22 BUFFALO BUSINESS FIRST

INDUSTRY ROUNDTABLE Sponsored by

Supported by Sports appetite expands in WNY INDUSTRY LEADERS SEE CONTINUED GROWTH

JIM COURTNEY Discussing the business of sports last month at Hodgson Russ were, seated from left; Ted Black, Bill Maher and Jerry Boyes. Standing from left; Ron Raccuia, Brian Cavanaugh, Bridget Niland and Allan Davis.

BY JAMES FINK ing the growth of the sector, the Also scheduled to take part are leaders offer some insight about [email protected] regional impact, the growing need Commis­ how sports operate in markets like 716-541-1611, @BfloBizJimFink for a sports commission and the sioner Gary Bettman and Jere­ Buffalo should be valuable and increased demand for facilities to my Jacobs, chairman of the Buffa­ interesting.” Four college athletic directors, the accommodate youth athletics. lo-based Cos. The panel comes as the Buffalo president of the Buffalo Sabres and An edited transcript of the con­ Jacobs has owned the Boston Bills begin their first training camp leaders of two sports-related com­ versation begins on Page 23. Bruins since 1975 and is chairman under the Pegulas’ ownership and panies met last month for a discus­ The roundtable also provided of the NHL board of governors. as NHL teams open their training sion on the sports business in West­ a lead-in for a July 30 panel com­ The panel will be held from 10 camps for the 2015-2016 . ern . The event was part of prised of the owners of the area’s a.m. to noon at Buffalo RiverWorks, The Buffalo Bisons will be enter­ a monthly roundtable series spon­ major sports teams: Terry and Kim 359 Ganson St. ing their final month of the regular sored by Hodgson Russ LLP and Pegula, who own the “We consider this an important season. Freed Maxick. and Buffalo Bills; and Robert and panel,” said Jack Connors, presi­ Tickets for the July 30 round- The 90-minute discussion Mindy Rich, owners of the Buffalo dent and publisher of Business First. table can be purchased by calling explored a range of issues includ­ Bisons. “To be able to have these industry 541-1631.

R BY THE NUMBERS

The business side of area sports $758,000 $52M $25M 350 Cost of 3,700 new, wider seats Value of Ryan O’Reilly’s 7­year contract Value of Buffalo Bills coach ’s Number of people employed in Buffalo at Coca­Cola Field with the Buffalo Sabres 5­year contract by Delaware North Cos. JULY 10, 2015 23 INDUSTRY ROUNDTABLE R What’s your view of the R CLOSER LOOK AT THE ROUNDTABLE JERRY BOYES sports business locally? The Business of Sports Industry Roundtable is the 22nd in a two­year series of Director of discussions with business leaders. athletics, Each month, decision makers from diverse industries meet for a discussion SUNY Buffalo TED BLACK moderated by Business First. State Excerpts from the conversation are published two weeks after the President, Buffalo Sabres roundtable. I found very My view on the importance of Upcoming topics include manufacturing and fast­growing companies. early, I guess I’d Roundtable discussions, sponsored by Hodgson Russ LLP and business and otherwise of sports in use the word Freed Maxick CPAs, are held at the law firm’s Pearl Street offices in Buffalo. Western New York is that it’s just passionate that part of the fabric. It’s part of every Buffalo fans are conversation. Allan’s business turns with sports. I he could grow football? I tend to think other NFL teams and corporations, on that conversation, as well. But never knew a he came here because football was all tied to the idea of sports the appetite that Western New York real passionate already here in everybody’s blood, and marketing and also tied to the No. 1 has for hockey is almost endless. The fan until I came it’s the same for hockey. And for WGR, brand in the world, Nike. We employ hockey knowledge and the appetite to Buffalo. I it’s probably the best opportunity almost 70 people. Buffalo’s been in this market really, really makes remember going I’ve personally had in working with a perfect for us just because there’s so it unique. And it’s very much like a to my first Buffalo Bills game after that community where it is that important much athletic activity on the field, Canadian market when it comes to first season and sitting there and I was and it’s reflective in how well the radio if you start there. A ton of colleges, professional hockey. being a coach, kind of watching the station does. high schools that take athletics very offensive line do their thing, then the seriously, all use it kind of in the defensive backs. And about the third function of the Roman management. ALLAN DAVIS quarter, this lady sitting next to me RON RACCUIA When you talk about development Program director, elbowed me and said, “Are you going President, ADPRO Sports and things like that, there’s really a WGR Sports Radio 550 to cheer or what?” My wife refuses to brand affinity toward their athletic ADPRO started ... actually, I don’t go back to any games with me. But I may not have wanted to speak to programs, whether that’s from high really remember when we started. I we’re a Division 3 NCAA institution this, but Ted brought it up a little bit school level all the way through their always tell people it started in about and we sit in a hotbed of professional about the game of hockey and how college level. And then we take it to 2000, 2001 when we became a Nike sports, and it really is a hotbed. We’re much Buffalo and the fabric of Buffalo the corporations. We have currently, distributor. ADPRO really has two just one of those entities and it’s very is hockey. It is, and it’s not just here. and have had, a very robust sports components: one component that difficult for a city the size of Buffalo Obviously it’s throughout Southern economy here in Western New York. works with schools, organizations, sometimes to really advertise and, I Ontario. So how important it is, I And with what the Bulls have done athletes, providing them their guess, promote Division 3 sports and think it’s critical. And I also think it’s with the investments going on at the product and equipment on field. And what’s going on with them; we fully from the ground up and has been. I colleges and everywhere else, it’s just then we have another component understand that. Our job in Division think saw that years ago. going to be better and better. And that does branding and merchandise 3 is a different philosophy than pro Did he come here because he thought we’re excited to be a part of that. for our friends — the Bills, the Sabres, and Division 1 where they must. And

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$77251(<$'9(57,6,1*3ULRUUHVXOWVGRQRWJXDUDQWHHDVLPLODURXWFRPH 24 BUFFALO BUSINESS FIRST INDUSTRY ROUNDTABLE the emphasis is on the spectator. Our room because it really is a component R Is the HarborCenter a country, it’s probably unique to the emphasis is on the experience of the of recreation, youth sports, which is symbol of what Ron alluded world. And I think all of us have been student athlete. We don’t have the very strong in Buffalo. I think there’s involved in conversations — I know personnel administratively to do all a real opportunity in youth tourism. to as the sports economy? looking around the room — about how those promotional things and neat I was asked by the president to step you replicate that for youth soccer and things at halftimes and other things in last year and my sole responsibility how you replicate that for softball and of that nature because we don’t at Daemen is to drive us through the TED BLACK , things like that. Right now have the people; we don’t have that NCAA process. I think we’re trying Buffalo Sabres it’s seriously a question of facilities. manpower to do that. Our emphasis to do that in a way that kind of taps I think it’s deeper than that. I don’t is on the student athlete, and that’s into my broader experience, either want to sound sacrilegious but it’s where we put our resources into those nationally or just the experience of BRIAN CAVANAUGH almost a religious/political statement things. But I see the sports culture youth sports and how that can be Director of athletics, D’Youville College about our community. I think people here is unlike anything that I certainly used to kind of bolster our location. look to that with ... it’s just a shining My daughter is a swimmer and she’s was exposed to before. And it’s very Because that’s about all we have going example of nice things can come here a softball player. Bridget’s a mother exciting to be in sports and to be in for us at the present time in terms of and nice things go out of here. and Jerry’s a father — see him out Buffalo. really finding Daemen’s way in this there with his son with baseball — and larger sports marketplace. swimming is huge in this community. From our end of the Division 3, sports RON RACCUIA BILL MAHER is enticing student athletes to come ADPRO Sports Director of to your school, enroll in your school, BRIDGET athletics, stay in your school and get a degree You know, you talk about that NILAND and keep the enrollment management business. I can’t really totally speak Daemen College up to where it needs to be to keep the for Allan, but I know their ratings I have had a great school in business. are off the charts. That’s indicative of I always say opportunity to the community and the reaction to that between spend a good sports. If you look at companies like the different portion of my R Ted, with HarborCenter New Era who have maintained their hats that I wear career here in bringing in youth and amateur presence here, an industry leader in across the board, Western New the sports world, but then you take it I said this year York and Buffalo. tournaments, talk about a step further in this whole economy if I had my own And I would say this business of sports