New home for pieces of hockey history

BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) - Pieces of Buffalo hockey history have a new home .

Tom Collins said, "We've seen it all here. From circuses, to hockey, wrestling, Frank Sinatra, Who concerts; there's a lot of memories here."

Todd Mazurek said, "I wish I could take my son to see this. I had a lot of fond memories. It's going to be well missed."

The Memorial Auditorium will always be vivid in the minds of Buffalonians even as it continues to disappear from the city's landscape.

Now the world will be able to see the Aud was one of the all-time greatest hockey venues, because orange seats will be preserved forever in the Hockey Hall of Fame .

Hockey Hall of Fame Curator Philip Pritchard said, "From the Hockey Hall of Fame point of view, a lot of people think of the players and all that, but without the arenas, there's no game."

The nosebleed seats will be displayed at the Hall of Fame just as they are, wads of gum and all.

Pritchard said, "When you had the opportunity to sit in those seats, I think sometimes you were afraid to stand up because you were going to be part of the ice rink too. So it's neat get the oranges because that's where, to me, the fans were."

While the orange seats will be going to the Hockey Hall of Fame, News 4 has learned 300 sets of oranges will be auctioned off at the end of the summer.

The blue seats were already auctioned off, with the proceeds going toward a permanent memorial for the Memorial Auditorium.

Buffalo Mayor Byron Brown said, "We were able to generate significant resources. We think we're going to be able to have a real fitting tribute."

The Aud's south wall should be demolished in a few weeks, then the land will be prepped for the construction of Bass Pro.

Are there any new developments with the Bass Pro deal?

Erie Canal Harbor Development Corporation President Thomas Dee said, "I would just say it's inevitable and it's moving just as we envisioned. I have schematic drawings on my desk and we're excited about that."

What is the goal?

To revitalize the waterfront so Buffalo's future can be as vibrant as the memories of the past.