Buffalo, N.Y. (WBEN) - As I stood curbside at the Buffalo Sabres Alumni Plaza outside Key Bank Center on a frigid Saturday morning, a police officer passed by and asked me, "What's going on"? When I told him, he quickly blurted out, "Shut up, they won", and drove away.
But for the two dozen passionate fans who stood in the cold and vented their frustration, Friday night's win over the New York Rangers didn't stifle their fatigue with losing and an organization that, they say, isn't listening to them.
Several of the fans were creative with their signs they held up for cameras, one stating: "This organization has not done Jack! EXCEPT Eichel." Other signs simply stated "We are ALL Duane", referencing vocal Sabres fan Duane Steinel whose call to WGR Radio over a week ago ignited a social media fan base that seems eager to voice their opinions about the team and its ownership.
Nobody likes losing. Fans hate it, players despise it and certainly ownership isn't a fan. But the fans who stood in the shadow of the Sabres alumni pictured on the walkway above were aiming their frustrations at ownership and say they're being ignored.
"Management refuses to acknowledge the fans and how upset that we are", said protest organizer Peter Tripi. Tripi is a Getzville native and college sophomore who was wearing a Bills jersey for the event. I challenged Tripi that certainly team ownership and management doesn't enjoy a losing record or season and, while he acknowledged that, he says fans just want to hear from ownership and some acknowledgement of the fan base. "They're taking advantage of the fact we love the Buffalo Sabres and we're never going to stop supporting them", said Tripi.
So what would satisfy the fans who were motivated enough to show up on a snowy and cold Saturday morning? The answers I got were many and varied. A trade, a press conference and a new general manager were the most popular responses.
"We're tired of just being ignored….they should be addressing the fans more", said Sabres fan Johnathon Warthling. When asked what he and others at the gathering want to hear from Sabres ownership, they just say they want to be heard and acknowledged.
"The fans matter, we deserve more", Warthling told me.
Although the number of fans at the protest may not have been impressive, those behind the effort consider it a success.
All I know is that one thing can quickly stop any future sidewalk Sabres demonstrations and stunt the Twitter-storm of fan unrest.
Winning. Go Sabres!
Regardless of numbers we still need to be heard. We can't let this momentum slow down. Remember #WeAreAllDuane started because we love the #Sabres50 . We love hockey. And this is the most unified this fanbase has been in years. Continue to be loud. They can't ignore us forever https://t.co/ztvZK6BPB1
— Duane Steinel (@DuaneS39) February 8, 2020
