BUFFALO, N.Y. – KeyBank Center will remain the home of the Buffalo Sabres following the announcement of a 10-year extension on naming rights, both sides reported on Wednesday.
The new agreement will come into effect next year and will run until the 2035-36 season. The Cleveland-based bank has a significant regional presence in Buffalo and assumed the naming rights to the downtown stadium after acquiring First Niagara Bank in 2016. As part of the extension, the bank’s name will appear on the Sabres’ helmets for away games starting this season.
The stadium is undergoing a series of necessary renovations since its inauguration in 1996. Last year, the Sabres replaced the roof and installed a new video scoreboard above the center of the ice. The next series of renovations is expected to address the improvement of seating and amenities for fans.
The Sabres control the building, which also houses the Bandits, three-time defending champions of the National Lacrosse League, and have put an emphasis on adding more events since Pete Guelli took over as the team’s chief operating officer last year.
In November, the stadium will host one of the 20 stops on Paul McCartney’s North American tour, as well as a women’s hockey Rivalry Series game between the United States and Canada, prior to the Olympic Games.
Meanwhile, the Sabres have been struggling on the ice, with the team in the midst of a 14-season playoff drought, an NHL record.
