Canceled games impacts WNY businesses

BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) - It’s bad news for Sabres fans. Thursday, the NHL canceled the first two weeks of the regular season. However, the players aren’t the only ones losing out. With the NHL hockey season at a standstill, local businesses in Buffalo and western New York are losing money.

“The fact that the NHL has canceled two weeks of the season is a very bad thing for business in Buffalo and western New York,” said Buffalo Mayor Byron Brown.

“I have a lot of staff part time and full time. A lot of my part timers rely on the Sabres to make that extra income especially through the winter," Mark Slagle of Lagerhaus 95 said. “Because the season didn't happen I stopped hiring."

Our Canadian neighbors will be in town this weekend shopping, going to plays and restaurants celebrating their Thanksgiving holiday,

Brown said, “The Canadians that come are so supportive of this community, economically in so many ways. They definitely keep people working in Buffalo and Western New York.”

Canadians could have been at the last Sabres home preseason game on Saturday but because of the lockout, fans can't see professional hockey.

Brown said, “It will definitely cut into some of the business that many establishments do in this community.”

So instead of viewing a Sabres game, they'll at least be able to see the development of the Harbor Center. A $123 million facility complete with two ice rinks, retail stores, a sports bar and about 200 hotel rooms.

Early Friday morning crews were in the Webster Block digging for soil samples to determine to best way to create the basement of the facility.

“It's good to see things moving forward,” said Brown.

Before the Harbor Center is complete Mayor Brown says it's needs to be approved by a number of groups like the Buffalo Common Council. Construction for the center is set to begin next March and end in 2015.