THE SIDELINES : Sabres Want New Buffalo Arena

Buffalo should abandon plans for a $39-million renovation of the half-century-old Memorial Auditorium and build a new arena if it wants the Sabres to stay in town, the NHL club’s president said today.

“A new arena would clearly offer the necessary expanded revenue streams which are essential in order for the Sabres to be a viable NHL franchise,” said club President Seymour H. Knox III. “Even after a complete renovation, Memorial Auditorium still would not meet the minimum standards established for new expansion franchises,” Knox said at a news conference.

The “Aud” seats 16,433 for hockey and would lose 600 of those seats to the renovations, which would include an expanded ice surface. Knox said a facility seating 18,000 to 20,000 is needed, even though the Sabres have sold out only 10 of their 21 home dates so far this season.