The Sabres arena is seated a par three away from the convergence of legendary Lake Erie and the mighty Niagara River. The symbolism is undeniable, now that their home will be known for the next 15+ years as the First Niagara Center.
Whats more, the Sabres colours are Blue and Gold. Ditto First Niagara.
And so it continues. There is never a dull moment in the Terry Pegula Era. I feel like everytime I turn around, I'm attending another press conference at the First Niagara Center. Thats not a bad thing, by the way. I don't miss the Summer's past when all we'd hear is the crickets chirping at the foot of Washington Street. I like this pace better, thank you very much.
Mergers give way to acquisitions which yield strategic partnerships. Thats how Pegula built his East Resources model into the success that it is today. Thats also how the First Niagara model was born in Lockport, NY not so long ago.
On Wednesday, two great brand internationally known brands were brought together in a union of trust and branding.
Sabres President, Ted Black, is a big First Niagara backer. In fact, he practices what he preaches. Black mentioned that he has a mortgage on his new home in the city of Buffalo from the ever-growing bank.
Black sees this deal more as marketing alliance more than he does a business transaction. He thinks its a win/win, in that his club and the bank can add value to their communities, not only in Western New York, but all over North America.
First Niagara President and CEO, likes mutually benefits of branding his organization with the Pegula family. Koelmel says that he appreciates and respects the "roll" that the Sabres organization have been on ever since Mr. Pegula took over control of the Sabres back on 2/22/11.
Black said that the signage removal process will begin immediately. He says that the magnitude of the job will be a challenge, however, he has a contractor alreeady in place to begin the extrication of the HSBC signange both outside and inside the arena. The erection of the First Niagara brand signs will begin immediately after the removal phase. Black expects the project to be completed in full by October 14.
Here's the official release from the team, announcing the strategic brand partnership:
The Buffalo Sabres will start the 2011-2012 season with a brand new name for the National Hockey League team’s home: First Niagara Center.
In connection with First Niagara Bank, N.A.’s acquisition of Upstate New York and Connecticut branches from HSBC Bank USA, N.A., the Buffalo-headquartered regional bank agreed to purchase the naming rights to HSBC Arena, the 18,690-seat home of the hockey club and Western New York’s premier sports and entertainment facility.
First Niagara will be the official bank of the Buffalo Sabres, deepening the company’s connections with its customers in the region as it strengthens its Upstate New York leadership through its previously announced HSBC-branch acquisition. First Niagara’s 15-year agreement with the Sabres also includes exclusive exterior facility naming rights, category exclusivity in the facility’s bowl, other interior and exterior signage and branding, exclusive on-site ATM presence, television and other value-added promotional benefits. Financial terms of the agreement were not disclosed.
“We are excited to partner with the Pegula family and a team that not only shares our love for the Buffalo Niagara region, but our commitment to creating a winning franchise that attracts top talent and serves as a source of pride for Western New York,” First Niagara President and Chief Executive Officer John R. Koelmel said. “First Niagara’s investment ensures this downtown landmark and home of Buffalo’s beloved Sabres remains named for a company with deep roots in Western New York. HSBC’s cooperation in transitioning the naming rights was instrumental to our reaching this agreement, and we’re honored that they are entrusting First Niagara with a legacy that stretches back to the team’s founding more than four decades ago.”
HSBC has been an integral part of the Sabres’ history and its unique presence in the community. It was Northrop Knox, chairman of HSBC’s Upstate New York predecessor, Marine Midland Bank, who with his brother Seymour brought NHL hockey to Buffalo with the Sabres inaugural 1970-71 season. The current home of the Sabres was christened Marine Midland Arena in 1996 and renamed HSBC Arena in 1999.
Irene Dorner, President and CEO, HSBC Bank USA, N.A., said: “HSBC is proud of its long association with the Sabres and we are pleased that it will continue with an ongoing Arena Box presence. HSBC remains committed to the Buffalo area through such ongoing local relationships, our operational presence, and the continued growth of our commercial banking activities here.”
“We’re very happy and excited to be partnering with First Niagara on the most significant sports sponsorship agreement in Western New York history,” said Ted Black, President -- Buffalo Sabres. “Marine Midland Bank was instrumental in financing the original construction of the Arena and HSBC Bank USA has been a great partner of ours for the last 12 years. We now look forward to our new partnership with First Niagara and growing our businesses together in Western New York.”
