The Sabres GM and Front Office Thread, Eric Staal hired as Special Asst. to the GM; Jarmo Kekäläinen hired as Senior Advisor

[sabremike]

Can anyone think of a worse job that Sabres Ticket Sales Rep? I honestly think the Paris sewage system guy who literally dives into raw sewage has a better job.

 

[May Day 10]

The other day, i got another call and an email from my Sabres rep, asking me if I would reconsider with season tickets, be interested in a different plan, and asking how many games I plan on attending next year. My response:

Hi xxxxxx-
Thank you for the attempts to contact me.
I will no longer be attending any Sabres games, nor spending anything on the company. I will not watch any games, nor support any sponsors if I become aware they are involved with the team.

I know it is not your fault, but as a 40+ year fan, this team has become a source of embarrassment to the community. My sons, who are in high school have no idea, nor will they, of what playoff hockey will be like here, and they are fans of doing other things (and one plays hockey 4 times a week). When we do attend a Sabres game, we want to leave by the end of the 2nd period as it is a source of frustration, unhappiness, and wanting to do something else. Frankly it is boring and not fun. The team has not had an important game in over a decade, other than to decide if they have the best pick in the lottery. They resist employing any sort of physical players and to watch our team lose every physical confrontation for more than a decade kills morality and excitement.

The in-arena presentation is hideous. Overly loud, shrill music and you have to scream to be heard by someone sitting next to you. By the time the noise assault stops, everyone's senses are so fried, the last thing anyone wants to do is cheer. In the rare event organic cheering and crowd participation starts, loud music is played to drown them out, as well as that shrill and loud host who presents the contests and sponsors and such. Almost no attention is paid to the team's history, and that is all we have right now. The music selection itself is also trash. Loud electronic beeps and boops like a duel between R2D2 and Close Encounters of the Third Kind in a bed of someone smashing pots and pans in garbage cans. Nothing anyone in the crowd recognizes, with no participation. At 90s night a few years ago, people were singing to the music, well into the play, after the music stopped. The crowd got really into the game and had... fun.

In arena, it seems nobody on staff cares anymore. There is grime everywhere, trash, no service unless one of the attendants who did not do anything are soliciting you for a tip. In the 200 level this season, in the men's room before the game started, there were no paper towels, and 1 of the 2 hand dryers was not working. Generally, I haven't felt valued as a season ticket holder since the day Ted Black was dismissed and a lot of the fan experience has been floated out to sea. The same cookie cutter "promotions" every season with no thought or imagination. Would it kill the budget to install some sort of team hall of fame? Or do something like I have seen in Pittsburgh and Detroit where a section of the concourse pays tribute to the local amateur hockey scene? Everything seems to be bare minimum to scrape by, only to ask the dwindling base to renew.

All the matinee games also are terrible and inconvenient. During the winter, we have a few hours of daylight. Kids have activities in the day. We cant attend Sabres games. Don't get me started on the silly fringe holiday Day games like Columbus Day, MLK Day, and President's Day when most people have to work to afford these tickets. Hockey, especially in a market like Buffalo with little competition in the entertainment space was made for Friday and Saturday night home games.
When I was a kid, going to those games was really special. It was a glimpse into being an adult. I watched the games and became a fan. I didn't need or want face painting, Dinkles the Clown, half priced cotton candy, or any of that. I wanted to see the Sabres compete, maybe win a fight, and cheer.

The management of this team feels like they stopped trying. There is inexperience everywhere and it is an insular network of people who are incapable of doing their jobs. Many of these people would not find lateral employment in the NHL if they were released today. Yet, here they are with the Sabres, in some cases for 10+ years. Ownership seems secure with failing year after year, as long as we give inept managers like Kevyn Adams and Seth Appert more time to grow. Am I supposed to plunk down over $5,000 for their growth opportunity? No! At every level they fall short. Looking at the immediate competition within their Division, they have robust front offices in a different league than what we have here. You look at league news, and teams who were better than the Sabres, and have had recent success, are making big changes and deciding to make the moves that would excite me as a fan (as well as right this sunken ship). One stunt after another has failed miserably, and it is well past time... it was past time before this owner took over.... that a Team President was hired who has both credibility and experience, and maybe most importantly, is from outside the organization, who knows how to build success.

The last straw of many straws, was the general Manager Kevyn Adams' using our region as a crutch for his failures. For years, he insinuates that players don't want to come here due to the climate and city. What everyone knows, is they don't want to play for this organization and it is self-inflicted. Then, during another appalling losing streak, for him to kick sand in our faces, referring to palm trees and taxes, I was done with this guy. He should have been relieved of his duties on the spot. Yet he is allowed to constantly get in front of cameras and admit that he "needs to do everything better". Why cant they just hire someone who is already good?

If you have read this far, I commend you. I realize some of this sounds like the rantings of a madman, but it is something I was once very passionate about.

Thank you again for reaching out
-xxxxxxx

 

[oldgoalie]

Fantastic response. Let us know if they get back to you at all.

 

[ClearTheTrack]

The other day, i got another call and an email from my Sabres rep, asking me if I would reconsider with season tickets, be interested in a different plan, and asking how many games I plan on attending next year. My response:

Hi xxxxxx-
Thank you for the attempts to contact me.
I will no longer be attending any Sabres games, nor spending anything on the company. I will not watch any games, nor support any sponsors if I become aware they are involved with the team.

