KeyBank Center Pregame Guide
Buffalo Sabres · Buffalo, NY
KeyBank Center prohibits all bags, backpacks and purses, admitting only clutches no larger than 4 by 6 by 1.5 inches subject to visual inspection, with medically necessary items and diaper bags permitted after thorough screening. Parking is the arena's own ramp, its surface lots, and the LECOM Harborcenter next door — and every one of them is cashless, taking major cards, Apple Pay and Google Pay. Full-access doors open 90 minutes before a regular-season Sabres game.
Tips & Fan Reports
A 4 by 6 by 1.5 inch clutch is the only bag admitted without a medical or diaper exception.
Full-access doors open 90 minutes before a Sabres game.
LECOM Harborcenter next door is the overflow when the arena's own parking fills.
Every lot is cashless — ramp, surface lots and LECOM Harborcenter alike — so bring a card or a phone.
Where to Go Before the Game
The KeyBank Center parking ramp
The arena's own structure, cashless like every other lot here, taking major credit cards, Apple Pay and Google Pay.
Known for Arena ramp · Cashless · Cards and mobile pay
The KeyBank Center surface lots
Open-air parking beside the arena, on the same cashless terms as the ramp.
Known for Surface parking · Cashless · Beside the arena
LECOM Harborcenter
The complex next to the arena, whose parking also serves KeyBank Center events — the overflow when the ramp and surface lots fill.
Known for Adjacent complex · Additional parking · Cashless
Rules to Know
What KeyBank Center allows, and what it does not.
- All bags, backpacks and purses are prohibited. Clutches no larger than 4" x 6" x 1.5" are permitted and subject to visual inspection.
- Exceptions are made for medically necessary items and diaper bags, after thorough security screening.
- Parking is available in the KeyBank Center parking ramp, the KeyBank Center surface lots, and at LECOM Harborcenter.
- All lots are cashless and accept all major credit cards as well as Apple Pay and Google Pay.
- For regular season Buffalo Sabres games, full access doors open 90 minutes before the game.
- The arena can be contacted on (716) 855-4500.
- The arena publishes no tailgating policy.
What to Bring
- A bag the gate will accept
Bags, backpacks, and purses are prohibited; only clutches no larger than 4 x 6 x 1.5 inches are permitted after visual inspection.
- Only the outside food and drink the rule allows
Outside food and drinks are generally prohibited, but food or beverages required for medical purposes are permitted.
- A card or a phone wallet
KeyBank Center identifies itself as cashless, and all concession stands use cashless payment.
- Your tickets on a charged phone
Access Sabres tickets on a smartphone through Ticketmaster Account Manager in the Sabres App, then display the live barcode or save the ticket to the phone wallet.
- A coat for the walk in
January lows average 19°F between the lot and the door at KeyBank Center.
- A rain layer for the walk in
October averages 4.0 inches of rain outside KeyBank Center.
Buffalo Sabres Tailgate Gear
Canopies, grills, coolers, and official Buffalo Sabres gear for the ultimate tailgate.
Shop on AmazonAffiliate link — we may earn a commission, at no cost to you. It never affects our prices or rankings. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
How We Checked This Page
Every section below names the source it was read from and the day it was read. Where we could not reach a published figure, the page says so rather than presenting an estimate as a checked fact.
- Pregame
KeyBank Center official site: Arena Guide, Parking, Directions, and Health and Safety
- Venue policies
Current Buffalo Sabres A-Z, game-day, mobile-ticketing, ticket-terms, and KeyBank Center parking pages reviewed for Sabres policies.
- Weather
NOAA 1991-2020 Climate Normals