The naming rights agreement announced today and the HSBC-branch acquisition are just the latest in a series of First Niagara investments in the region the bank has called home since 1870. The company has been investing in infrastructure and job creation in its City of Buffalo headquarters neighborhood and new-job creation across New York State. Anyone who loves Upstate New York, too, is invited to share their stories at www.Facebook.com/WeLoveUpstateNY.
“This sponsorship agreement between First Niagara and the Buffalo Sabres is a marriage of the two hottest brands in the entire Western New York region,” said John Livsey Vice President of Sales & Business Development -- Buffalo Sabres.
Expect Sabres training camp to open officially on September 16th. The Sabres are working on the logistics and ice availability due to the lockerroom re-construction projects. I'm told that the team may practice at Northtown Centre in Amhesrt and possibly at NU's Dwyer Arena. The WWE will invade the First Niagara Center on 9/18 and the team will have to vacate their downtown digs. The Foo Fighters will invade the arena on 9/25.
No worries. The team says that they will have all of their ducks in a row very shortly and they expect to announce the training camp dates and locations shortly.
In case you missed this blog post from earlier on Wednesday, have at it.
Ed Kilgore has been a household name in and around the Golden Horseshoe for nearly four decades. He's been delivering the sports on WGRZ-TV in Buffalo everyday, for the past thirty eight years. Think about that for a minute. Ed has rubbed shoulders and shared conversations with the sequoias---- the best of Buffalo's best athletes, coaches and managers, including: Punch, Perreault, Martin, Robert, Luce, Rammer, Gare, Orenthal, Jim Braxton, Macadoo, Ernie DiGregorio, Randy Smith, Joe Ferguson, Reggie McKenzie, Joe D., Joe Cribbs, Steve Freeman, The Knox Brothers, Chuck Knox, Machine Gun Kelly, Thurman, Bruce, Andre, Sneaky Pete, St. Patrick, Dale Hawerchuk, Bob Sauve, Wowie Housley, Barrasso, Puppa, Alexander The Great, Foligno, Dave Andreychuk, Playfair, May Day, Lindy, Darcy, Larry Quinn, and Mr. Pegula, to name a few.
That's quite a resume.
Ed's been an interesting and informative resource book that I've enjoyed reading for the past three decades, since I was knee high to a senior level hockey stick.
All due respect to Rick Azar and Van Miller. In my own humble opinion, Ed Kilgore is the best sports anchor to have worked in Buffalo TV in the past four decades.
Today, I tap my stick and tip my bucket to Mr. Ed Kilgore, who this week has passd the baton of WGRZ-TV 11 pm sports anchor duties to another one of my favourite broadcasters, Adam Benigni. I'm a big Benigni fan, and I'm happy for his success. He has paid his dues for the past 15 years at WGRZ and he's earned this well-deserved promotion.
Kilgore's prodigious 38 year career has surpassed that of any and all of Buffalo's best pro and college athletes. I cut my teeth on sports by watching Kilgore on TV. Before there was TSN, Sportsnet, ESPN, and 24 hour cable news and sports networks, there was Ed Kilgore.
Kilgore told The Buffalo News that he is only switching his vantage point. He's not retiring.
“I’ve really had a great and long run at Channel 2, and that will continue a while longer,” said Kilgore, 64, during a telephone interview. “But I’m also ready for a change and doing some different things outside the station. I’ll still be sports director, and I’ll still be covering the Sabres and the Bills. In fact, I’ll be able to see more of the Sabres games.”
Kilgore has covered every major ebvent in Buffalo sports history from four SuperBowls to two Stanley Cup Finals. What I will always consider to be Ed'd best work is the sensitivity and professionalism with which he demonstrated in his eulogy of his dear friend, Rick Martin. Martin died in February, and Kilgore felt the loss on not only a professional level, but a personal level as well. Rico and Ed had formed a unique and special friendship that spanned more than three decade, and the two were often seen around town together, enjoying the other's company. I'll never forget March 24, 2011, the day that the Pegula family hosted the Tribute to Rick Martin at HSBC Arena. Kilgore served as emcee for the event and his grace and strength of character, while under immense emotional pressure underscored Kilgore's greatness to me.
Kilgore earned an induction into the Buffalo Broadcasters Hall Of Fame in 2010.