I know it is not your fault, but as a 40+ year fan, this team has become a source of embarrassment to the community. My sons, who are in high school have no idea, nor will they, of what playoff hockey will be like here, and they are fans of doing other things (and one plays hockey 4 times a week). When we do attend a Sabres game, we want to leave by the end of the 2nd period as it is a source of frustration, unhappiness, and wanting to do something else. Frankly it is boring and not fun. The team has not had an important game in over a decade, other than to decide if they have the best pick in the lottery. They resist employing any sort of physical players and to watch our team lose every physical confrontation for more than a decade kills morality and excitement.

The in-arena presentation is hideous. Overly loud, shrill music and you have to scream to be heard by someone sitting next to you. By the time the noise assault stops, everyone's senses are so fried, the last thing anyone wants to do is cheer. In the rare event organic cheering and crowd participation starts, loud music is played to drown them out, as well as that shrill and loud host who presents the contests and sponsors and such. Almost no attention is paid to the team's history, and that is all we have right now. The music selection itself is also trash. Loud electronic beeps and boops like a duel between R2D2 and Close Encounters of the Third Kind in a bed of someone smashing pots and pans in garbage cans. Nothing anyone in the crowd recognizes, with no participation. At 90s night a few years ago, people were singing to the music, well into the play, after the music stopped. The crowd got really into the game and had... fun.

In arena, it seems nobody on staff cares anymore. There is grime everywhere, trash, no service unless one of the attendants who did not do anything are soliciting you for a tip. In the 200 level this season, in the men's room before the game started, there were no paper towels, and 1 of the 2 hand dryers was not working. Generally, I haven't felt valued as a season ticket holder since the day Ted Black was dismissed and a lot of the fan experience has been floated out to sea. The same cookie cutter "promotions" every season with no thought or imagination. Would it kill the budget to install some sort of team hall of fame? Or do something like I have seen in Pittsburgh and Detroit where a section of the concourse pays tribute to the local amateur hockey scene? Everything seems to be bare minimum to scrape by, only to ask the dwindling base to renew.

All the matinee games also are terrible and inconvenient. During the winter, we have a few hours of daylight. Kids have activities in the day. We cant attend Sabres games. Don't get me started on the silly fringe holiday Day games like Columbus Day, MLK Day, and President's Day when most people have to work to afford these tickets. Hockey, especially in a market like Buffalo with little competition in the entertainment space was made for Friday and Saturday night home games.
When I was a kid, going to those games was really special. It was a glimpse into being an adult. I watched the games and became a fan. I didn't need or want face painting, Dinkles the Clown, half priced cotton candy, or any of that. I wanted to see the Sabres compete, maybe win a fight, and cheer.

The management of this team feels like they stopped trying. There is inexperience everywhere and it is an insular network of people who are incapable of doing their jobs. Many of these people would not find lateral employment in the NHL if they were released today. Yet, here they are with the Sabres, in some cases for 10+ years. Ownership seems secure with failing year after year, as long as we give inept managers like Kevyn Adams and Seth Appert more time to grow. Am I supposed to plunk down over $5,000 for their growth opportunity? No! At every level they fall short. Looking at the immediate competition within their Division, they have robust front offices in a different league than what we have here. You look at league news, and teams who were better than the Sabres, and have had recent success, are making big changes and deciding to make the moves that would excite me as a fan (as well as right this sunken ship). One stunt after another has failed miserably, and it is well past time... it was past time before this owner took over.... that a Team President was hired who has both credibility and experience, and maybe most importantly, is from outside the organization, who knows how to build success.

The last straw of many straws, was the general Manager Kevyn Adams' using our region as a crutch for his failures. For years, he insinuates that players don't want to come here due to the climate and city. What everyone knows, is they don't want to play for this organization and it is self-inflicted. Then, during another appalling losing streak, for him to kick sand in our faces, referring to palm trees and taxes, I was done with this guy. He should have been relieved of his duties on the spot. Yet he is allowed to constantly get in front of cameras and admit that he "needs to do everything better". Why cant they just hire someone who is already good?

If you have read this far, I commend you. I realize some of this sounds like the rantings of a madman, but it is something I was once very passionate about.

Thank you again for reaching out
-xxxxxxx

f***in' hell - this was fantastic. I didn't want it to end.

I got a similar opportunity to send a response and also laid into the org, touching on most of these topics as well, but yours is an A+ work.

Makes me sad of course, but fk. This is literally all we can do.

 

[SundherDome]

The other day, i got another call and an email from my Sabres rep, asking me if I would reconsider with season tickets, be interested in a different plan, and asking how many games I plan on attending next year. My response:

Hi xxxxxx-
Thank you for the attempts to contact me.
I will no longer be attending any Sabres games, nor spending anything on the company. I will not watch any games, nor support any sponsors if I become aware they are involved with the team.

I know it is not your fault, but as a 40+ year fan, this team has become a source of embarrassment to the community. My sons, who are in high school have no idea, nor will they, of what playoff hockey will be like here, and they are fans of doing other things (and one plays hockey 4 times a week). When we do attend a Sabres game, we want to leave by the end of the 2nd period as it is a source of frustration, unhappiness, and wanting to do something else. Frankly it is boring and not fun. The team has not had an important game in over a decade, other than to decide if they have the best pick in the lottery. They resist employing any sort of physical players and to watch our team lose every physical confrontation for more than a decade kills morality and excitement.

