Along with the construction of the KeyBank Center skybridge, the NFTA plans to open the second floor of the DL&W Station as an event space in summer 2026. Renovations include a truck elevator, which will allow access to food trucks and other vendors.
The project’s long-term goals align with the Sabres’ mission to facilitate growth in Downtown Buffalo. The Sabres have made it a goal to increase KeyBank Center programming to 200 events annually, creating traffic for local businesses as a byproduct.
The DL&W Station – with nearly 50,000 square feet of second-floor outdoor event space – shares the mission of bringing people to the area surrounding KeyBank Center.
“This station is far more than a new stop on our system,” said Kimberley Minkel, Executive Director of the NFTA. “It’s an investment in the future of our region – expanding access, strengthening economic development, creating new opportunities for residents and businesses alike. And we’re just getting started.”
The DL&W Station is located on South Park Avenue at the historic site of the former Delaware, Lackawanna and Western trainshed.
“This terminal has been underused for a long time,” said New York State Senator and Mayor-Elect Sean Ryan. “We looked at it through our imaginations and we kept saying, ‘A lot of things could happen here.’ … I’m so happy to have worked with the NFTA to have played the part through New York State to make this funding available and we look forward to the next step.”