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14 / JANUARY.FEBRUARY.2015 RINKMAGAZINE.COM Attention Attention CENTER OF Featured Rink HARBORCENTER | | Buffalo, N.Y. PHOTOS: COURTESY OF HARBORCENTER, BILL WIPPERT AND CANISIUS COLLEGE ATHLETICS I t's not your average layout: two hockey rinks on the sixth floor of a 650,000-square-foot complex that is connected to an NHL facility. It's a building that will have hosted two world hockey championships and the NHL pre- draft scouting combine before it is even fully complete. It's HARBORCENTER in downtown Buffalo, the vision of Sabres owners Terry and Kim Pegula. The vision began shortly after the Pegulas completed purchasing the Sabres in February of 2011. The couple stood on a balcony outside of the team offices at First Niagara Center with chief development officer Cliff Benson. As they viewed the city skyline, they immediately committed to play a role in the development of the Buffalo waterfront. Soon after, the city began seek- ing a developer for a 1.7-acre parking lot across the street from the Sabres' home arena, and the Pegulas won the right to pur- chase and develop that property. "We wanted to build something that would contribute to the growth of hockey in Western New York and beyond, so we developed a plan to build a parking garage with two hockey rinks on top," Benson said. "Then, Kim got involved. She took an interesting concept and made it into some- thing spectacular." Two years later, the Pegulas opened a two-rink facility with 13 locker rooms and first-class training amenities, all uniquely located on the sixth floor. Beneath the rinks sit five levels of parking. The north end of the property boasts (716) Food and Sport, an upscale sports-themed restaurant and bar, along with a one-of-a-kind Tim Hortons Café and Bakeshop. Retail storefronts will soon open on the west end of the property, and a 205-room full-service Marriott Hotel will come on line this summer. Currently in its initial phase of opening, HARBORCENTER has already attract- ed events that feature the world's best. In November, the International Ice Hockey Federation Under-18 Women's World Championship hit the ice at the new facil- ity. Beginning April 24, the world's best sled hockey players will compete in the International Paralympic Committee Ice Sledge Hockey World Championship at HARBORCENTER. Additionally, the com- plex has been named host of the NHL pre- draft scouting combine in 2015 and 2016. Training On and Off the Ice HARBORCENTER features two NHL- size rinks, highlighted by a 1,800-seat fea- ture arena, officially called First Niagara Rink at HARBORCENTER. This main rink is designed to incorporate a large amount of natural light, which reflects off lightly colored walls beneath a wood truss ceiling to give the facility an open feel. The new HARBORCENTER in Buffalo is quickly becoming known as a must- see facility // by DON HEINS