I remember fighting with my brother over which one of us would adjust the foil on the rabbit ears when the reception crapped out while we watched Sabres games on Ed's beloved Channel 2. Darling, Hannigan, and Kilgore were rockstars in my house!
I won't be surprised when I see Kilgore emerge at another local broadcast operation in the weeks to come. He and Mr. Pegula share a cordial relationship. Just sayin'.
Congratulations on your brilliant body of work, Ed.
Thank you for helping to ignite the fire that burns inside of me for the Buffalo Sabres and the Buffalo sports scene.
Good on John Vogl of The Buffalo News for phoning up former, now current-Sabre-for-now, Al Kotalik. John reached out to Kotalik, who is at his home in the Czech Republic right now, preparing for what will be the most critical training camp of his ice hockey career.
Kotalik told Vogl that he feels confident that he can make a lasting impression with his coaches, GM, owner, and peers.
"I'm coming to training camp with an open mind. I know that I can measure with anybody on that team. I can measure myself up with any guy on that squad, on that team, and I hope I will get the opportunity that I need. Everything else is up to me."
You want my two cents?
Kotalik's struggles will only continue in Buffalo. The Sabres sent him to Edmonton at the '09 trade deadline because he didn't fit into their future plans at that time. The GM knew that he had bevy of skilled youngsters like Stafford, Ennis, and Gerbe in the incubator, and he made the pragmatic decision to develop their youth and then reward them with the opportunity to play a regualr shift in Buffalo. Excellent call by Darcy and Lindy, by the way.
I like that Kotalik feels like he can "measure up with anybody" on the present Sabres roster.
Of course he likes his chances to succeed. he's 6'3 and 225. He possesses a Glock 9 for a shot. He's a quick-catch-quick-release sniper. He thrives in the shootout. He's got all of the hand-eye skills that he needs to be a difference maker in the NHL. However, his feet are his Waterloo. He skated like he was in concrete with the high flying Oilers so they one-timed him to the Rangers, who then unceremoniously launched him to the Flames. His wheels were such a problem there that he was sent to Abbottsford of the AHL on a couple of occassions to work on his mobility.
Look, I like Kotalik. He's was a useful and likeable guy when he was with the Sabres the first time around. I don't see him competing for and earning a roster spot in this training camp. In the end, I feel like his hands will keep him relevant, however, his deteriorating foot speed will be his undoing. I can't see paying a veteran $3 million to ride the wall on the third and fourth lines. He'll give you 15-20 pucks and he'll light the lamp on the PP, however, he'll be a minus player when he is caught staring at the nameplate on the back on the sweaters of Spezza, Kessel, Seguin, Plekanec, and the like as he's too sow to back check and provide help for the D and Ryan Miller.
With incumbent winger Kaleta looking to defend his ice time, and the advent of Zack Kassian and Luke Adam chomping at the bit to make this season's Sabres squad, I honestly cannot see how Kotalik has a chance in H-E-double hockey sticks in earning a roster spot in Buffalo. I don't see it, unless of course he's dropped 10-15 pounds and has been power skating over the Summer. That does not sound like the old Al Kotalik that I know and remember. Perhaps he'll show up to pre-training camp workouts in Buffalo next weeek in the best physical shape of his career. I have my doubts. Who knows, maybe this will be the moment in Kotalik's career that he finally buys in to what his coaches are telling him about his overall game.
One thing I know for certain is that Kaleta, Kassian, and Adam will be in tip top shape and will be loaded for bear. The training camp scrimmages will be must-see for me. Kotalik will tell us all what his level of commitment is in the scrimmages and the exhibition games.
The Sabres are not looking for big, slow players. Thats why Mancari is now a Vancouver Canuck by way of the UFA market. If they wanted slow, older players, they'd have kept Mike Grier and Rob Niedermayer. Jochen Hecht and his slowing wheels are staying put in Buffalo for the foreseeable future. The name of today's game is speed in all three zones. Lindy demands that his forwards create back pressure. You can't do so with flat, bald tires. Lindy wants 160km per hockey. He wants his big men participating in all three zones. Gone are the days when the slow guys can goal-hang and cherry pick.
Forecheck, backcheck, paycheck. You can't have one without the other.
This opportunity is 100% up to Kotalik. I, like a couple dozen NHL GMs, are interested in seeing what he does with it.
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