Why?
The reduced cost of living in and around Buffalo is an advantage over a lot of NHL cities and players do enjoy that part of being in Buffalo.
Craig Rivet talked about it with his move from San Jose to Buffalo. And it is a big factor in why so many former NHLers live in Buffalo after retirement even if they are not from the area.
And you have a guy like Marcel Dionne that lives locally who never even played for the Sabres.
Exactly. It's not nauseating. Young people are sick of Toronto. It sucks to live here and be under 30. You live at home with your parents forever. Your parents can't downsize because it's too expensive to move.
Instead of seeing it as a negative, people (and hockey players obviously exist in a different stratosphere) are starting to consider the cost of living before making decisions about cities. It isn't some trivial thing. Even if you make $2 M/year as a third-line NHLer, in some NHL cities, that is not going to land you in a palatial home. Sure, you are not homeless, but you don't live in serious luxury, netting $1 M+ annually after taxes.
People are always dumping on Buffalo, but the city has some great restaurants, a little bit of theatre, some cool museums and other attractions, a fun AAA team and two pro sports teams (well, one, if we don't count the Sabres as professional, LOL).
Personally, I hate winter, but some people really lean into winter with cross-country skiing (there must be a place to do that locally), and outdoor skating.
Sure, Evander Kane types want to wander the streets of Vegas burning 50s, but there are hockey players who would like a stable environment to raise a family. Buffalo has that. I see places like Wegman's that has the best premium stuff.
I don't live in Buffalo, so I see it with outside eyes, but for me, it looks like a decent quality of life.
(I will say the transit options look sucky, so you need a car.)
www.zillow.com