of sports ... You take the simple things. money to really that, as many Look at food and beverage. When invest in turf people have in Western New York. there are Bills and Sabres games, time, ice time, talked about, the food and beverage operations in pool time — the passion Western New York are at their peak. because whether and what TED BLACK When the teams are performing well, I’m a parent people in Western New York feel Buffalo Sabres there’s a lot of co-branding going on or an athletic about sports is unique. I describe Well, a lot of it and merchandise being sold — not just director, I’m in constant search. As I Buffalo as the biggest small town in turns on selling merchandise we sell but an everyday mentioned, our greatest challenge at America. Everybody knows everybody tickets. If you type of co-branding. The collective Daemen is we don’t have facilities. and everybody has a recollection of look at any pro spirit rises, so that will actually get I think that that’s where I see the history, whether it be the Bills, Sabres, hockey team, people to spend money. There have opportunity outside of what I do at Canisius, the Little Three — different about 30, 35 been studies that say if you have Daemen College, in terms of talking things of that nature. I think our percent of your brand affinity and you do something to all the people. Brian knows that. challenge as we move forward, and revenue is going that you like, the money and the We’re five years from where he was, certainly for Canisius College, is to to be selling economy flows freer. Those things searching for a soccer field, and how make sure we embrace that history tickets, selling are indisputable. Here in Buffalo, we built our soccer field. Tom Garigen but how do we also try and carve the game. So unfortunately, you haven’t had a ton from Empire Soccer has really been a out a new niche and find our way HarborCenter, of on-field success, but the success leader in bringing us all together to try in what’s a developing economy in it’s something that they’ve had off the field and from to get a couple of facilities very similar Western New York. And I think as we that’s not unique a business standpoint is amazing to Sahlen’s facilities. But we need more see the economy developing, which to Buffalo, it’s considering we haven’t had that run of Sahlen’s facilities, and they probably is wonderful for everybody, I think unique for North America. And it on-field or on-ice championships. So need to be more of a public-private. that also opens up opportunity for us leaves us with the only three-rink the way I look at it is even today still a And I know that the city of Buffalo is which we’re all going to have to try campus in the NHL. It changes the driver, but what can be as the teams looking at that, as well. But if we were and figure out where do we fit in that skyline and with it is going to change develop and the infrastructure around able to build some of those facilities developing economy and how can it the perceptions of Buffalo. A couple HarborCenter and First Niagara and that would support both potentially benefit all of us? of weeks ago we had 120 kids going to what ultimately happens with the a future professional sports franchise be drafted in the NHL. When I spoke New Bills stadium? That really is going here and soccer, to further support BRIDGET NILAND to that group — I like to do this when I to be a very robust economy. — all those things — I think it get to talk to the young hockey players will drive the economy in a different Director of athletics, Daemen College — “Is this your first time in Buffalo? R As a follow­up to that, is way. Living in Indianapolis, they had I was a runner at UB. I started out Show of hands?” Just about everyone a very active sports commission, as actually a Division 3 athlete. My raises their hand in that room. So their there a place in Western New and I think that’s something Buffalo focus has been primarily collegiate first impression of Buffalo is one of York where we can emulate on a really needs to look at in terms of sports after going to the University a sunny, 70-degree day looking out empowering that group a little bit at Buffalo law school. I went to over the water, going to a concert at lesser scale what HarborCenter more. We’re all doing our own thing Indianapolis and worked at the NCAA Canalside which took place that week, has done for amateur and in separate silos. And I feel that as a national office for six years, primarily thousands of people there. city, we really need to look at having in legislative affairs. I’ve maintained other youth sports? those types of sports commissions like my relationship with the NCAA and Indianapolis and Mobile, Alabama. I stay on as a consultant, so I have both kind of a national viewpoint RON RACCUIA and a very local viewpoint of what ADPRO Sports we’re doing. For eight years I was That’s really a facilities question. a sports management professor at Everybody is searching for that right Daemen, so I look at the Buffalo now. What HarborCenter is for hockey marketplace probably a little wider is like Ted says: It’s not unique to this than even some of you sitting in this JULY 10, 2015 25 INDUSTRY ROUNDTABLE

