After a month of preliminary construction work on the Webster Block, the Buffalo Sabres and HARBORcenter Development LLC officially broke ground Saturday on the new mixed-used hockey and entertainment facility being developed directly in front of the First Niagara Center. The $172 million project will feature two full-size NHL ice rinks, a full-service hotel, a two-story restaurant, street-level retail space and a five-level, 850-space parking structure. The ice rinks, restaurant, and retail stores are scheduled to open in September 2014. The hotel is slated to follow in the spring of 2015.
“In the two years since I purchased the Buffalo Sabres, the passionate support of our fans has made it evident that hockey is woven into the fabric of this community in a way that is rivaled by few other areas,” said Sabres Owner Terry Pegula. “With HARBORcenter, our goal is to create a destination representative of that passion which will transcend the sport, helping to build downtown Buffalo into a place that visitors can’t wait to come back to again.”
The latest rendering is pictured below. While visually less elaborate than previous proposals, the Buffalo Sabres have stressed that this is not the final design. The Sabres are expected to release final renderings within the coming weeks as it is still currently a work in progress.
Previous design:
“Getting from concept to groundbreaking has been a very complex undertaking, but we have a quality group of professionals who have each worked tirelessly to ensure that every step runs as smoothly as the last,” said HARBORcenter President Cliff Benson. “We hope that the continued success of our project serves as an indicator of how, with the public and private sectors working together, we can build a better Buffalo.”
According to HARBORcenter Development, “the two NHL-sized ice rinks, when coupled with the existing rink at First Niagara Center, will make the three-rink complex the first of its kind in the National Hockey League. The main ice sheet at HARBORcenter will have a seating capacity of 1,800, matching the largest spectator capacity for an ice rink in Erie County, excluding First Niagara Center. The facility will have ample locker room space for simultaneous use of both rinks, as well as the “Center of Excellence,” a training facility designed specifically to elevate the level of development of youth hockey players in the Buffalo area.”
In addition, HARBORcenter will serve a variety of functions, including public skates, youth hockey tournaments and clinics, and team practices for the Buffalo Sabres. It will also be home to the Buffalo Sabres AAA, a Tier 1 youth hockey organization that will begin play under the Buffalo Sabres in the 2014-15 season.
“The design of HARBORcenter complements the historic architecture of Buffalo’s canal district while introducing modern architectural materials and elements, including glass and geometric volumes clad in metal panels,” said Wayne London, Principal at Populous and Project Manager for HARBORcenter. “HARBORcenter will position the city of Buffalo as an elite leader in training, providing state-of-the-art facilities to youth and coaches that will inevitably draw talent to the area. Coupled with the retail, hotel and dining components, HARBORcenter will have a lasting impact on the community.”
“This is the culmination of a tremendous amount of work by the project team,” said Derek Cunz, Mortenson Construction Sports Group Vice President and General Manager. “After nearly a year of intense planning and collaboration, we are ready to start construction and continue the transformation the Canalside District into a premier entertainment destination for the City of Buffalo. We’re excited to put local tradesmen and tadeswomen to work and maximize local workforce and business participation.”
Populous is the architect for the project, with GSB serving as associate hotel architect and Mortenson Construction serving as construction manager. ICON Venue Group is the owner’s representative firm.