Pete Guelli loves how 'Sabres' fever' has taken over WNY

From afar, Pete Guelli saw how Buffalo Bills responded in 2017 when the team broke its 17-year playoff drought.

But, now as Sabres' COO (and also Bills' COO), Guelli is seeing how ending an NHL record 14-year playoff drought has impacted the team, its staff and, most importantly, the fans.

"It has been a dramatic difference," Guelli said.

Both on and off the ice.

The Sabres won the Atlantic Division title and will face off against the Boston Bruins on Sunday. It is the team's first Stanley Cup playoff appearance since April 2011.

There are long lines of customers by the Sabres Store inside KeyBank Center, with game day merchandise sales up by 43%.

This season, the Sabres' sold out 24 home games, including the last 18 in a row. Last year, the Sabres had just four sold out games at KeyBank Center.

Attendance is up 12% from last season.

TV ratings have increased 31% from the 2024-2025 season.

"In December, we began to see confidence grow but it was after the Olympic break that it really cemented," Guelli said.

The few remaining tickets for the Sabres-Bruins series sold out in less than 10 minutes.

"I wish we had a ticket for everybody," Guelli said.

Guelli said he expects the team-sponsored "Party in the (Alumni) Plaza," to attract thousands of Sabres' fans.

Ditto for the fan fest and screening of the games at the neighboring Canalside.

"The fans were waiting for a moment like this," Guelli said. "We owed it to them."

Guelli had to laugh.

"You know may be the first time that Sabres have over taken the Bills this close to the (NFL) draft and with the new stadium opening," Guelli said.