BILL MAHER in every 24-hour day to be able to is always money for sports. There get more coverage? I will tell you that Canisius College serve all the people who would is always disposable income. Like the way people use radio determines love to have the opportunity to Bill said, it is the last thing that how we program our radio station. There have been studies done that the have access to WGR to get their gets cut because of that affinity In today’s world, you better get to last thing families will cut out of their message out there. To some extent, and that passion. And you even see the point in 60 seconds or you’ve lost budget is youth sports, and I think yeah, it probably does get sliced the sponsorship dollars increasing. my attention. We stick with what I that many of us here have lived it; I up differently. But I take a look at Corporations know that how you know works best in this community think you can see that. In my time in what you set as your plan. If your get to the consumer is through their to draw in an audience, to get them Buffalo and working with the Sports plan is, as Bridget is talking about, affinity and their branding with their to come in — and it’s the Bills and the Commission to try and attract events, if it is about youth sports, there’s sports programs, right from colleges Sabres. WGR is successful because there’s the shortages Ron mentioned ways to get it done. I think a sports all the way up through professional every time somebody turns on the is facilities. Once there is a facility, it’s commission getting together to talk ranks. radio, we’re not asking them to wait filled. When you look at our facilities about these things even like this very long before we’re talking about on our campuses, we’ve built them. would help answer that question. what it is they want to hear. And that, You look at what the HarborCenter’s R Allan, let’s talk about the I think there is probably enough as our research shows, is the Bills and done — everyone was concerned about money. There’s certainly enough media. What could the media the Sabres. If we said, “I’m going to the HarborCenter taking business interest. It’s about is there a collective spend an afternoon talking about the away from everyone else. It didn’t; it do to offer more extensive approach to some of it. Bisons” or “I’m going to be talking just created more opportunity. And I coverage to collegiate athletics about the UB Bulls or Buff State,” if think that’s where you’re going to see there’s a story there, we will — a huge it, whether it’s soccer fields, whether and the ? BILL MAHER story. But otherwise, we’re not going it’s baseball fields, whether it’s indoor Canisius College to win. Our advertisers aren’t going turf facilities during the off-times. to win. Our audience is not going to Those facilities will be utilized, and There’s a group that’s going to be ALLAN DAVIS stay with us, and that’s critical for us. I think we will find different ways to coming, ironically, from Indianapolis WGR Sports Radio 550 When somebody pounds on my door monetize them through bed taxes and that is going to work with the Sports Well, we carry the Bisons. It’s not long enough, loud enough, I’m going things -- there’s a lot of money that is Commission to really focus on just WGR. We recognize that because to react. I’m going to do something. generated within this community for Western New York and look carefully of the appetite and the only way to The Bulls did that. They pounded youth sports. at what is our infrastructure inventory get the extra 24 hours is we have harder and they got my attention. So right now. And if we were to look at another radio station. We have ESPN those who take that opportunity not this and say ... if we were going to 1520 that does carry the Bison games to wait for us to react but are proactive RON RACCUIA make recommendations on, “If you’re and we carry the UB Bulls, football, probably would get a little more of a ADPRO Sports going to invest, this is the areas we and women’s basketball, response. should invest in in trying to position If you think about the future of as well. We have had Niagara on and, Western New York as positively as a potential football stadium, just as often as we can, we use ESPN 1520. it can.” Position them as positively multiply it by a lot. And like Bridget It’s not an easy thing to answer on a as they can to attract these events and Bill said, Indianapolis is the day-to-day basis: How come I don’t because of the trickle-down effect absolute perfect model for it. That they will have. football stadium is not a