| The HSBC Arena is a sports and entertainment | | | | was part of the HSBC banking group, had |
| venue located in downtown Buffalo, New York, | | | | purchased the naming rights. In 1999, as part |
| USA. This state-of-the-art venue was designed | | | | of HSBC's worldwide corporate rebranding, the |
| with live entertainment in mind. It is home | | | | arena's name was changed to The HSBC Arena, |
| to the Buffalo Sabres hockey team and the | | | | when the US bank's name became HSBC Bank USA |
| Buffalo Bandits lacrosse team. The arena also | | | | N.A.. This name change coincided with the |
| hosts concerts and is used regularly for | | | | playing of the first college basketball |
| college basketball games, including | | | | tournament game in the arena's history. It |
| opening-round games of the NCAA basketball | | | | has been occasionally referred to by Buffalo |
| tournament and Metro Atlantic Athletic | | | | residents as The Marina (a portmanteau of |
| Conference men's basketball tournaments | | | | Marine Midland Arena), Fort Knox (a reference |
| (1997, 1999, 2001, 2005). It recently has | | | | to the Sabres original owners Seymour and |
| been used for wrestling as well, hosting | | | | Northrup Knox) or "The Bank" (a reference to |
| Fully Loaded 1999, WCW Fall Brawl 2000, and | | | | HSBC Bank). The press box in the arena is |
| the 2005 WWE Great American Bash. It is also | | | | named after former Sabres broadcaster and |
| the former home of the Buffalo Destroyers, | | | | Hockey Hall of Fame member Ted Darling. |
| Buffalo Blizzard and Buffalo Wings. It | | | | |
| additionally was the host of the 2003 NCAA | | | | The arena has 18,690 seating arrangements for |
| Frozen Four. | | | | sporting events. However, the total number of |
| | | | seats and number of Spectators would increase |
| The HSBC Arena opened on September 21, 1996, | | | | if the arena is being used for a concert, |
| replacing the Buffalo Memorial Auditorium. | | | | basketball game, or similar event as standing |
| Its original name was the Crossroads Arena; | | | | space on the arena's floor. The Special |
| however, this was changed to Marine Midland | | | | Events station of the Buffalo Metro Rail |
| Arena before the first game had even been | | | | successfully manage both the sporting events |
| played there. The Marine Midland Bank, which | | | | and concerts at the arena. |