The in-arena presentation is hideous. Overly loud, shrill music and you have to scream to be heard by someone sitting next to you. By the time the noise assault stops, everyone's senses are so fried, the last thing anyone wants to do is cheer. In the rare event organic cheering and crowd participation starts, loud music is played to drown them out, as well as that shrill and loud host who presents the contests and sponsors and such. Almost no attention is paid to the team's history, and that is all we have right now. The music selection itself is also trash. Loud electronic beeps and boops like a duel between R2D2 and Close Encounters of the Third Kind in a bed of someone smashing pots and pans in garbage cans. Nothing anyone in the crowd recognizes, with no participation. At 90s night a few years ago, people were singing to the music, well into the play, after the music stopped. The crowd got really into the game and had... fun.

In arena, it seems nobody on staff cares anymore. There is grime everywhere, trash, no service unless one of the attendants who did not do anything are soliciting you for a tip. In the 200 level this season, in the men's room before the game started, there were no paper towels, and 1 of the 2 hand dryers was not working. Generally, I haven't felt valued as a season ticket holder since the day Ted Black was dismissed and a lot of the fan experience has been floated out to sea. The same cookie cutter "promotions" every season with no thought or imagination. Would it kill the budget to install some sort of team hall of fame? Or do something like I have seen in Pittsburgh and Detroit where a section of the concourse pays tribute to the local amateur hockey scene? Everything seems to be bare minimum to scrape by, only to ask the dwindling base to renew.

All the matinee games also are terrible and inconvenient. During the winter, we have a few hours of daylight. Kids have activities in the day. We cant attend Sabres games. Don't get me started on the silly fringe holiday Day games like Columbus Day, MLK Day, and President's Day when most people have to work to afford these tickets. Hockey, especially in a market like Buffalo with little competition in the entertainment space was made for Friday and Saturday night home games.
When I was a kid, going to those games was really special. It was a glimpse into being an adult. I watched the games and became a fan. I didn't need or want face painting, Dinkles the Clown, half priced cotton candy, or any of that. I wanted to see the Sabres compete, maybe win a fight, and cheer.

The management of this team feels like they stopped trying. There is inexperience everywhere and it is an insular network of people who are incapable of doing their jobs. Many of these people would not find lateral employment in the NHL if they were released today. Yet, here they are with the Sabres, in some cases for 10+ years. Ownership seems secure with failing year after year, as long as we give inept managers like Kevyn Adams and Seth Appert more time to grow. Am I supposed to plunk down over $5,000 for their growth opportunity? No! At every level they fall short. Looking at the immediate competition within their Division, they have robust front offices in a different league than what we have here. You look at league news, and teams who were better than the Sabres, and have had recent success, are making big changes and deciding to make the moves that would excite me as a fan (as well as right this sunken ship). One stunt after another has failed miserably, and it is well past time... it was past time before this owner took over.... that a Team President was hired who has both credibility and experience, and maybe most importantly, is from outside the organization, who knows how to build success.

The last straw of many straws, was the general Manager Kevyn Adams' using our region as a crutch for his failures. For years, he insinuates that players don't want to come here due to the climate and city. What everyone knows, is they don't want to play for this organization and it is self-inflicted. Then, during another appalling losing streak, for him to kick sand in our faces, referring to palm trees and taxes, I was done with this guy. He should have been relieved of his duties on the spot. Yet he is allowed to constantly get in front of cameras and admit that he "needs to do everything better". Why cant they just hire someone who is already good?

If you have read this far, I commend you. I realize some of this sounds like the rantings of a madman, but it is something I was once very passionate about.

Thank you again for reaching out
-xxxxxxx

I wanna see the cloud or teenager you are telling at to get off your lawn lol

 

[oldgoalie]

f***in' hell - this was fantastic. I didn't want it to end.

I got a similar opportunity to send a response and also laid into the org, touching on most of these topics as well, but yours is an A+ work.

Makes me sad of course, but fk. This is literally all we can do.

Yep. Vote with your dollars.

 

[Fezzy126]

The other day, i got another call and an email from my Sabres rep, asking me if I would reconsider with season tickets, be interested in a different plan, and asking how many games I plan on attending next year. My response:

Hi xxxxxx-
Thank you for the attempts to contact me.
I will no longer be attending any Sabres games, nor spending anything on the company. I will not watch any games, nor support any sponsors if I become aware they are involved with the team.

I know it is not your fault, but as a 40+ year fan, this team has become a source of embarrassment to the community. My sons, who are in high school have no idea, nor will they, of what playoff hockey will be like here, and they are fans of doing other things (and one plays hockey 4 times a week). When we do attend a Sabres game, we want to leave by the end of the 2nd period as it is a source of frustration, unhappiness, and wanting to do something else. Frankly it is boring and not fun. The team has not had an important game in over a decade, other than to decide if they have the best pick in the lottery. They resist employing any sort of physical players and to watch our team lose every physical confrontation for more than a decade kills morality and excitement.

The in-arena presentation is hideous. Overly loud, shrill music and you have to scream to be heard by someone sitting next to you. By the time the noise assault stops, everyone's senses are so fried, the last thing anyone wants to do is cheer. In the rare event organic cheering and crowd participation starts, loud music is played to drown them out, as well as that shrill and loud host who presents the contests and sponsors and such. Almost no attention is paid to the team's history, and that is all we have right now. The music selection itself is also trash. Loud electronic beeps and boops like a duel between R2D2 and Close Encounters of the Third Kind in a bed of someone smashing pots and pans in garbage cans. Nothing anyone in the crowd recognizes, with no participation. At 90s night a few years ago, people were singing to the music, well into the play, after the music stopped. The crowd got really into the game and had... fun.

