Negotiators are expected to meet again this week in an effort to reach a new NHL Collective Bargaining Agreement, but there appears to be little sense of urgency to end a players' lockout that is proving costly to many.
The lockout enters its 23rd day today and the league has already canceled games through October 24th. The cancelations have cost the Buffalo Sabres four home games.
While the club is offering ticket holders their choice of refunds or interest on money already on account, the lockout is becoming a hardship to the many adjunct vendors who benefit from the dollars spent around First Niagara Center home games.
According to some analysts, 35 to 40 million dollars in downtown economic activity occurs during the regular season schedule of Sabres home games.
First Niagara Center will host an American Hockey League game on October 23rd when the Rochester Amerks host the Hamilton Bulldogs.