The Hockey News: Jason Kay's blog: THN.com Blog: Distant early warning for Buffalo

THN.com Blog: Distant early warning for Buffalo

Fans in Western New York are crazy about the Sabres and fill HBSC Arena to the max, but will that change if Lindy Ruff and the Sabres continue to struggle? (Photo by Rick Stewart/Getty Images)

Jason Kay
2008-10-04 11:56:59

I was perusing the Team Reports for an upcoming issue of The Hockey News (the old-school paper version, that is) when I was struck by a sense of optimism in many quarters of the NHL.

Our themed category was Market Buzz and while there are notable pockets of pessimism, skies are blue, waters are still and acne has cleared in a surprising number of locales. And, no, Gary Bettman didn’t author the team stories.

In places such as Chicago, Anaheim, Atlanta, Columbus, Boston, Minnesota, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Tampa Bay and Washington (and all of Canada, of course) there is a belief among our correspondents that excitement is high in the markets they cover, never mind this is prime time for MLB playoffs, the NFL season is in full swing and the global economy is in a free-fall.

However, a couple lines in one of the stories triggered alarm bells for me. Call it my DEW (Distant Early Warning) sensor going off, but I have a modicum of concern for a team in hockey’s heartland: the Buffalo Sabres.

“Buffalo just doesn’t seem as psycho about the Sabres,” writes our contributor John Vogl. “Football is king again and has recaptured everyone’s imagination. It appears hockey season may not start in full until January.”

Naturally, this needs to be put into perspective. The Sabres are still thriving. Ticket sales remain high – they figure to continue to sell out – and their merchandise is still red hot. Short-term, all is fine.

It’s the long-term picture that worries me. Buffalo is a small, fragile market with serious economic issues, which stand to be exacerbated by the stock market tumble. In places such as Chicago, Los Angeles, Philadelphia and New York, the local baseball and/or football teams can flourish and still leave huge dollars left over for the NHL club.

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That’s not the case in Buffalo. With the Bills off to a 4-0 start and the Sabres coming off a highly disappointing non-playoff season, the balance of spending power is now back in the football team’s field. If the Sabres stumble again this season, how quickly will the entertainment dollars evaporate?

Before this off-season, owner Tom Golisano took a hardline, bottom-line approach with his hockey venture, eschewing long-term, big-buck demands from several headliners. It cost the club Daniel Briere, Chris Drury and Brian Campbell, not to mention goodwill among the paying customers.

That philosophy has shifted somewhat – signings of Ryan Miller and Jason Pominville are Exhibit A and B – but what if it’s too little, too late? Or what if the Sabres can’t elevate themselves and begin to bleed money? How much patience will Golisano have?

Remember, this is a team he purchased from bankruptcy just five years ago. I hope a perfect economic hockey storm isn’t brewing in Western New York, but a puffy cloud or two is starting to form in that brilliant blue sky.

Jason Kay is the editor in chief of The Hockey News and a regular contributor to THN.com. His blog appears every Friday.

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COMMENTS (30)

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John Smith Posted
(2009-04-30 07:10:56)

Does the author of this article realize that there is a waiting list for season tickets in Buffalo in which people are willing to pay $100 a seat just to be on this list? This is ridiculous and insulting that you are even writing this article. Step into Buffalo any night a game is on and take a look at the local bars that are packed with people watching the Sabres games because they can't get seats at the arena. Buffalo sports fans have enough rooms in their hearts and their wallets to support both teams.

Dirk Posted
(2009-04-30 07:07:20)

Chris, I would love to agree with you about the Bills. But the only way that happens is if Wilson sells the Bills before he dies or if he has something in his will allowing the executors of his estate to sell the Bills for lower value to an owner that keeps the team in Buffalo. Otherwise, the executors of his estate will have to sell the franchise for the highest amount. The Bills are absolutely worth more in LA or Toronto or some other city besides Buffalo, and a potential buyer can and will spend more with the plan on moving the team.

Chris Posted
(2009-04-30 07:07:13)

The Bills will be purchased by local investors and they will never leave Buffalo. If the Bills continue to do well, the Sabres will suffer. The Bills have over 58,000 season ticket holders and will never leave. The Sabres should worry - especially if they don't play well.

