What piece of the Aud would you want?

When you grew up as a Buffalo child of the 70s like I did, it's hard to see the fence that now sits around the soon-to-be-demolished Aud and not think back to all those wild nights you spent in the old barn. Then I saw that demolition crews broke through the outer wall of Detroit's Tiger Stadium on Wednesday (click link to see a neat photo gallery). It had sat idle since 1999  -- Aud still has it beat by three years. And then I read Rick Reilly's column on ESPN.com about how Derek Jeter wants to swipe something before Yankee Stadium is torn down.

All these things shook me the other day, made me realize the Aud is definitely coming down, that 2008 is finally the year. It's sad but it's certainly time. I have one of those old "Pieces of the Rock" souvenirs they sold 20 years ago from War Memorial Stadium. Would love to get my hands on some Aud stuff too.

I know they're going to sell the blue seats and it looks like that's all we're going to have a chance at. But if you could get in there one more time, what would you really like to swipe from the Aud? A piece of the boards? A plate from the old scoreboard that says "Sabres"? One of those weird sound mufflers that always swayed on the ceiling? What?

---Mike Harrington

(Photo: Harry Scull/Buffalo News)

UPDATE: In the comments section PDSki posted a link to an amazing photo gallery taken inside the shuttered Aud. Obviously we don't condone breaking and entering but the pictures are terrific and I wanted to bring the link out here so more folks saw it. -- MH

Comments

[Jennifer S]

I would want one of those stainless steel hot dog rollers.

[Greg]

Part Deux -- As a kid, I got the chills when I looked up at the facade that simply said
BUFFALO MEMORIAL AUDITORIUM

I wish someone would save that facade for posterity.

[Greg]

"Old" Aud aficionados like me loved the Bulova scoreboard (circular clock--not digital--time both for the game and hockey penalties). That was a classic relic.

The Buffalo logo on the old basketball court. Hell, even one of those priceless Pepsi bottle-cap Calder Cup champion banners from the hockey Bisons.

There were such golden memories in that place. Sad to see it go.

[Joe]

I was lucky enough to use my season tickets in 2006-2007 to guarantee me a pair of those blue seats. got to love the fact we were sold out every game or else id be waiting for thee auction too.

[Jerry]

The place could really get rocking. I remember one game, maybe against Hartford, that was refereed by Wally Harris. He was making a lot of horrendous calls that night, and the crowd let him know it. The sound of 16,000 fans chanting "Harris is a Bum" for 10 straight minutes was a beautiful thing. Old Wally's face glowed bright red as he slithered off the ice.

[Mike Harrington]

EG: News banner headline in the next afternoon's paper: "All you can say is Sau-ve"

[ElmaGolf]

Mike -
You forgot to mention how the crowd kept cheering "Sauve, Sauve" and his brother (and then Sabres prospect) Jean-Francois Sauve would take a bow from the stands.

Watched Game Six on NHL Metwork a few weeks back - still painful (but great to see Lindy go after Billy Smith).

[Mike Harrington]

Jerry: I was at that one too. Game Five. Kept the series alive at 3-2. Goals by John van Boxmeer and Richie Dunn. Great job by Sauve, who had taken over for Edwards in this series. Wild night.

[Jerry]

I'd like two orange seats: Section 35, row N, seats 9 & 10. My parents had season tickets there in the late 70s and early 80s. My first game was a 2-0 shutout over the Islanders in the 79-80 playoffs. After that shutout, I was Bob Sauve in every street hockey game I ever played in.

Best memories include the old guy in the wheelchair yelling "Peanut - Cracker Jack" outside the front door, the endless trails of ramps and escalators to get up to the Oranges, peeing in the "community trough" in the mens' rooms, waiting for autographs because the locker rooms didn't have an escape route to the parking lot, sliding down the railings on every flight of stairs after each game, french fries in a paper cone, and mixing it up with drunk Canadians. There's nothing like the Aud.

