by Ashley Yager

Riding the Metro rail down to Erie Canal Harbor constantly reminds fans that a very sad end is near for the building that still has the voices of Ted Darling, Van Miller, and Rick Jeanneret reverberating off the rafters.              

The demolition of Buffalo Memorial Auditorium has begun this past January. The sporting arena, which was also used for concerts, dog shows, circuses, wrestling matches, and political events, has been idly waiting for the verdict on its future since 1996 while nestled next to the waterfront deep in downtown Buffalo.

The Aud, as dubbed by many, was opened on Oct. 14, 1940 to replace Broadway Auditorium, the only convention hall in Buffalo, and as a public works project to halt the Great Depression. After it became accessible, various different sports teams caused spectators to endlessly erupt in cheers.

The Buffalo Bisons of the American Hockey League skated from 1940 until the Buffalo Sabres franchise began in 1970. The Buffalo Braves of the National Basketball League shot three-pointers from 1970 to 1978 before being moved to San Diego, California. The Buffalo Stallions of the Major Soccer League was based out of Buffalo from 1979 to 1984 while the Buffalo Blizzard of the National Professional Soccer League started in 1992. And the Buffalo Bandits of the National Lacrosse League began playing there in ‘91.

Musical acts such as Frank Sinatra, The Grateful Dead, the Beach Boys, U2, Bruce Springsteen, Ozzy Osbourne, Billy Joel, Rolling Stones, and, yes, the king himself, Elvis Presley, entertained audiences at the Aud.

But, time has passed and Memorial Auditorium’s time has unfortunately run out.

“The Aud was a great place, unless you had to use the bathroom! It was a great place and in a way, [I’m] sorry to see it go,” says science teacher Ralph Critelli.

The building is being taken apart piece by piece to make room for a Bass Pro Shops Outdoor World store, museum, and public plaza. Around 2,000 tons of asbestos and other harmful materials have been removed prior to the deconstruction.

Don’t fret Buffalonians, an optimistic future is being planned for the space where the 450,000 square-foot structure stands.

According to buffalorising.com, a canal side project is currently underway to enhance the water front. The 20-acre development costing $315 million will have features such as waterfalls, locks, an above ground level canal, ice-skating, an underwater tunnel, vendors, shops, towpaths, canal boats and barges, restaurants, a replicated milling wheel, and more.

If all goes as planned, the project has the potential to create approximately 1,000 new jobs.

“I think getting rid of Memorial Auditorium and making it into a destination is a good thing,” says Matt Kresge, special education teacher. “It’s long overdue.”

On a side note, city-sponsored live and online auctions have been held to raffle of the “blue” seats from the Aud. The highly-toted “orange seats” are supposedly expected to be auctioned off late this spring due to public demand.

I broke my camera. I haven't even had it a month. *cries*