Arena renovations won’t happen prior to draft but are in discussions, team exec says

Article and Photo by Paul Lane

If the Buffalo Sabres can pull off what they’ve done three other times and host a successful NHL Draft this summer, then team leaders feel that could be the catalyst to more big-time sports-related events coming to Western New York.

The league announced Monday that the Sabres will host the draft June 26-27 at KeyBank Center. Sabres COO Pete Guelli said discussions on that topic picked up as the club and league were discussing a potential outdoor game at the new Highmark Stadium.

“If you show you can handle events like this, high-profile events, it puts you in a better position when you go out to recruit any event,” he said after Monday’s press conference.

The Sabres hosted the inaugural Winter Classic in 2008 but have yet to host an outdoor game since; Team USA did play an outdoor game at the Bills' home during the 2018 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships that the Sabres co-hosted. The success of that annual New Year’s Day game spawned the NHL Stadium series in 2014, which has seen major NFL and college football stadiums host outdoor games at varying points each season. 

Guelli said the team has been in discussions with the league since a new Highmark Stadium was first in the works and that the team has every intention of playing an outdoor game there, although it would more likely be a Stadium Series game. One Stadium Series game is already slated for next season, at Dallas’ AT&T Stadium.

Guelli has also previously shared his desire to bring a future NFL Draft to Buffalo. The 2026 event is slated for Pittsburgh, while Washington, D.C., will host the 2027 festivities. He said he hopes a draft will come to Western New York soon after that.

“If there’s an event to be had, we want to be part of it,” he said. “We’re going to continue to pursue that.

Buffalo Sabres COO Pete Guelli spoke to the media following Monday’s announcement that the NHL Draft is returning to Buffalo.

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Arena renovation talks continue

Also in the discussion stage are renovations to KeyBank Center, which needs an estimated $400 million worth of work to bring it up to modern standards. That’s on top of the $13 million scoreboard replacement prior to last hockey season, recent roof renovations and other work that periodically takes place.

“We’ve had serious but early discussions,” Guelli said. “It certainly needs work. It’s 30 years old. I think there’s a lot of mindshare in what needs to happen.”

Fixing the stadium up could be the key to the next step in Canalside’s revitalization, Guelli said. 

“I think everybody knows, whether it’s the governor or county executive or the mayor, that this building is the catalyst for that,” he said.

See also >> Buffalo set to host NHL Draft this summer for fourth time