[Ray]

When is this auction and how do you get involved in it?

[bvllets]

Those mufflers always intrigued me. I don't think i'd want one to keep but i'd definately like to look at one pretty closely.

My dad used to have season tix in the blues, so i'll prolly see what thse end up going for.

[Melissa]

Thanks for sharing those pictures. Unfortunately, I'm too young and therefore never got to see the inside of the Aud.. that's my true wish, to see the inside (in real life, not in pictures) before they knock it down. Unfortunately, I doubt that will happen.

In terms of what piece I'd want... anything, really. I'd take a piece of the wall, a seat, a sign, I don't care. Anything to bring the Aud a little closer to home (and my Mom, an avid Sabres fan also, who was around in the days of the Aud.)

[Jerry's Tweed Jacket]

If you are at the HSBC Arena, you need to show an usher a ticket stub to prove its your seat. How about peoople with Aud ticket stubs get a crack at the seats first?

[Tom]

I still have a ticket stub from a game against the Canucks back in '71, I believe. I still remember the game. Phil Goyette and Gerry Meehan scored along with Perreault getting an empty netter in a 3-1 win. I can remember walking into the lobby for the first time and being able to see that old blue scoreboard hanging over center ice. It couldn't possibly get any better that this. I thought I was in heaven! The seats were in the old greys. I remember going there with my dad as part of a cub scout group. It was my first trip to the Aud and I will never forget it! When I heard they were auctioning off some of the blue seats, I thought what it would be like to have those two grey seats that my dad and I sat in. I wish with my heart of hearts that I could get those seats.

[Philbootny]

.
Ah what piece of the Aud would like most? Too many to count:
.
- One of those big cigarette-butt shaped mufflers that swung in the ceiling. I always had to stare at those things swaying gently in the breeze..
.
- A crappy vintage 1970 TV monitor from under the overhang in the Blues. I'll bet even now, without any power, you can see the scoreboard burned into the tube.
.
- One of those plush chairs from the box seats - literally a box that hung over the end of the Aud. The chairs were standard 70's office furniture - swivel, 4 wheels - Sabre blue. At least you could smoke up there.
.
- That jar of fermenting pickles left in the Aud Club. At least a piece of the Tudor paneling or the knob off the banister of that big wooden staircase.
.
- The heavy steel railings at the bottom of each Orange level aisle that saved the life of at least two stoners I saw tumble the whole way down the stairs at separate concerts. Those Orange seats were steep. And high.
.
- A map of the place. No matter how many dozens of times I went to the Aud, I always got lost in that maze of ramps, stairwells and escalators.
.

[Ray]

Lets face it, no hard working middle class person will get any of those seats. All the white collar, well to do citizens from Ahmerst have all the connections and the money. Hands have been shoken and thats as good as any contract in there eyes. I only hope that a true Sabres fan like myself has a chance at the auction. I have already seen people with those connections get seats! Seats that others have to wait till next year to get. I just want to say - give us true sabres fans a chance!

[Moneybags McGee]

I would buy up the sound absorbers. Then I would do a community service and hang them in these blogs in order muffle Elma Golf to 50 words or less.

[ol'Mace]

Loved the gallery.

Was never much of a go-to-games hockey fan, though I saw a few...mostly it was concerts, so pardon the rambling beyond the Sabres.

No-smoking smoky haze, vertigo in the upper oranges, smell of strawberry shampoo in some girls hair in front of us, thinking man her bf is lucky. Beer when I was old enough, coffee when older still, smuggled bota bags with the cheap stuff when young. The pre-show panic, like how will you ever find your seats, the post-show mechanical zombie walk down the endless ramps. Seas of lighters, opening bands you'd never hear of again, ringing in your ears, amused ushers shagging squatters from your seats....the blazer and the flashlight meant the LAW.

Tim Horton and Gil Perreault, Gerry Desjardins, the Dominator, Linda Ronstadt, Ted Nugent, Nine Inch Nails, Eric Clapton, ...go there enough and the place felt like a comfortable family reunion. Walking out into the snow, walking out into a hot summer night, it would last forever.

