Prior to last season, the Buffalo Sabres focused on the visual needs inside their arena by installing a new state-of-the-art videoboard.
This offseason, the team has addressed the sound inside KeyBank Center.
A new sound system will pair with the videoboard installed last season to enhance the fan experience at KeyBank Center.
Harry Scull Jr./Buffalo News
In a letter emailed to season ticket holders earlier this week, the Sabres announced they’ve installed a multimillion-dollar audio system to upgrade the sound around the arena.
Pete Guelli, chief executive officer for the Sabres, said the two will combine to significantly improve the in-bowl experience for fans from an audio and visual standpoint.
It’s part of a focus on integrating more modern technology into the almost 30-year-old downtown building as the team attempts to make upgrades that improve the fan experience.
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“Last year, the videoboard was a big improvement, but probably one of the biggest things we still get feedback on is the quality and direction of the sound in the building, and now that we’ve got this corrected, I’m excited to see the two pieces paired together and how they can impact the fan experience,” Guelli said.
According to industry experts, a project of this scale likely cost the team over $5 million. It was paid for by owner Terry Pegula, who continues to foot the bill for upgrades around the building. Pegula spent around $10 million for the videoboard and to install a new roof before last season.
The team is responsible for capital improvements around the aging arena, but it is in preliminary talks with the county and state on potential funding help to give the building and its seating bowl a needed overhaul. That could cost hundreds of millions of dollars.
The Sabres are trying to be as transparent as they can with fans, so they are not hiding that they have a team and arena that need upgrading.
Architectural firm Populous, which designed the Bills new stadium, was brought in about nine months ago to do a study on the building that will help form a plan for some of the next steps.
Guelli said the Sabres have had dialogue with representatives of the county and state, as well as the city, about their interest in finding a long-term solution at the arena. The Sabres will likely operate this season with an extended lease with the county under the existing terms.
To address sound quality and volume in the arena, the team installed the new audio system with lapendary panels that will work in conjunction to not only upgrade the sound throughout the arena but also help with the directional nature of the sound.
“We think it will make a big difference,” Guelli said. “We’ll be going through some testing over the next few weeks and get a better handle on that. We’ll be in every area of the building just to make sure how that sound affects particular locations.”
The new sound system will pair with the 27-foot-by-43-foot videoboard that was installed prior to last season. It features a screen size roughly double that of the former videoboard, with upgrades in resolution, graphics and functionality capabilities. It also includes four fully digital corner panels, as well as two screens on the board’s underbelly to provide additional angles for fans in the lower rows.
Other new technology being added inside the arena for this season includes safety checkpoint provider Evolve Express, which provides frictionless and faster entry for fans. The Sabres say it will drastically improve entry times and help with entry in what is usually a congested hallway area where fans enter the arena.
The team plans to test the new system during the Deftones concert Monday at the arena.
“This evolved technology is going to allow people to walk in without having to empty their pockets and go through the traditional screening process, which kind of bottlenecks people as they come in,” Guelli said.
Pete Guelli, the chief operating officer for the Sabres and the Buffalo Bills, offered a look at some of the improvements that have been made at KeyBank Center. But the team is still auditing the building and evaluating the “street to seat” experience, Guelli said.
The Sabres are working with local authorities on issues as fans exit the area outside the building by trying to better understand the traffic patterns around the arena.
“We are having conversations about how to improve that,” Guelli said.
Frictionless checkout technology is coming to food markets on the 100 level. The Sabres will be using Aifi, providing customers the ability to tap, grab and go with the items they purchase. It’s part of a continued effort to bring convenience for fans when they purchase food and drinks, while quickly getting them back to their seats.
As for concessions, the Sabres continue to try to make improvements to quality and price. So much so that they’re making it part of the value proposition for season ticket holders.
The team will introduce a discounted value menu for full-plan season ticket holders with hot dogs, beverages and some of the more popular snack foods priced between $3 and $5.
It stems from continued talks between the Sabres and longtime concessionaire Delaware North on how to improve offerings at the arena and provide them at a reasonable price.
Other food and drink stands and the Sabres team store will continue providing a 25% discount for full-plan season ticket holders as well.
The team also held the line on season ticket prices and is still offering partial and full season ticket plans that start at $23 a ticket. The Sabres, who have missed the playoffs the past 14 seasons, are struggling a bit at the box office, hovering around the equivalent of 9,000 season ticket holders.
Additionally, new food and beverage offerings will come to the 100-level concourse, including a Tim Hortons stand.
“Concessions quality is always important, but pricing is something that people talk about the most,” Guelli said. “We just wanted to provide as much of a reasonably priced product as we possibly can.”
Sabres Fan Fest will be held ahead of this season from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sept. 13 and then the team’s home season opener will be Oct. 9. Individual game tickets for this season go on sale Tuesday.
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