dream. That football stadium was a catalyst for an economy done right. BRIAN CAVANAUGH BRIDGET NILAND D’Youville College Daemen College We all know that there’s a It was a great experience to live in pecking order Indianapolis, especially at the time with regard to that we lived there because, you know, the Bills, Sabres it used to be Indiana No Place. I do BUSINESS FUELED. and media and think Indy is a real good example of it. promotion. I lived there and I think there’s a lot of Youth sports things that Buffalo has — hockey, the POWER PROTECTED. is huge in this location, the waterfront. Louisville is area, and I was another example of a town that has surprised that really capitalized. But when you go to when I got to Louisville and you’re walking around D’Youville and Louisville, it’s nice. Indianapolis isn’t I wanted to go out and rent a soccer Buffalo. You know, it’s just being able field, it was more difficult for me to to kind of get everyone together and rent a soccer field than it was for me on the same page, and that’s where to rent an hour of ice time. It drove me those two cities have probably been crazy for a long period of time. And I somewhere we can look to in bringing see when I go to swimming events the all the different entities to the table. number of people who are swimming. High school sports and youth sports R With collegiate and pro are huge in this area. And in our own Michael Newman, teams competing for the same city and in the suburbs there are great Henry Koziol, Director James Newman, President Executive Vice -President facilities. Freed Maxick CPAs NOCO Energy Corporation NOCO Energy Corporation sports entertainment dollars, is there enough financial support RON RACCUIA Why does the Newman family trust the team at Freed Maxick CPAs? Because to keep everybody happy? ADPRO Sports Freed challenges NOCO to think outside of the box and into the future. With Freed And it really isn’t a saturation point. Maxick’s help, NOCO has expanded its ALLAN DAVIS You know, the Bills have their record geographic footprint, improved profitability season ticket sales. The Sabres are and reenergized its leadership for the future. WGR Sports Radio 550 unbelievable with waiting lists and WATCH JIM AND MIKE NEWMAN 716.847.2651 Well, I look at it from a different what they’re doing. You know, UB’s TALK TRUST AT FREEDMAXICK.COM. Buffalo Batavia Rochester Syracuse point of view. I wish I had 48 hours growing, Canisius is growing. There 26 BUFFALO BUSINESS FIRST INDUSTRY ROUNDTABLE

JERRY BOYES R And that’s growing. BILL MAHER R Sorry. SUNY Buffalo State Canisius College And that’s what we found, because ALLAN DAVIS You know, I’ve spent a lot of time BRIDGET NILAND made a business thinking about this — the media WGR Sports Radio 550 Daemen College decision probably more than a decade question — and responding to the ago, through their research, that it’s And it’s growing. It was recognized as media question because our fans It’s all right. No, you know what? the Bills, the Sabres, Division 1 high the third-largest radio station that way and alums always ask about it. “How It’s great. I’m educating everybody school, and then ... in the country. When you looked at the come there’s not more coverage?” on that, so what definitely drove our population base, how many of those And I’d say it’s a little bit of a chicken move to Division 2 is the fact that it people in that population base per and an egg. I would say very, very is a crowded marketplace in Buffalo BRIDGET NILAND capita selected a radio station website consistently, if there is a preview story and that there was no point in going Daemen College or digital platform within a month? in the Buffalo News before one of our Division 3 because we get confused And they looked across the country big games, our attendance is higher. with D’Youville all the time. I don’t The rest of us. to what stations are doing the best. It’s measurable; there’s no doubt know how many times people Our accounts are amazing. We about it. So the fact that we are not say, “How are things at D’Youville, JERRY BOYES connect as much to our fans, to Bills able to generate a preview story in the Bridget?” And I’m like, “They’re fans and to Sabres fans as much on Buffalo News for everyone, it causes fabulous.” No, but it’s to find that SUNY Buffalo State Twitter as we do over the air. We don’t us difficulty, for sure. The Buffalo niche. I mean, at the end of the day, The rest of us. Just before I came have to take as many calls on a day-to­ News is going to focus as everyone’s we are in the business of sports, but here, I heard the stories of the day basis because we have the great, talked here — they’re going to focus on I think the three of us and the four second newspaper, the Courier, and engaging levels and the interactions football for UB. They’re going to focus of us, really we’re in the business how sports friendly they