John Posted
(2009-04-30 07:07:13)

Buffalo can support both the Bills and the Sabres. Look at other cities around the NHL - they are EMPTY. Buffalo is consistently full, fans buy tons of merchandise, and they have one of the strongest followings in the country. Start writing articles about Detroit or New Jersey or any of the southern teams. They don't sell out while Buffalo has sold every game out the past 3 seasons. The Bills are thriving as well. Who is this writer anyways? He has no basis and seems to hate Buffalo - this guy writes for the Hockey News? Must be a Leafs fan.

Josh Brewster Posted
(2009-04-30 07:06:56)

Buffalo will be fine, although Jason brings up some important issues. Buffalo's struggles in free agency, but the team's real Achilles Heel is their lack of a physical defenseman or three. Plus, Lindy refuses to develop a checking line (he told me this to my face last spring), so as for Buffalo winning a Cup, fuhgettaboutit! But, that said, don't doubt the Buffalo fan. I grew up in Buffalo during truly severe economic times (the 70s...far worse than now, I assure you). The people there will support the Bills and Sabres just fine. As for Hamilton, good luck, I'd love to see 1 or 2 more Canadian teams, but the Sabres won't be relocated. In the interest of full disclosure, I blog aobut the Ducks for The Hockey News - go to Team/League blogs.

Dirk Posted
(2009-04-30 07:06:56)

Jason needs to remember that Buffalo never had the boom that the other markets had. NY, Chicago, Atlanta, etc. boomed the last 10-15 years. Salaries and home prices skyrocketed, new homes were built, etc. That didn't happen in Buffalo. It was pretty much business as usual. And that has been continued during the downturn. Home prices are rising at their usual snail's pace, and the economy hasn't burst. Buffalo will be fine, especially when the Bills leave after Ralph Wilson dies. You think Sabres fans are rabid now? Just wait.

Rangers57 Posted
(2009-04-30 07:06:54)

While I don't live in the Buffalo area, I sure do think that unless something drastic happens BUFFALO will do just fine where they are. All this side board talk that keeps showing up about putting another team Ontario just never seems to end. I do understand fans wanting to see some "MAGIC" in a team materializing in Ontario, but again I don't see it happening anytime soon but again who knows. One thing I am sure of, if any team does relocate to Ontario there will be screams about where they do go. ENOUGH!

Sheila Copps Posted
(2009-04-30 07:06:54)

Move 'em to Hamilton!! Jim Balsillie to the rescue.

Brian Kemp Posted
(2009-04-30 07:06:53)

Here we go again...another franchise is theoretically in, or going to be in, dire straights financially, and let's break out the panic alarms. Buffalo is going to be fine. That city has had economic issues before, during the almost 40 years of the franchise's existence. Their owner went to jail and the franchise was actually bankrupt, yet they're still there. Buffalo is going nowhere, Hamilton! Also, Thor, try looking up actual facts before you spout off about another franchise. Detroit sold out every playoff game last year, and every game towards the end of the regular season (the numbers are there, if you want to find them, rather than repeat what other posters have already wrongly put out there). At the playoff games I was at, the only empty seats I saw were at the start of the game (stupid T-shirt giveaway made me miss the opening face-off) and after intermissions (those bathrooms are a pain to get in and out of, if you ask me). There is no problem with the fans being disinterested in southern Michigan (and part of southern Ontario), just economic issues that will sort themselves out. The owner is in no danger of going bankrupt, the fans still show up (over a million at the Cup parade), and Detroit is pretty much as solid as any franchise not in Canada can be.

Eric Posted
(2009-04-30 07:06:53)

The economy is bad everywhere in the US right now. I would be more worried about all teams that rely heavily on corporate luxary box sales for revinue. In terms of Buffalo's economy, it didn't experience the housing bubble that other areas did, like northern VA for instance. With that comes the fact that Buffalo has a below normal forclosure rate and lower than average housing prices may make it an ideal place for relocating famlies and businesses. I understand he must come to this conclusion based on the fact that the Sabres were bankrupt just a few years ago, but that was due to criminal mismanagement that ended the Adelphia Cable company and landed the Rigas family in jail! I don't think the future of Buffalo and the Sabres is as bleak as the writer of this story would have you believe. The premise is based off of paper stats, a single quote from a Buffalo News sports writer and wild speculation.

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