In arena, it seems nobody on staff cares anymore. There is grime everywhere, trash, no service unless one of the attendants who did not do anything are soliciting you for a tip. In the 200 level this season, in the men's room before the game started, there were no paper towels, and 1 of the 2 hand dryers was not working. Generally, I haven't felt valued as a season ticket holder since the day Ted Black was dismissed and a lot of the fan experience has been floated out to sea. The same cookie cutter "promotions" every season with no thought or imagination. Would it kill the budget to install some sort of team hall of fame? Or do something like I have seen in Pittsburgh and Detroit where a section of the concourse pays tribute to the local amateur hockey scene? Everything seems to be bare minimum to scrape by, only to ask the dwindling base to renew.

All the matinee games also are terrible and inconvenient. During the winter, we have a few hours of daylight. Kids have activities in the day. We cant attend Sabres games. Don't get me started on the silly fringe holiday Day games like Columbus Day, MLK Day, and President's Day when most people have to work to afford these tickets. Hockey, especially in a market like Buffalo with little competition in the entertainment space was made for Friday and Saturday night home games.
When I was a kid, going to those games was really special. It was a glimpse into being an adult. I watched the games and became a fan. I didn't need or want face painting, Dinkles the Clown, half priced cotton candy, or any of that. I wanted to see the Sabres compete, maybe win a fight, and cheer.

The management of this team feels like they stopped trying. There is inexperience everywhere and it is an insular network of people who are incapable of doing their jobs. Many of these people would not find lateral employment in the NHL if they were released today. Yet, here they are with the Sabres, in some cases for 10+ years. Ownership seems secure with failing year after year, as long as we give inept managers like Kevyn Adams and Seth Appert more time to grow. Am I supposed to plunk down over $5,000 for their growth opportunity? No! At every level they fall short. Looking at the immediate competition within their Division, they have robust front offices in a different league than what we have here. You look at league news, and teams who were better than the Sabres, and have had recent success, are making big changes and deciding to make the moves that would excite me as a fan (as well as right this sunken ship). One stunt after another has failed miserably, and it is well past time... it was past time before this owner took over.... that a Team President was hired who has both credibility and experience, and maybe most importantly, is from outside the organization, who knows how to build success.

The last straw of many straws, was the general Manager Kevyn Adams' using our region as a crutch for his failures. For years, he insinuates that players don't want to come here due to the climate and city. What everyone knows, is they don't want to play for this organization and it is self-inflicted. Then, during another appalling losing streak, for him to kick sand in our faces, referring to palm trees and taxes, I was done with this guy. He should have been relieved of his duties on the spot. Yet he is allowed to constantly get in front of cameras and admit that he "needs to do everything better". Why cant they just hire someone who is already good?

If you have read this far, I commend you. I realize some of this sounds like the rantings of a madman, but it is something I was once very passionate about.

Thank you again for reaching out
-xxxxxxx

Having spoken with a friend in the NBA's analytics office about this many times, the fact that you took the time to write such a long and impassioned message tells the team everything they need to know. They will spend the bare minimum in marketing or outreach on your account because they believe that once the team starts winning you will come back. Perhaps you will be one of the exceptions that doesn't, but years of analytical studies about fan behavior says otherwise.

It's the fans that go silent and are never heard from that raise the biggest alarms to sports franchises marketing and ticketing teams.

 

[May Day 10]

Having spoken with a friend in the NBA's analytics office about this many times, the fact that you took the time to write such a long and impassioned message tells the team everything they need to know. They will spend the bare minimum in marketing or outreach on your account because they believe that once the team starts winning you will come back. Perhaps you will be one of the exceptions that doesn't, but years of analytical studies about fan behavior says otherwise.

It's the fans that go silent and are never heard from that raise the biggest alarms to sports franchises marketing and ticketing teams.

Yeah, I get it. Its like the guy who calls in to a radio show every day because they hate the host

I'm sure the sabres think everything is going to be perfect when they inevitably succeed (which apparently is just qualifying for a playoff spot). As long as they stay the course, they will find success.

It is not true, and each season they are creating more and more damage to their brand. My 14 year old son likes the Canadiens and my other son is a fan of the NBA. Neither will be sabres fans win or lose when they are adults with disposable income.

I'm past the point where I consider them a trash organization and I don't want them to stumble into success.

 

[TageGod]

The other day, i got another call and an email from my Sabres rep, asking me if I would reconsider with season tickets, be interested in a different plan, and asking how many games I plan on attending next year. My response:

Hi xxxxxx-
Thank you for the attempts to contact me.
I will no longer be attending any Sabres games, nor spending anything on the company. I will not watch any games, nor support any sponsors if I become aware they are involved with the team.

I know it is not your fault, but as a 40+ year fan, this team has become a source of embarrassment to the community. My sons, who are in high school have no idea, nor will they, of what playoff hockey will be like here, and they are fans of doing other things (and one plays hockey 4 times a week). When we do attend a Sabres game, we want to leave by the end of the 2nd period as it is a source of frustration, unhappiness, and wanting to do something else. Frankly it is boring and not fun. The team has not had an important game in over a decade, other than to decide if they have the best pick in the lottery. They resist employing any sort of physical players and to watch our team lose every physical confrontation for more than a decade kills morality and excitement.