were. So going on in the Twitter world. on basketball. And they’ve done a very of higher education. So we need competition drives that a little bit. good job of hockey. The other sports to define our niche. There was no When you don’t have that, when — we have 20 sports, and our other point in trying to compete with the you’re a one-newspaper city, they BRIAN CAVANAUGH sports fall in line with everybody else long-standing alumni that exists at are going to hear their viewers and D’Youville College in Western New York and they don’t Canisius and Niagara. We didn’t want respond appropriately. We understand get the coverage that we’d like them the Division 3 model; that didn’t work Jerry was spot-on with his comments that to a degree — not saying we like to have for the efforts that the kids put for us. We’d like to be able to give with regard to prioritizing by it, because we feel our core of the in. athletic scholarships to enhance our the media. We take a look at our students who come to our colleges enrollment. At that time there was no constituency and we don’t reach out are Western New York. So they’re the Division 2 schools at all in Western to the Buffalo News; we don’t reach R How concerned are the ones who grew up here. They were New York. So for us, it did drive it out to GR. But we realize that with covered pretty well, high school-wise, four of you who are college and it is very much a strategy. I mean, the limited staff that we have, where and then they come to our schools and if you don’t have a strategy on what are we going to put our energies? athletic directors with the they don’t get that name recognition you’re doing and why you’re doing it We’re now streaming our own games anymore in the paper. That’s a viability of your programs? in college sports right now, you might to our parents and whoever wants to challenge for us. as well not be doing anything, in my watch the games and get to the local opinion. newspapers, get to the Bees and get to BRIDGET NILAND the papers that are going to pick up RON RACCUIA Daemen College what you’re going to send to them. It ADPRO Sports BRIAN CAVANAUGH doesn’t mean ignore the Buffalo News, We’re going through the NCAA D’Youville College Your question but it’s interesting to pick up a Buffalo membership process so the next about media is News Sunday and say, “I hope my thing about that is like they force us I think the university sector, especially not unique to score is in there on Page D7 down at to do that. I mean, you’re talking to the private sector, is going through Western New the bottom so my president can see it.” — Jerry’s public, so he has money some challenging times right now. York either. We — but you’re talking to about three And the school will look at athletics do business people, we’re all pretty similar. We’re as enrollment management. I think with some tuition-driven, so our business model Canisius is — especially with the 250 colleges BRIDGET NILAND is to drive students to our school. Our hockey program being down at the throughout the Daemen College athletic programs will be valued not HarborCenter, all their sports — things country, and if so much on wins and losses. I mean, are looking really, really good. Bridget, Absolutely. we had the 250 they are, because that’s what drives the way that she’s moving with athletic directors it, but I think we probably get more Division 2 which is the scholarship here in this BRIAN CAVANAUGH questions about how many students situation at Daemen, and where room, all but we’re bringing in than whether we’ve they’re moving is extremely good. My D’Youville College two or three of them would say the won championships. I know that’s future with D’Youville, there’s going to exact same thing. It’s just the nature So my vice president doesn’t pick up what my president is concerned about. be a new president in place next July, of radio and TV. But the social media the phone and call me at home and He’s concerned about two things: a year from now. It will be interesting has just taken over it all and really it’s 11 on Sunday morning after church the students we bring in and the to see where our direction goes, from drives it. And even from an economic and say, “How come the score wasn’t visibility that we bring in and whether the board of trustees hiring a new standpoint, you can accomplish a lot in the paper?” Then I have to call the that visibility is through website president to where that’s going to go more through social media quickly SID — did you call them? Yes, I called hits, because our athletics website for the next five years and how it will than you can through — no offense — them. Did you send it? Yes, I sent it. gets more hits now than our general impact our athletic programs. But through some traditional means. Tell me the name of the intern that student body website sometimes. we are enrollment management, and you talked to. Was