Buffalo advice for those staying over

[upstater]

I just got my tix for the night session, nosebleeds, row 11, section 324, corner.
First Niagara Arena has excellent sightlines though.

Hotels:

Best budget place to stay downtown is the Comfort Suites. This Comfort is actually a fomer 4 star (forget the chain) and has the nicest rooms even over the local 3.5 stars (like the Hyatt). The other pretty good one is the Hampton Inn. Both of these are located next to plenty of bars and within walking distance of the arena, there's also a trolley that takes you to the arena (I'd say they are 1 mile away max).

Further up on Delaware Avenue (a half mile further from downtown) both Holiday Inn and Best Western are decent, and closer to Allentown bar & restaurant district.

Plenty of people Priceline a hotel (highest star rating) for about $80-90 and you'll end up at the Hyatt. It's OK but it has management issues.

If you're into a hotel with really good food at all levels (brewpub, American, continental) try the Hotel Lafayette which is the nicest newest hotel in town even closer to the arena. 2 really good restaurants and a brewpub in the basement.

The top hotel in town is called The Mansion.

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Bars & Restaurants:

Some new bars around the arena have recently popped up, but I've never been to them. The Sabres owner Terry Pegula is building a huge entertainment complex right next to the arena with restaurants, 3 ice rinks, move theaters, apartments, etc., but they are not done yet. If you head on foot for a 1o minute walk, your best bet from the Arena is Pearl Street Brewery.

From the earlier hotels I mentioned, your best restaurants are all walking distance, SeaBar, Tempo, Mike A's, Butterfield's (below the Hotel Lafayette), & Rue Franklin (French). I'd avoid both the bars and restaurants in the entertainment district on Chippewa because people are insane there and there's a bad mix.

EDIT: Dinosaur BBQ is now open in that hotel/entertainment district area, it's on Franklin Street. I like their BBQ, it's pretty good.

Instead, within walking distance of the hotels, the best bar is Founding Father's. If you drive into the Allentown neighborhood, there's Hardware Bar & Rest. (3/4 mile), and in Elmwood Village (1 mile from hotels) there's Blue Monk, a gastropub with lots of great Belgian and world beers on tap. People take buses down from Toronto to drink at this place. Best restaurant in the Elmwood Village is an Italian place called Trattoria Aroma, and up on Delaware there's another great lace called Hutch's.

For buffalo wings, I'd avoid the Anchor Bar (inventor of the wing) unless you absolutely must go and hit either Gabriel's Gate in Allentown or else drive 30 minutes south to Orchard Park for the best wings at Duff's.

---------------------------------------------------

There's a casino near the arena, I've never been to it.

Chippewa is where people drink heavily and get into trouble. Allentown is where the hipsters go. Elmwood Village is for good food & drink for people who live in central Buffalo. And Hertel St. is the ethnic neighborhood, soccer bars, Greek & Italian, now increasingly SE Asian.

Any other questions, let me know...

I only have a Villanova fan interested in attending the game. If anyone wants to do a meetup, I'd be into it and suggest Founding Father's as the best place (since you can take the trolley down from there).

 

[upstater]

$45 on SeatGeek.com for UConn's game against st. Joseph's right now. I bought last night for around $70 a ticket.

 

[CTBasketball]

Thanks upstater. Now to see if I can get time off from work!

 

[UofCT]

Perhaps the UConn fans should find a spot to watch the games together on Friday? I wasn't really planning on going to the other sessions, rather post up at a bar somewhere. Suggestions?

 

[BLUEDOGHOUSE]

$45 on SeatGeek.com for UConn's game against st. Joseph's right now. I bought last night for around $70 a ticket.

You are a great fan you deserve a better seat. Can't you buy an extra ticket from a season ticket holder who bought through the university? Maybe you still can?

 

[upstater]

You are a great fan you deserve a better seat. Can't you buy an extra ticket from a season ticket holder who bought through the university? Maybe you still can?

Hmmm, I never even thought of buying through UConn. Doh! Where is UConn selling tix?

 

[gampelcrazies]

Hmmm, I never even thought of buying through UConn. Doh! Where is UConn selling tix?

If you know anybody thats in the UConn Club they are selling tickets down low for uconn session only.

 

[upstater]

If you know anybody thats in the UConn Club they are selling tickets down low for uconn session only.

I know no one. Heh. Boston U. grad here.

 

[Mr. French]

Everyone was so helpful when I came to Hartford, so any questions I'll gladly answer - I'm very torn on whether I wanna get tix or just watch on TV because of my nerves but I went in 04 and that worked out - maybe I'll even give some of you guys a place to stay if needed! Haha but seriously any questions let me know, I live right in the area and work next to the FNC.

Upstater has plenty of good suggestions, but if you need any more specifics lemme know

 

[Mr. French]

Perhaps the UConn fans should find a spot to watch the games together on Friday? I wasn't really planning on going to the other sessions, rather post up at a bar somewhere. Suggestions?

This sounds PERFECT to me

 

[upstater]

Perhaps the UConn fans should find a spot to watch the games together on Friday? I wasn't really planning on going to the other sessions, rather post up at a bar somewhere. Suggestions?