The in-arena presentation is hideous. Overly loud, shrill music and you have to scream to be heard by someone sitting next to you. By the time the noise assault stops, everyone's senses are so fried, the last thing anyone wants to do is cheer. In the rare event organic cheering and crowd participation starts, loud music is played to drown them out, as well as that shrill and loud host who presents the contests and sponsors and such. Almost no attention is paid to the team's history, and that is all we have right now. The music selection itself is also trash. Loud electronic beeps and boops like a duel between R2D2 and Close Encounters of the Third Kind in a bed of someone smashing pots and pans in garbage cans. Nothing anyone in the crowd recognizes, with no participation. At 90s night a few years ago, people were singing to the music, well into the play, after the music stopped. The crowd got really into the game and had... fun.

In arena, it seems nobody on staff cares anymore. There is grime everywhere, trash, no service unless one of the attendants who did not do anything are soliciting you for a tip. In the 200 level this season, in the men's room before the game started, there were no paper towels, and 1 of the 2 hand dryers was not working. Generally, I haven't felt valued as a season ticket holder since the day Ted Black was dismissed and a lot of the fan experience has been floated out to sea. The same cookie cutter "promotions" every season with no thought or imagination. Would it kill the budget to install some sort of team hall of fame? Or do something like I have seen in Pittsburgh and Detroit where a section of the concourse pays tribute to the local amateur hockey scene? Everything seems to be bare minimum to scrape by, only to ask the dwindling base to renew.

All the matinee games also are terrible and inconvenient. During the winter, we have a few hours of daylight. Kids have activities in the day. We cant attend Sabres games. Don't get me started on the silly fringe holiday Day games like Columbus Day, MLK Day, and President's Day when most people have to work to afford these tickets. Hockey, especially in a market like Buffalo with little competition in the entertainment space was made for Friday and Saturday night home games.
When I was a kid, going to those games was really special. It was a glimpse into being an adult. I watched the games and became a fan. I didn't need or want face painting, Dinkles the Clown, half priced cotton candy, or any of that. I wanted to see the Sabres compete, maybe win a fight, and cheer.

The management of this team feels like they stopped trying. There is inexperience everywhere and it is an insular network of people who are incapable of doing their jobs. Many of these people would not find lateral employment in the NHL if they were released today. Yet, here they are with the Sabres, in some cases for 10+ years. Ownership seems secure with failing year after year, as long as we give inept managers like Kevyn Adams and Seth Appert more time to grow. Am I supposed to plunk down over $5,000 for their growth opportunity? No! At every level they fall short. Looking at the immediate competition within their Division, they have robust front offices in a different league than what we have here. You look at league news, and teams who were better than the Sabres, and have had recent success, are making big changes and deciding to make the moves that would excite me as a fan (as well as right this sunken ship). One stunt after another has failed miserably, and it is well past time... it was past time before this owner took over.... that a Team President was hired who has both credibility and experience, and maybe most importantly, is from outside the organization, who knows how to build success.

The last straw of many straws, was the general Manager Kevyn Adams' using our region as a crutch for his failures. For years, he insinuates that players don't want to come here due to the climate and city. What everyone knows, is they don't want to play for this organization and it is self-inflicted. Then, during another appalling losing streak, for him to kick sand in our faces, referring to palm trees and taxes, I was done with this guy. He should have been relieved of his duties on the spot. Yet he is allowed to constantly get in front of cameras and admit that he "needs to do everything better". Why cant they just hire someone who is already good?

If you have read this far, I commend you. I realize some of this sounds like the rantings of a madman, but it is something I was once very passionate about.

Thank you again for reaching out
-xxxxxxx

Listen, I agree, with the exception that the music selection is fine....

 

[LamaTabootTaboot]

The other day, i got another call and an email from my Sabres rep, asking me if I would reconsider with season tickets, be interested in a different plan, and asking how many games I plan on attending next year. My response:

Hi xxxxxx-
Thank you for the attempts to contact me.
I will no longer be attending any Sabres games, nor spending anything on the company. I will not watch any games, nor support any sponsors if I become aware they are involved with the team.

I know it is not your fault, but as a 40+ year fan, this team has become a source of embarrassment to the community. My sons, who are in high school have no idea, nor will they, of what playoff hockey will be like here, and they are fans of doing other things (and one plays hockey 4 times a week). When we do attend a Sabres game, we want to leave by the end of the 2nd period as it is a source of frustration, unhappiness, and wanting to do something else. Frankly it is boring and not fun. The team has not had an important game in over a decade, other than to decide if they have the best pick in the lottery. They resist employing any sort of physical players and to watch our team lose every physical confrontation for more than a decade kills morality and excitement.

The in-arena presentation is hideous. Overly loud, shrill music and you have to scream to be heard by someone sitting next to you. By the time the noise assault stops, everyone's senses are so fried, the last thing anyone wants to do is cheer. In the rare event organic cheering and crowd participation starts, loud music is played to drown them out, as well as that shrill and loud host who presents the contests and sponsors and such. Almost no attention is paid to the team's history, and that is all we have right now. The music selection itself is also trash. Loud electronic beeps and boops like a duel between R2D2 and Close Encounters of the Third Kind in a bed of someone smashing pots and pans in garbage cans. Nothing anyone in the crowd recognizes, with no participation. At 90s night a few years ago, people were singing to the music, well into the play, after the music stopped. The crowd got really into the game and had... fun.