Milt Northrup on when you look at the numbers and that desk? I want to know who you R Did that really push the strength of our numbers, I came ALLAN DAVIS talked to, all right? to D’Youville 10 years, 11 years ago, we WGR Sports Radio 550 So you do make the efforts with their your move to Division 3? had 85 student athletes and 10 sports. limited resources, but social media Ten years later we have 14 sports and WGR, through its platforms, gets a has changed quite a bit. Our colleges last year over 220 student athletes, and million hits a month — a million hits a would drool if we could have a college BRIDGET NILAND we’re looking to even add more sports month on desktop computers and an page once a week like the high schools Daemen College down the road. additional million hits a month from have. We would love that; it would be mobile devices. Division 2. great: “Wow, we got a whole page in the Buffalo News.” JULY 10, 2015 27 INDUSTRY ROUNDTABLE

JERRY BOYES But when we bring our recruits in, it BFO because I remember that they And I’ve always argued that that’s not SUNY Buffalo State is selling what’s going on in Buffalo, were doing like the top 10 moments true. We’ve always had hope. We’ve in the pro sports and all the things in Buffalo’s history and like No. 2 was been that close a number of times, I’ll give you some statistics. NCAA, that are going on, and that is a sports “wide right.” Sometimes we are our so we’ve always had hope. It’s just Division 3 — there are 435 institutions city. So Buffalo has to sell itself. And own worst enemy in Buffalo, and disappointing to lose. And so we carry in Division 3, and enrollment ranges all the new things that are going on we’re still talking about something that around with us all the time. from D’Youville, which is currently with Canalside and all those things, that happened long ago where, yeah, how many students? when you put together any identity we didn’t win a game. How many pieces now, you want to make sure times did you not win a game? You BRIDGET NILAND BRIAN CAVANAUGH you include Buffalo in those identity can’t ruminate over any game. And I Daemen College pieces. get it was the . Because if D’Youville College I would never argue that it’s not. we were like every other city, you pick But my point is we’re never going to Undergrad, 2,000. yourself up, you dust yourself off and R Do you feel an obligation get back to winning if we still keep you move on. to promote Buffalo? focusing in Buffalo on the times that JERRY BOYES we’ve lost. I guess that’s my point. And that’s not necessarily what you SUNY Buffalo State TED BLACK do or what you do, but in Buffalo in TED BLACK Buffalo Sabres 2,000. There are a number of general, as the people who live here Buffalo Sabres private schools that are under 1,000 I don’t think the old way of being and as the folks who go to the grocery in Division 3. Up to Buffalo State, Yes, but it’s not a burdensome negative works anymore. Allan, your stores every day, of changing that that’s close to 8,000 full-time. But obligation. It’s something that we ratings were pretty good this year on mindset, of instilling the hope that the average Division 3 institution is love to do. I’m fascinated as sort of your station? you’re talking about. And yes, that will 2,300 students. When you take all an outsider how hesitant Buffalo is to come with a win, but I think we have those 435 enrollments and divide brag about itself. I lived in Room 430 held ourselves back at times because them, it’s 2,300 students. The average of the Embassy Suites for 126 nights, ALLAN DAVIS we’ve ruminated too many times over enrollment of student athletes at not that I’m counting, but I didn’t even WGR Sports Radio 550 the losses. And any good coach will those institutions is well over 500. So know Elmwood Village existed. And tell you, you spend too many times Absolutely. you take away athletics from those I ended up buying there. It has a mix thinking about your losses, you’re institutions and you close the doors. of a couple of different communities. never going to get back to the win. It’s become more apparent at the There’s nothing to apologize about TED BLACK SUNY schools because of what Brian Buffalo. It’s a small city — that’s a Buffalo Sabres says with enrollment in the Northeast strength. Sort of the old axiom: Take BRIAN CAVANAUGH Atlantic side of the country where your weakness and make it your We had our worst year ever. So did D’Youville College high school populations have really strength. And I do that all the time. you find that beating us up every day I think our anxiety level has changed bottomed out. And they don’t see it Why wouldn’t you want to live as a pro — I’m glad you didn’t — created more with , I really do. I’ve coming back up — this pendulum athlete in the smallest U.S. city in the listeners? You found a niche to talk lived in this community my whole swinging for