The best place for that would probably be the Pan-American Bar below the Hotel Lafayette. Close to the arena, but also close to the hotels.

The other place would likely be Pearl Street Brewery (very close to the arena) but it's so big and the tables so far from the walls that I don't think you'd get a good look at the games.

Otherwise, I'd recommend bars further up the road on Elmwood that would have lots of TVs and good places to sit.

 

[Mr. French]

I haven't decided if I'm going to the games or if I can get tickets, but I will def be up for finding a spot where we can all go and root the team on amongst the non ball fans or Cuse fans

 

[UConn990411]

I don't know anything about Buffalo, but my advice would be to bring booze. Lots and lots of booze.

 

[upstater]

I have tix along the baseline now in the 7th row. Section 122.

 

[gampelcrazies]

I have tix along the baseline now in the 7th row. Section 122.

We're did you get those?

 

[Silk City]

I just got my tix for the night session, nosebleeds, row 11, section 324, corner.
First Niagara Arena has excellent sightlines though.

Hotels:

Best budget place to stay downtown is the Comfort Suites. This Comfort is actually a fomer 4 star (forget the chain) and has the nicest rooms even over the local 3.5 stars (like the Hyatt). The other pretty good one is the Hampton Inn. Both of these are located next to plenty of bars and within walking distance of the arena, there's also a trolley that takes you to the arena (I'd say they are 1 mile away max).

Further up on Delaware Avenue (a half mile further from downtown) both Holiday Inn and Best Western are decent, and closer to Allentown bar & restaurant district.

Plenty of people Priceline a hotel (highest star rating) for about $80-90 and you'll end up at the Hyatt. It's OK but it has management issues.

If you're into a hotel with really good food at all levels (brewpub, American, continental) try the Hotel Lafayette which is the nicest newest hotel in town even closer to the arena. 2 really good restaurants and a brewpub in the basement.

The top hotel in town is called The Mansion.

----------------------------------------------------

Bars & Restaurants:

Some new bars around the arena have recently popped up, but I've never been to them. The Sabres owner Terry Pegula is building a huge entertainment complex right next to the arena with restaurants, 3 ice rinks, move theaters, apartments, etc., but they are not done yet. If you head on foot for a 1o minute walk, your best bet from the Arena is Pearl Street Brewery.

From the earlier hotels I mentioned, your best restaurants are all walking distance, SeaBar, Tempo, Mike A's, Butterfield's (below the Hotel Lafayette), & Rue Franklin (French). I'd avoid both the bars and restaurants in the entertainment district on Chippewa because people are insane there and there's a bad mix.

Instead, within walking distance of the hotels, the best bar is Founding Father's. If you drive into the Allentown neighborhood, there's Hardware Bar & Rest. (3/4 mile), and in Elmwood Village (1 mile from hotels) there's Blue Monk, a gastropub with lots of great Belgian and world beers on tap. People take buses down from Toronto to drink at this place. Best restaurant in the Elmwood Village is an Italian place called Trattoria Aroma, and up on Delaware there's another great lace called Hutch's.

For buffalo wings, I'd avoid the Anchor Bar (inventor of the wing) unless you absolutely must go and hit either Gabriel's Gate in Allentown or else drive 30 minutes south to Orchard Park for the best wings at Duff's.

---------------------------------------------------

There's a casino near the arena, I've never been to it.

Chippewa is where people drink heavily and get into trouble. Allentown is where the hipsters go. Elmwood Village is for good food & drink for people who live in central Buffalo. And Hertel St. is the ethnic neighborhood, soccer bars, Greek & Italian, now increasingly SE Asian.

Any other questions, let me know...

I only have a Villanova fan interested in attending the game. If anyone wants to do a meetup, I'd be into it and suggest Founding Father's as the best place (since you can take the trolley down from there).

Thanks for the tips, I'm heading up Thursday morning with a truck full of students, any advice on cheap/college friendly bars within a mile or so walk from the arena?

 

[upstater]

Thanks for the tips, I'm heading up Thursday morning with a truck full of students, any advice on cheap/college friendly bars within a mile or so walk from the arena?

They might like the Chippewa Street area I told people to avoid. A lot of cheap bars there, college students, but also some underage 18 year old bars. Bars everywhere in Buffalo are cheap (you can expect $2 beers). Except for Blue Monk ($8 beer). If they aren't into hootin' and hollerin' try the Pearl Street Brewery which is about a couple football fields from the arena or else the Pan American Bar inside the Hotel Lafayette a half mile up. Personally, I'll be at Founding Fathers 1 mile from the Arena until I jump onto the trolley. Downtown, by the way, is set up along a spine, so everything is vertical on Delaware Avenue with no need to venture more than 2 or 3 blocks horizontally for the entertainment districts, and there are only 4 of them in Buffalo, but all of them are more or less 2 blocks off of Delaware Avenue (Chippewa, then 1/2 mile away Allentown, then 1/2 mile away Elmwood Village, then 2 miles Hertel St.).