In arena, it seems nobody on staff cares anymore. There is grime everywhere, trash, no service unless one of the attendants who did not do anything are soliciting you for a tip. In the 200 level this season, in the men's room before the game started, there were no paper towels, and 1 of the 2 hand dryers was not working. Generally, I haven't felt valued as a season ticket holder since the day Ted Black was dismissed and a lot of the fan experience has been floated out to sea. The same cookie cutter "promotions" every season with no thought or imagination. Would it kill the budget to install some sort of team hall of fame? Or do something like I have seen in Pittsburgh and Detroit where a section of the concourse pays tribute to the local amateur hockey scene? Everything seems to be bare minimum to scrape by, only to ask the dwindling base to renew.

All the matinee games also are terrible and inconvenient. During the winter, we have a few hours of daylight. Kids have activities in the day. We cant attend Sabres games. Don't get me started on the silly fringe holiday Day games like Columbus Day, MLK Day, and President's Day when most people have to work to afford these tickets. Hockey, especially in a market like Buffalo with little competition in the entertainment space was made for Friday and Saturday night home games.
When I was a kid, going to those games was really special. It was a glimpse into being an adult. I watched the games and became a fan. I didn't need or want face painting, Dinkles the Clown, half priced cotton candy, or any of that. I wanted to see the Sabres compete, maybe win a fight, and cheer.

The management of this team feels like they stopped trying. There is inexperience everywhere and it is an insular network of people who are incapable of doing their jobs. Many of these people would not find lateral employment in the NHL if they were released today. Yet, here they are with the Sabres, in some cases for 10+ years. Ownership seems secure with failing year after year, as long as we give inept managers like Kevyn Adams and Seth Appert more time to grow. Am I supposed to plunk down over $5,000 for their growth opportunity? No! At every level they fall short. Looking at the immediate competition within their Division, they have robust front offices in a different league than what we have here. You look at league news, and teams who were better than the Sabres, and have had recent success, are making big changes and deciding to make the moves that would excite me as a fan (as well as right this sunken ship). One stunt after another has failed miserably, and it is well past time... it was past time before this owner took over.... that a Team President was hired who has both credibility and experience, and maybe most importantly, is from outside the organization, who knows how to build success.

The last straw of many straws, was the general Manager Kevyn Adams' using our region as a crutch for his failures. For years, he insinuates that players don't want to come here due to the climate and city. What everyone knows, is they don't want to play for this organization and it is self-inflicted. Then, during another appalling losing streak, for him to kick sand in our faces, referring to palm trees and taxes, I was done with this guy. He should have been relieved of his duties on the spot. Yet he is allowed to constantly get in front of cameras and admit that he "needs to do everything better". Why cant they just hire someone who is already good?

If you have read this far, I commend you. I realize some of this sounds like the rantings of a madman, but it is something I was once very passionate about.

Thank you again for reaching out
-xxxxxxx

Pegula's Boca Raton address is public. I have been thinking of sending him a very short letter that basically says. something like,

"Since your first full year of ownership of the Buffalo Sabres, you have made the franchise not just worse, but historically bad. Without hyperbole, you are the absolute worst thing to ever happen to hockey in WNY. Your legacy with the Buffalo Sabres is that you drove this franchises reputation so far into the ground that it will likely never recover to its previous respectability and legacy across the league. Please do the right thing and sell the team to somebody who is committed to not just keeping the team in Buffalo, but running a respectable professional hockey team that doesn't make Buffalo hockey the laughing stock of the NHL for nearly an entire generation."

Sometimes I dream of sending this letter to Terry literally everyday. Because every single day he runs this franchise, he is running it into the ground, and destroying a piece of this city.

 

[jc17]

Listen, I agree, with the exception that the music selection is fine....

But I'll second that the volume sucks

Can't even have a conversation 30 minutes before puck drop if you go to your seats so it's blue zone or bust if you want to sit down and chat with whoever you went with

 

[SundherDome]

It is a bit concerning that sports is engrained this much into people's lives that they are taking take out of their days to trash the organization and then come on here and share it. I'm not singling out any individual posters but it seems to be happening more and more the last few years.

Sports are entertainment. Sabres averaged 85% (~16,000) capacity for all home games which is in the bottom half and about 2k off from the league average. They hired new staff to address this as they are seeing declining numbers, so I imagine there will be a press to get people in the building but damn..don't carry this shit with you every day, it's not worth it

 

[BFLO]

It is a bit concerning that sports is engrained this much into people's lives that they are taking take out of their days to trash the organization and then come on here and share it. I'm not singling out any individual posters but it seems to be happening more and more the last few years.

Sports are entertainment. Sabres averaged 85% (~16,000) capacity for all home games which is in the bottom half and about 2k off from the league average. They hired new staff to address this as they are seeing declining numbers, so I imagine there will be a press to get people in the building but damn..don't carry this shit with you every day, it's not worth it

It's even more concerning that defending the Sabres from valid and correct criticism is so ingrained into your life that you take the time out of your day to come here and defend them despite 14 straight years of results proving that the Sabres deserve this criticism and that what the Sabres have been doing and are still doing has not and will never work.

 

[Gabrielor]

It is a bit concerning that sports is engrained this much into people's lives that they are taking take out of their days to trash the organization and then come on here and share it. I'm not singling out any individual posters but it seems to be happening more and more the last few years.

Sports are entertainment. Sabres averaged 85% (~16,000) capacity for all home games which is in the bottom half and about 2k off from the league average. They hired new staff to address this as they are seeing declining numbers, so I imagine there will be a press to get people in the building but damn..don't carry this shit with you every day, it's not worth it

I was 22 when I started posting here, and am turning 36 next month. In that time, I've seen 0 Sabres playoff games.