The Buffalo Stallions...what are they doing ? I dunno, another beer ? How about those cheerleaders...

What tickets did YOU get, oooh the glorious lower Golds, aaaah nosebleed Oranges...

Guess I already have plenty from the ol' Aud already. Grew up with me.

Kind of makes me think how lost the city is in fumbling the location since closing. A new Peace Bridge coming in the year 2000, and waterfront development pending since Talking Proud in the 70's. The murder of main street via rapid transit.

So it goes.

[tim]

also notice the exchange rate - Candian Exchange 35% and the cigarette ash trays on the arms of the suite seats. Ah, the good ol' days.

In all seriousness, as much of what memories I may have from childhood going to the games and even watching them on TV, my most cherished souvenier I am taking with my from the Aud are The Sabres. Regardless of what bashing people might say about them, we still have them and I am happy to have them. They are OUR TEAM!

[Jon Splett]

Here's a few more pictures of the Aud from an article I ummm 'edited', back in October.

It really will be sad to see the place go.

http://www.wnymedia.net/news/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=255&Itemid=249

[Ricky]

I would like the center court logos for the Braves and Little Three that hung high on the wall just beyond the turnstiles.....the photo of ELO with their spaceship on stage in the hallway to the left of the turnstiles that said "one of today's best.".....scoreboard cards for the Braves, Bullets, Golden Seals, Barons & Scouts.....the NHL leading scorers board during the hey day of the French Connection.....about 40 feet of the front walkway that the snow never stayed on. Whatever melting system they had was great, and that walkway would look cool on my patio!

[Aaron]

The city definitely screwed up on this one. There could have been so many great items to auction off in the first years when the AUD closed, but sadly there's not all that much left. Not auctioning off the Oranges, which are plastic, is a crime. When we were in there during the Fall 2007, the Reds and Upper Golds were in decent shape. I don't know if there is a mildew or asbestos problem, but they looked fine to me. The only seats that were in horrible shape were the lower Golds.

[Steve-O]

Check out the prices on the Sports Service stand. $2 for a pretzel.

They should have an 'Aud Prices' promotional event at HSBC.

[Dennifer Smith & Joug Moss]

We loved the stainless steal hot-dog rollers.

[Relzoer]

This just shows some of the lack of leadership we have. EVERYTHING should have been auctioned off immediately from the aud. People in this area are very nostalgic and would have purchased all the seats, signs, etc. Instead stuff is rotten and growing mold.

[Mike SBYC]

Wow, those pictures brought back a ton of memories. Thank you for sharing them. A little sad, but I'm really happy I was able to see them.

[Mike Harrington]

PD SKI: All I can say is Wow. Anyone who has ever been in the Aud should take a look at the link showing the pictures taken by someone who snuck in. Chilling stuff.

[Tom-Tonawanda]

I'd love one of those iron gates from the main entrance, like the ones they put in the Pour Man's Aud Club at HSBC. Those would be cool.

[P. D. Ski]

I know I have many good memories of games and concerts at the Aud, but I recently came across a site that is showing what's become of the old girl: http://www.theaudclub.com/index.php?x=browse

I think I prefer to have the memories of "Batman and The Fog"; of Clint Malarchuk scrarng the hell out of us all; of Foligno's monkey jump; of Jocelyn Guevremont clearing a puck out his own end and up onto the scoreboard; of end-to-end rushes by Perreault, Gare, Turgeon, Mogilny, LaFontaine, and (sometimes) Satan; of my dad buying Jerry Korab a beer at Bailo's; of "We're Gonna Win That Cup"; of No Goal; of "Thank You Sabres!".

I no longer live in Buffalo, and more and more of My City is gone - but these are the memories that will stick me a lifetime.

[Sal]

I'd like all those Stanley Cups they won...oh wait they've never won any. Great tradition we got here.