Lancaster Sabres' watch party scores with fans

Village of Lancaster, N.Y. (WBEN).....Sabrehood moved from downtown Buffalo to the Village of Lancaster.

The Village of Lancaster saw more than 2,000 Buffalo Sabres fans come to West Main Street for the team's playoff game against the Montreal Canadiens.

Think about for a second.

On a Tuesday when there were plenty of other options to watch the game, hockey fans from across the region made their way to the Village of Lancaster for what many described as a "communal watch party."

"It has created a new vibe in the village," said developer and businessman Tom Sweeney, who organized the event.

Designed to help showcase the village, the watch party was created for the Sabres first road game of each playoff series. Away games were selected to avoid a conflict with the Sabres' watch parties during home games at Alumni Plaza and Canalside.

This series watch party was moved to Game 4 to avoid the Mother's Day conflict, Sweeney said.

" I think we have created something really special,:" Sweeney said.

So much so, there may be other village street parties this summer and fall, Sweeney said.

The end game goes beyond creating Sabres' watch parties. The true end game is bring more people to the emerging village business district centered along West Main Street.

"People do come back," said Nik Fattey, Fattey Beer Co. owner. "This is turning into something very special and really special for (the village of) Lancaster.

Based on the first watch party, Fattey loaded up on extra workers and, of course, beer.

"We learned a lot the first time," Fattey said.

Business aside, the hook remains the communal feel during the Sabres' game.

"There is a good atmosphere," said Katie Lowakowski of Lancaster. "Being here with everyone just makes it more fun."

Cheektowaga resident Corrine (who declined to give her last name) summed it up perfectly.

"Events like this brings everyone together," Corrine said. :"The love of sports in Buffalo is something we all share."