I don't carry it anymore, because they succeeded in killing my joy for this team, which is why I rarely post now.

People should 100% be pissed about this and feel free to express that. We're all watching something we love(d) be destroyed.

 

[SundherDome]

It's even more concerning that defending the Sabres from valid and correct criticism is so ingrained into your life that you take the time out of your day to come here and defend them despite 14 straight years of results proving that the Sabres deserve this criticism and that what the Sabres have been doing and are still doing has not and will never work.

Do you think I am defending them?

 

[LamaTabootTaboot]

It is a bit concerning that sports is engrained this much into people's lives that they are taking take out of their days to trash the organization and then come on here and share it. I'm not singling out any individual posters but it seems to be happening more and more the last few years.

Sports are entertainment. Sabres averaged 85% (~16,000) capacity for all home games which is in the bottom half and about 2k off from the league average. They hired new staff to address this as they are seeing declining numbers, so I imagine there will be a press to get people in the building but damn..don't carry this shit with you every day, it's not worth it

I assume you are using the hockey reference numbers. Lets be less ambiguous. 85% capacity is the 3rd worst attendance in the NHL. I am also not even sure how they get to 85% now. Watching the games it often look swell under 40%.

Before Pegula bought the team they were top 10 and averaged at or above 99% capacity year after year on a consistent basis. Mostly being held back by the lack of standing room only tickets that prevent them from getting over 100%.

I am unsure of what you think the fans should do that would be "less concerning". We have the worst owner in the NHL who is on a Pittsburgh Pirates level streak of embarrassment*. And their response to lower attendance is to hire somebody to improve it rather than hire a real life hockey GM. Fans have showed up in Hawaiin shirts with palm trees, and paper bags, and Pegula asked them to be removed.

So yeah, a reasonably thought out letter from a season ticketholder (OP) seems fine to me.

*The Pittsburgh Pirates have made the MLB playoffs more recently than the Buffalo Sabres. Making the playoffs in the MLB is a much harder task than the NHL.

 

[SundherDome]

I was 22 when I started posting here, and am turning 36 next month. In that time, I've seen 0 Sabres playoff games.

I don't carry it anymore, because they succeeded in killing my joy for this team, which is why I rarely post now.

People should 100% be pissed about this and feel free to express that. We're all watching something we love(d) be destroyed.

I am almost in the same boat (give or take a few years) but have seen a few playoff games since posting. I'm am advocating for people to not let sports consume them so much that it is detrimental. If you wanna go to a game, cool. If you wanna boycott the team then by all means find a another team. Hockey has been engrained in me since before kindergarten, I love the game. I played, I help coach my kids teams, I watch high school and college (especially here in MN) and the NHL. The NHL does themselves no favors as the marketing is stale and the Sabres are doing themselves no favors in sucking ass for over a decade but if I am doing something else I won't go out of my way to try and watch a game. It just kinda happens now if I have nothing better to do, I still enjoy watching them and chatting about the games with everyone in here but there are a lot of dark cloud conspiracies (hell, some may be true) in here that snowball and it seems to add a false layer of hate towards the team, which is just unnecessary.

 

[SundherDome]

I assume you are using the hockey reference numbers. Lets be less ambiguous. 85% capacity is the 3rd worst attendance in the NHL. I am also not even sure how they get to 85% now. Watching the games it often look swell under 40%.

Before Pegula bought the team they were top 10 and averaged at or above 99% capacity year after year on a consistent basis. Mostly being held back by the lack of standing room only tickets that prevent them from getting over 100%.

I am unsure of what you think the fans should do that would be "less concerning". We have the worst owner in the NHL who is on a Pittsburgh Pirates level streak of embarrassment*. And their response to lower attendance is to hire somebody to improve it rather than hire a real life hockey GM. Fans have showed up in Hawaiin shirts with palm trees, and paper bags, and Pegula asked them to be removed.

So yeah, a reasonably thought out letter from a season ticketholder (OP) seems fine to me.

*The Pittsburgh Pirates have made the MLB playoffs more recently than the Buffalo Sabres. Making the playoffs in the MLB is a much harder task than the NHL.

Used a few AI's to pull the numbers and they all came back with the same numbers, so assumed at that point.

The team almost relocated under the Knox's and the Golisano era had some moments but it was not a great era. Pegula era also has been great and he deserves criticism for 14 years but it's not all on him. Murray being the best GM of the last three is a problem and 2 out of the 3 GM's hired were recommended by the league.

I think fans (in any sport) need to understand the level of love they have for their team is rarely reciprocated back by the players (there are players out there that genuinely love the fan base and the area). Sports are entertainment and a level of disassociation is healthy.

I wouldn't imagine hiring a new GM would pull all the fans back in. For the most part this team is going to look similar with or without Adams this year.

I am also pretty sure the Pegula removing fans thing wasn't real, I know a few ushers removed the items but not the fans. This is also inline with other sports teams. Imo, if you wanna spend the money and time to get all that stuff, more power to you.

 

[May Day 10]

That email took all of 20 minutes to a half hour. Hardly life-wasting.

