BUFFALO, N.Y. (January 14, 2013) — The Buffalo Sabres today announced that 31,213 tickets for the 2012-13 season were sold on Sunday during a 24-hour presale period for current season-ticket holders and current mini-pack holders. The mark set a record for single-day ticket sales for the club –excluding the 2008 Winter Classic— with the general on-sale for individual game tickets to begin on Tuesday, Jan. 15.
“With the uncertainty surrounding the schedule and the timing of the start of hockey, we didn’t know what to expect. However, Sunday’s ticket sales took us by surprise and, frankly, blew us away,” said Buffalo Sabres President Ted Black. “Our box office staff is the best in the business and they worked tirelessly all day, fielding more than 800 phone calls, to keep up with the record volume of orders. The extraordinary fan response makes us humble, grateful and even more committed to our core mission. We can’t wait to drop the puck before a full house.”
Sunday’s sales bested the ticket sales pace of previous seasons by almost six-fold. In 2011-12, a season in which the Sabres set a franchise record for average game attendance (18,687 with a capacity of 18,690), the team sold 11,170 tickets over a two-day sales period. During similar sales windows in 2010 and 2009, the team sold 7,909 and 8,843 tickets, respectively.
The Sabres had a season-ticket renewal rate of 99% for the 2012-13 season. The number of season tickets was capped at 15,400 with over 3,000 people on a waiting list, referred to as the Blue & Gold Club. It was the second straight season the club reached a 99% renewal rate for season tickets.
Individual game tickets will go on sale to the general public beginning tomorrow, Jan. 15, at 10 a.m. Tickets can be purchased online at Sabres.com and Tickets.com, via telephone at 1-888-223-6000, and in-person at the box office at First Niagara Center.
The box office will be offering extended hours during the team’s training camp next week. From Monday, Jan. 14 through Friday, Jan. 18, the box office will be open from 9 a.m. through 7 p.m. On Saturday, Jan. 19, the box office will be open from 9 a.m. through 5 p.m.