another eight to 10 years. NHL? Do we have a lot of self-interest? about a rebuild and a process and life, and Terry Pegula taking over But at the same time, the real good Absolutely. Is it something we do with a plan and that works great for me the Sabres, the financial resources presidents, the trustees, recognize that passion and gratefulness? For sure. because that’s what we’re doing, but it to take that organization and redo athletics is vital to the existence of the sort of changed the paradigm of what that organization — there was a time college. the negativity didn’t sell as much as even during the Seymour Knox era, BILL MAHER trying to communicate a plan. then after that, where spending was Canisius College BRIDGET NILAND a real concern for everything and I think all boats rise with the tide. I they tightened their belt and there Daemen College ALLAN DAVIS use that term within our program were times where we could have re­ WGR Sports Radio I heard a great quote. Because people and it applies to Western New York. signed people or gotten people and 550 ask how are things and it always As Western New York improves, it wasn’t going to happen because of comes down to who your president anybody who’s going to come and Yeah. Bridget, the structure of the ownership. And is, we were talking about that, how view Canisius College, there’s going to what you say, I think this new ownership with the supportive they are. And then I asked be more of them and they’re going to you want to get Sabres is in a position to where, hey the one guy who’s in our conference have a more favorable impression of rid of the “wide whatever we need resources-wise, and he coaches and he just said he’ll our community from it. right” and “no we’re going to move forward and do it. stay where he’s at right now as long goal.” The fact We’re right at the beginning of what as it’s still about winning. And I of the matter I think is going to be a great era for think that quote in general kind of BRIAN CAVANAUGH is a win does both the Bills and the Sabres, and a talks about where sports are in higher D’Youville College that. A win lot of it has to do with Terry Pegula education. Because what he was does that and and his family invested in two major I was born in Buffalo, so I’m a proud getting at is he’s got a new president this past year, organizations. Two organizations that Buffalonian and I always have been. and if she takes the eye off of winning we won because are now stable in Buffalo, are going I take a look at the NHL people who and puts it too much on enrollment, the strategy to be here in Buffalo, going to be here come in here and spend some time he personally doesn’t want to be was losing. And in Western New York. We’re talking here and want to make their home involved. I don’t know if you would once people understood that, they the stadium. We’ve got a brand-new here because they love it so much. have heard that quote as much 10 were with us every day; they were HarborCenter down there, and a lot of They love the community, love the cost years ago in the Northeast. there every day. “What’s the latest? that has to do with Pegula. And I think of living. People will say, “How can What’s the latest?” Believe it or not, the whole attitude of our community you live in Buffalo?” I say, “What are there are a number of people who is, “You know what? Things are you talking about? It’s a great city.” JERRY BOYES follow the Sabres who are season looking better now. We’ve got They say, “Look at your February.” I SUNY Buffalo State ticket holders who understood it from somebody who really loves Buffalo and sai, “Go look at my June or July.” the beginning. They understood it is investing his financial resources in One thing I will add with the business from the beginning that this is for our Western New York.” So there are other side of sports in previous is that from future. This is a time for us to get ready areas that need to be looked at from a a recruitment standpoint, we must sell BRIDGET NILAND for tomorrow. We’re not just focusing business standpoint to make people be Buffalo. And that’s an easy sell with a Daemen College on today now. We’re actually looking able to get downtown without having lot of the things going on, particularly I think that sometimes we aren’t ahead to tomorrow. And I believe the to drive downtown. But I think our of late. We’re a different college. Being our own good ambassadors, and I Buffalo Bills are doing that, as well. whole anxiety level has changed in the a SUNY college in the city of Buffalo, think Ted brings up a great point. I And so there’s all this hope and I’ve last five years and a lot of it is because sometimes that works for us, other remember, and I don’t expect ever to heard the comment made that nobody of Terry Pegula. times works against us. It evens out, get any type of good coverage from sells hope more like the Buffalo Bills.