service, I don't sit in and micromanage my employees while they're dealing with people, nitpicking every little thing.

I'll never be a billionaire and that's ok, I don't want the ego and sense of entitlement that comes with being a billionaire. I'm happy to just do well for myself and my employees, acknowledging along the way that is our customers that keep us all in business. Stay humble.

 

[littletonhockeycoach]

As far as I'm concerned, the league and owners have ruined this game for me. The piss poor officiating, the random decisions on fines and punishment, the inability to stop clutch and grab play, the lousy TV broadcasts and crews, and the outrageous ticket prices have made the NHL simply craptastic entertainment.

Colorado was a hockey wasteland when I first moved here ('82). The Rockies had just relocated to New Jersey and the only hockey left was NCAA. DU and CC. Fortunately, it was pretty good. I was still wedded to NHL hockey but my hockey playing buds (mostly transplants like me) were from Michigan, Minnesota, a few New Englanders and Canada. They followed CCHA, WCHA and Major Juniors religiously.

40 some years later, college and Jr hockey continues to appeal to me over what the NHL produces these days.

 

[Corto]

Hey Corto, missed your post. Hope all is well with you.

Hey!

Yeah, all good, family man these days, wife, kid, work, the usual, etc...
Watching the NHL is basically impossible apart from the early games... i watch highlights and the occasional game, but lack of time + my interest waning through the years of Buffalo irrelevance = I have about 1/10 of the hockey knowledge that I had 10 or 15 years ago...

But I get to watch the Bills games now, for additional heart break <3

 

[TageGod]

As far as I'm concerned, the league and owners have ruined this game for me. The piss poor officiating, the random decisions on fines and punishment, the inability to stop clutch and grab play, the lousy TV broadcasts and crews, and the outrageous ticket prices have made the NHL simply craptastic entertainment.

Wait that sounds like the NFL too....

 

[ForsbergMoDo21]

Wait that sounds like the NFL too....

Just add in “can’t go more than 90 seconds of gameplay without another set of commercials.” I don’t know how people do it. For me it is entirely unwatchable because of that.

 

[Sabre Dance]

If Terry sells, the team will move. Honestly I wouldn’t care because the Sabres are dead to me lately.

 

[CaliSabresfan24]

Sell the team or hire a PHOs who actually knows how to properly run a hockey organization for f*** sake!

 

[Fjordy]

SELL

 

[VaporTrail]

When's the last time Pegula was spotted at a game ?

 

[Jim Bob]

When's the last time Pegula was spotted at a game ?

He has been sitting in on amateur scouting meetings lately. So, I wouldn't be shocked if he were at games and we just don't hear about it. Unless the meetings are just Zoom calls and he's calling in from his yacht.

Personally, I could not care less whether he's at every game in person or just watches most games from Florida.

All I care about is whether he is giving the hockey side and the business side all the financial means available to make the roster and the fan experience the best possible.

Unfortunately, I think he has been prioritizing the teams he owns that are in contention windows now and not giving the same resources to the Sabres.

 

[HogtownSabresfan]

Ok well say it is “general maintenance” why would Pegula do any of that if he planned to sell and move. It isn’t happening.

Also I imagine if they’re actually redoing the roof that it will cost a lot more than a new scoreboard. But we’ll see

Pegula has certain stipulations under his lease.

I also don't believe the buyer's agreement has a clause in the lease to keep the team in Buffalo in perpetuity. Zero chance. There has to be outs. Anyone stupid enough to sign such a lease would box themselves in with the landlord which I guess is Erie County. It would be tough to negotiate when everybody knows you can never move the team. Only the dumbest negotiator in the world would sign that

When's the last time Pegula was spotted at a game ?

I have asked this many times. He's never there. His kids will have a massive tax bill on his death and that could trigger a sale