The Sabres were once a very valued outlet in my life. Would love watching games, feeling the adrenaline, and in the later years of when they were an actual participant NHL franchise, discuss them on forums such as this.
Over the past 14 years, I wasted many thousands on season tickets. Before that, when it was somewhat worth it, many more thousands dating back about 25 years. When I have finally had enough and the team rep keeps reaching out, I felt the need to let them know why... and maybe they will stop calling and emailing every day. No need to be "concerned" for me. Not watching games has actually freed up a few hundred hours each year.

I find the blinders put on by the simpleton owner extremely frustrating. There is but 1 correct answer here and it is shared almost unanimously by all observers.


*and I did witness paper bags confiscated by an usher and a guy in a suit this year on a few occasions. Fans were not ejected.

*also, many tickets were given away by the team this year. My kids' sports teams alone were offered 50-100 seats on a few occasions for free (and nobody wanted to go).

 

[LamaTabootTaboot]

Used a few AI's to pull the numbers and they all came back with the same numbers, so assumed at that point.

The team almost relocated under the Knox's and the Golisano era had some moments but it was not a great era. Pegula era also has been great and he deserves criticism for 14 years but it's not all on him. Murray being the best GM of the last three is a problem and 2 out of the 3 GM's hired were recommended by the league.

I think fans (in any sport) need to understand the level of love they have for their team is rarely reciprocated back by the players (there are players out there that genuinely love the fan base and the area). Sports are entertainment and a level of disassociation is healthy.

I wouldn't imagine hiring a new GM would pull all the fans back in. For the most part this team is going to look similar with or without Adams this year.

I am also pretty sure the Pegula removing fans thing wasn't real, I know a few ushers removed the items but not the fans. This is also inline with other sports teams. Imo, if you wanna spend the money and time to get all that stuff, more power to you.

I never believed that the Sabres were at a real risk of relocation because they have always had good TV and attendance ratings.

When looking back at the Golisano/Knox years, they might as well have been the Scotty Bowman lead Canadians compared to Pegula.

Terry bought a playoff team, whose all time historic P% was 4th all time. He drove them into the ground to the point that they will never ever recover that historical standing. Like literally, if you took Scotty Bowmans 10 best individual seasons as HC and his P%, and linked them back to back to back for 10 seasons, the Sabres still would not break back into the top 5.

Think about that, taking the 10 best years ever, from the best coach to ever coach the game, who won 9 Stanley cups, would not be enough to right the Pegula's wrong.

Not putting all the blame for the last 14 years of wild ineptitude fully on the shoulders of one Terrance Pegula would take an insane amount of mental gymnastics. Sure GMTM is to blame, but them so is GMJB and GMKA, and Terry Forton, and Kim Pegula (Sorry, but "Maintain family lifestyle was a pillar of the business she presented to her staff), Since nearly everybody who has ever been hired by Terry is to blame, it has to fall in his lap.

 

[SundherDome]

I never believed that the Sabres were at a real risk of relocation because they have always had good TV and attendance ratings.

When looking back at the Golisano/Knox years, they might as well have been the Scotty Bowman lead Canadians compared to Pegula.

Terry bought a playoff team, whose all time historic P% was 4th all time. He drove them into the ground to the point that they will never ever recover that historical standing. Like literally, if you took Scotty Bowmans 10 best individual seasons as HC and his P%, and linked them back to back to back for 10 seasons, the Sabres still would not break back into the top 5.

Think about that, taking the 10 best years ever, from the best coach to ever coach the game, who won 9 Stanley cups, would not be enough to right the Pegula's wrong.

Not putting all the blame for the last 14 years of wild ineptitude fully on the shoulders of one Terrance Pegula would take an insane amount of mental gymnastics. Sure GMTM is to blame, but them so is GMJB and GMKA, and Terry Forton, and Kim Pegula (Sorry, but "Maintain family lifestyle was a pillar of the business she presented to her staff), Since nearly everybody who has ever been hired by Terry is to blame, it has to fall in his lap.

It's also a business, there is always a risk for relocation.

By definition he bought a playoff team but at the same time, Terry also didn't buy a playoff team. That team was in rough shape post the Drury/Briere saga and after the 2010 Bruins series, they were declining. Philly put them down and a re-tool was needed. Terry's biggest issue is continuing to think rebuilds will some how work, the "strip it down and build through the draft" isn't the method. You need a lot of dominoes to fall properly to execute one.

Its pretty easy to put some blame but in no way does all the blame go to him. The maintain the lifestyle piece was incredibly cringe and wildly inappropriate to showcase to your staff but the Uber wealthy don't live in our world.

 

[BFLO]

Reasonable just noticed some posts that highlighted that we are lacking in quantity when we have the average amount

1 pro scout is average? Really?

Do you think I am defending them?

What is it that you think you're doing if not defending them?

 

[SundherDome]

1 pro scout is average? Really?

What is it that you think you're doing if not defending them?

Since they don't define who is a pro or amateur scout, it is harder to find who does what or if they have combined responsibilities. It is odd as other teams differentiate them.

Trying to extract reasonable thoughts and analysis behind decisions. This team definitely deserves criticism from owner down.

 

[Sabre the Win]

I hate that Appert is sitting right next to Terry. He’s the obvious heir apparent. And is completely undeserving.
View attachment 1036192

It literally feels like these guys are all the would never get a chance in the NHL front offices unless they took advantage of Terry type.

It's like the 'friends' who are using one kid because of his cool stuff but really want nothing to do with him and talk behind his back.

 

[Jimmybarndoor2]

Give credit where credit is due. Gmka restocked the shelves. There is ample nhl ready talent in rochester


Nhl roster building not so much