 

[Danzz]

I just got my tix for the night session, nosebleeds, row 11, section 324, corner.
First Niagara Arena has excellent sightlines though.

Hotels:

Best budget place to stay downtown is the Comfort Suites. This Comfort is actually a fomer 4 star (forget the chain) and has the nicest rooms even over the local 3.5 stars (like the Hyatt). The other pretty good one is the Hampton Inn. Both of these are located next to plenty of bars and within walking distance of the arena, there's also a trolley that takes you to the arena (I'd say they are 1 mile away max).

Further up on Delaware Avenue (a half mile further from downtown) both Holiday Inn and Best Western are decent, and closer to Allentown bar & restaurant district.

Plenty of people Priceline a hotel (highest star rating) for about $80-90 and you'll end up at the Hyatt. It's OK but it has management issues.

If you're into a hotel with really good food at all levels (brewpub, American, continental) try the Hotel Lafayette which is the nicest newest hotel in town even closer to the arena. 2 really good restaurants and a brewpub in the basement.

The top hotel in town is called The Mansion.

----------------------------------------------------

Bars & Restaurants:

Some new bars around the arena have recently popped up, but I've never been to them. The Sabres owner Terry Pegula is building a huge entertainment complex right next to the arena with restaurants, 3 ice rinks, move theaters, apartments, etc., but they are not done yet. If you head on foot for a 1o minute walk, your best bet from the Arena is Pearl Street Brewery.

From the earlier hotels I mentioned, your best restaurants are all walking distance, SeaBar, Tempo, Mike A's, Butterfield's (below the Hotel Lafayette), & Rue Franklin (French). I'd avoid both the bars and restaurants in the entertainment district on Chippewa because people are insane there and there's a bad mix.

Instead, within walking distance of the hotels, the best bar is Founding Father's. If you drive into the Allentown neighborhood, there's Hardware Bar & Rest. (3/4 mile), and in Elmwood Village (1 mile from hotels) there's Blue Monk, a gastropub with lots of great Belgian and world beers on tap. People take buses down from Toronto to drink at this place. Best restaurant in the Elmwood Village is an Italian place called Trattoria Aroma, and up on Delaware there's another great lace called Hutch's.

For buffalo wings, I'd avoid the Anchor Bar (inventor of the wing) unless you absolutely must go and hit either Gabriel's Gate in Allentown or else drive 30 minutes south to Orchard Park for the best wings at Duff's.

---------------------------------------------------

There's a casino near the arena, I've never been to it.

Chippewa is where people drink heavily and get into trouble. Allentown is where the hipsters go. Elmwood Village is for good food & drink for people who live in central Buffalo. And Hertel St. is the ethnic neighborhood, soccer bars, Greek & Italian, now increasingly SE Asian.

Any other questions, let me know...

I only have a Villanova fan interested in attending the game. If anyone wants to do a meetup, I'd be into it and suggest Founding Father's as the best place (since you can take the trolley down from there).

The Anchor Bar is a complete dump with horrible food. Don't like wings so I didn't have them.

 

[Silk City]

They might like the Chippewa Street area I told people to avoid. A lot of cheap bars there, college students, but also some underage 18 year old bars. Bars everywhere in Buffalo are cheap (you can expect $2 beers). Except for Blue Monk ($8 beer). If they aren't into hootin' and hollerin' try the Pearl Street Brewery which is about a couple football fields from the arena or else the Pan American Bar inside the Hotel Lafayette a half mile up. Personally, I'll be at Founding Fathers 1 mile from the Arena until I jump onto the trolley. Downtown, by the way, is set up along a spine, so everything is vertical on Delaware Avenue with no need to venture more than 2 or 3 blocks horizontally for the entertainment districts, and there are only 4 of them in Buffalo, but all of them are more or less 2 blocks off of Delaware Avenue (Chippewa, then 1/2 mile away Allentown, then 1/2 mile away Elmwood Village, then 2 miles Hertel St.).

Thanks for the info! Is the trolley worth doing? We're in a bit of a dilemma parking-wise because the Stubhub office at Best Western is about 2 miles away, and you can't get them til 4 hours before tip. We were planning on starting drinking at noon when the first wave of games get underway...

 

[upstater]

Thanks for the info! Is the trolley worth doing? We're in a bit of a dilemma parking-wise because the Stubhub office at Best Western is about 2 miles away, and you can't get them til 4 hours before tip. We were planning on starting drinking at noon when the first wave of games get underway...

Where is your car parked? The trolley only begins downtown. It's a subway before that. If you're already downtown, there should be no problem at all.

The weather is going to be 50 degrees. Good for a short walk.

Best Western is right near Founding Fathers on Edward Street. I'd have some drinks there, pick up the tickets, walk 5 minutes to Tupper and Main Street where you can pick up the trolley to take you right to the Arena. 4 hours? This should take you 20-30 minutes max.

Oh, if you want better food, try Dinosaur BBQ which is also a 10 minute walk from Best Western.

Forgot to mention to everyone, Dinosaur BBQ is now open on Franklin Street in the same area I've been writing about.